le crâne
skull
C'est la partie osseuse de la tête qui protège le cerveau.
The French word "crâne" means "skull" — the bony structure that forms the head and protects the brain.
Meaning:
- It refers specifically to the skeleton of the head.
- Used in both everyday and scientific contexts.
- Can also be used figuratively, for example to refer to someone's "head" or "thinking" (e.g., "un grand crâne" can mean a smart person, though more common is "gros cerveau" for a "big brain").
Synonyms and differences:
- Tête: Means "head" in general, including muscles, skin, hair, face — the whole front and the top of a person or animal’s head. More general than "crâne."
- Boîte crânienne: More technical, meaning the "cranial box," referring specifically to the part of the skull housing the brain rather than the entire skull.
- Mâchoire: Means "jaw," part of the skull but not the whole crâne.
Usage notes:
- "Crâne" is mostly anatomical.
- In everyday language when referring to one's head, "tête" is more common.
- "Crâne" can appear in set expressions, like "crané" (which can mean bold, or saluting a soldier's posture).
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Examples
Dans le musée, on peut voir un vrai crâne.noun
In the museum, you can see a real skull.
Le crâne protège le cerveau.noun
The skull protects the brain.
Le crâne humain est dur.noun
The human skull is hard.
Voici un crâne sur la table.noun
Here is a skull on the table.
Un crâne d'animal se trouve dans la vitrine du musée.noun
An animal skull is in the museum display case.
Dans la vitrine, un grand crâne attire l’attention de tous.noun
In the display case, a large skull attracts everyone's attention.
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