What does langue in French mean?

What is the meaning of the word langue in French? The article explains the full meaning, pronunciation along with bilingual examples and instructions on how to use langue in French.

The word langue in French means tongue, language, strip, spit, tongue, language, way of speaking, speaking manner, language, language, tongue depressor, foreign language assistant, language assistant, be a chatterbox, have a sharp tongue, have a forked tongue, speak with a forked tongue, have a furry tongue, be on the tip of your tongue, lisp, language barrier, language barrier, lisp, in spoken language, give up, give in, language school, be a malicious gossip, be bitchy, have a vicious tongue, evolution of language, click your tongue, unable to hold his/her tongue, It's on the tip of my tongue!, language laboratory, artificial language, Classical French, constructed language, Occitan, the oïl language, the Oui language, spoken language, party blower, tongue, beefsteak fungus, waffle, English, the English language, strip of land, spit of land, working language, sign language, foreign language, forked tongue, German, Germanic language, literary language, native language, mother tongue, dead language, national language, official language, spoken language, spoken language, regional language, Romance language, Latin language, Slavic language, Slavonic language, formal language, elevated language, lingua franca, vernacular, modern language, living language, vernacular, langue de chat, langue de chat biscuit, that was a slip of the tongue, use doublespeak, scandalmonger, gossip, never be at a loss for words, register, language level, language level, language register, hold your tongue, stick your tongue out, stick your tongue out at, be exhausted, struggle financially, think twice before speaking, think twice before you speak, Have you lost your tongue?, tongue twister, tongue-twister. To learn more, please see the details below.

Listen to pronunciation

Meaning of the word langue

tongue

nom féminin (organe dans la bouche) (anatomy)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les enfants aiment tirer la langue.
Children like to stick their tongues out.

language

nom féminin (langage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Quelles langues parlez-vous ?
Which languages do you speak?

strip, spit

nom féminin (forme allongée) (land)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
C'est une langue de terre entre mer et lagune.
It's a strip of land between the sea and the lagoon.

tongue

nom féminin (Cuisine : organe d'animaux) (meat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Pour ce midi, j'ai préparé de la langue avec du riz.
I've made tongue with rice for lunch today.

language

nom féminin (règles d'un système linguistique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Il faut défendre la langue française.
The French language must be defended.

way of speaking, speaking manner

nom féminin (manière de parler, de s'exprimer) (style)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Chantal parle bien, elle a une langue riche.
Chantal speaks well; she has a refined speaking manner.

language

nom féminin (parler d'une époque)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Nous ne parlons plus la langue du Moyen Âge.
We no longer speak the language of the Middle Ages.

language

nom féminin (manière particulière de s'exprimer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Marc est poète et parle la langue de l'amour.
Mark is a poet and speaks the language of love.

tongue depressor

nom masculin invariable (instrument médical)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le médecin utilise un abaisse-langue pour inspecter l'état de la gorge de son patient.

foreign language assistant, language assistant

(étudiant natif aidant en classe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les assistants de langue ne prennent pas en charge une classe entière mais de petits groupes pour leur faire travailler l'oral.

be a chatterbox

locution verbale (parler beaucoup) (informal)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Les coiffeurs ont souvent la langue bien pendue.

have a sharp tongue

locution verbale (figuré (être impertinent) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cet élève a parfois la langue bien pendue, ce qui gène son professeur.

have a forked tongue, speak with a forked tongue

locution verbale (dire des méchancetés) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Cette dame âgée est connue pour avoir la langue fourchue.

have a furry tongue

locution verbale (avoir la langue chargée d'alcool) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Après cette longue soirée où il avait trop bu, Pierre se réveilla avec la langue pâteuse.

be on the tip of your tongue

locution verbale (ne pas trouver le mot exact) (object as subject, figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

lisp

locution verbale (avoir un trouble de la parole)

(intransitive verb: Verb not taking a direct object--for example, "She jokes." "He has arrived.")
Pierre a un cheveu sur la langue et zézaye un peu ; ses amis se moquent de lui.

language barrier

nom masculin (obstacle linguistique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

language barrier

nom masculin (obstacle linguistique)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lisp

nom masculin (défaut d'élocution) (speech impediment)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le cheveu sur la langue, ou dyslalie, est un trouble de l'émission de la parole.

in spoken language

locution adverbiale (familièrement)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

give up, give in

locution verbale (abandonner une recherche)

(phrasal verb, intransitive: Verb with adverb(s) or preposition(s), having special meaning and not taking direct object--for example, "make up" [=reconcile]: "After they fought, they made up.")
Je ne sais pas, je donne ma langue au chat.

language school

nom féminin (institut d'enseignement) (education)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Une école de langue est une école dont l'objectif est l'apprentissage d'une langue étrangère.

be a malicious gossip

locution verbale (être médisant)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

be bitchy

locution verbale (figuré, très familier (être médisant) (vulgar, slang)

have a vicious tongue

locution verbale (figuré (médire) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

evolution of language

nom féminin (modification naturelle du langage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

click your tongue

locution verbale (faire du bruit avec sa langue)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

unable to hold his/her tongue

locution adjectivale (trop bavard)

(adjective: Describes a noun or pronoun--for example, "a tall girl," "an interesting book," "a big house.")

It's on the tip of my tongue!

(je me souviens mais ne peux le formuler)

(interjection: Exclamation--for example, "Oh no!" "Wow!")

language laboratory

nom masculin (salle audio)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Un laboratoire de langue est une salle de classe équipée de matériel audio pour écouter et répéter une langue étrangère.

artificial language

nom féminin (langue créée pour être universelle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Classical French

nom féminin (français moderne) (language)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

constructed language

nom féminin (langue artificielle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Occitan

nom féminin (langue romane) (language)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On oppose souvent langue d'oc et langue d'oïl.

the oïl language, the Oui language

nom féminin (langue parlée au Nord de la Loire)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

spoken language

nom féminin (langue parlée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La langue d'usage diffère parfois de la langue académique.

party blower

nom masculin (accessoire festif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

tongue

(morceau de viande de bœuf) (meat)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
On cuisine souvent la langue de bœuf avec une sauce piquante.

beefsteak fungus

nom féminin (champignon de la famille des Schizophyllaceae) (mushroom: common name)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La langue de bœuf est un champignon comestible rouge.

waffle

nom féminin (figuré (discours volontairement imprécis)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Ce politicien est expert en langue de bois.
This politician is an expert in waffle.

English, the English language

nom féminin (l'anglais) (language)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'homme que j'ai rencontré ne connaît que la langue de Shakespeare.

strip of land, spit of land

nom féminin (isthme)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'isthme de Panama reliant l'Amérique du Nord à l'Amérique du Sud est une langue de terre très connue.

working language

nom féminin (langage utilisée pour travailler)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

sign language

nom féminin (langue gestuelle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
La langue des signes utilise les mouvements des mains pour s'exprimer. Un groupe de sourds, sur le quai, avait une discussion animée en langue des signes.

foreign language

nom féminin (langue non maternelle)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Les élèves français apprennent désormais une première langue étrangère en primaire.

forked tongue

nom féminin (langue à 2 extrémités)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Certains serpents et les colibris ont des langues fourchues dites bifides.

German

nom féminin (allemand)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Germanic language

nom féminin (langue dérivée du vieil allemand)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

literary language

nom féminin (expression écrite)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

native language, mother tongue

nom féminin (première langue apprise durant l'enfance)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

dead language

nom féminin (langue sans locuteur natif)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le latin et le grec ancien sont des langues mortes.

national language

nom féminin (langue d'un pays)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

official language

nom féminin (langue à valeur légale)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le français est la langue officielle de la France.

spoken language

nom féminin (langue telle qu'elle est parlée)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

spoken language

nom féminin (mots qui ne s'écrivent pas)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

regional language

nom féminin (langue spécifique à une partie d'un pays)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
En France, le breton est une langue régionale.

Romance language, Latin language

nom féminin (langue d'origine latine)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

Slavic language, Slavonic language

nom féminin (langue de l'Est de l'Europe)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

formal language, elevated language

nom féminin (langue utilisant de belles tournures)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

lingua franca

nom féminin (langue d'échange)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

vernacular

nom féminin (langue propre à une communauté)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Le français est la langue vernaculaire de la France.

modern language, living language

nom féminin (langue avec locuteurs)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Au lycée, les élèves comprennent trois langues vivantes.

vernacular

nom féminin (à usage oral) (spoken language)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

langue de chat, langue de chat biscuit

nom féminin (petit gâteau sec) (French biscuit)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Je plante toujours des langues-de-chat sur ma mousse au chocolat.

that was a slip of the tongue

(ce n'est pas ce que je voulais dire) (colloquial)

use doublespeak

locution verbale (parler de façon évasive)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

scandalmonger, gossip

nom féminin (personne médisante)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

never be at a loss for words

locution verbale (trop dire ce que l'on pense)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

register

nom masculin (type de vocabulaire) (language)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

language level

nom masculin (capacité à parler une langue)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

language level

nom masculin (capacité à parler une langue)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)

language register

nom masculin (niveau de langage)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
L'argot est un registre de langue populaire.

hold your tongue

locution verbale (ne pas révéler de secret) (figurative)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

stick your tongue out

locution verbale (faire une grimace)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Arrête de tirer la langue : ce n'est pas poli !

stick your tongue out at

locution verbale (se moquer de [qqn])

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")
Madame, Jonathan, il m'a tiré la langue !

be exhausted

locution verbale (figuré (être essouflé)

Les athlètes tiraient la langue après cette course de 10 km.

struggle financially

locution verbale (être en difficulté financière)

Avec la crise actuelle, les petites entreprises tirent la langue.
With the current crisis, small businesses are struggling financially.

think twice before speaking, think twice before you speak

locution verbale (familier (réfléchir avant de parler)

(verbal expression: Phrase with special meaning functioning as verb--for example, "put their heads together," "come to an end.")

Have you lost your tongue?

(Pourquoi ne dis-tu rien ?)

(expression: Prepositional phrase, adverbial phrase, or other phrase or expression--for example, "behind the times," "on your own.")

tongue twister, tongue-twister

nom masculin (suite de mots difficile à prononcer)

(noun: Refers to person, place, thing, quality, etc.)
Essayez de répéter ce virelangue très connu : « Les chaussettes de l’archi-duchesse, sont-elles sèches ou archi-sèches ? ».

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French (le français) is a Romance language. Like Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish, it comes from popular Latin, once used in the Roman Empire. A French-speaking person or country can be called a "Francophone". French is the official language in 29 countries. French is the fourth most spoken native language in the European Union. French ranks third in the EU, after English and German, and is the second most widely taught language after English. The majority of the world's French-speaking population lives in Africa, with about 141 million Africans from 34 countries and territories who can speak French as a first or second language. French is the second most widely spoken language in Canada, after English, and both are official languages at the federal level. It is the first language of 9.5 million people or 29% and the second language of 2.07 million people or 6% of the entire population of Canada. In contrast to other continents, French has no popularity in Asia. Currently, no country in Asia recognizes French as an official language.