noun

la peau

skin

C'est la partie du corps qui recouvre les muscles et protège l'intérieur du corps.

The French word "peau" means "skin" in English. It refers to the outer covering of the body of humans and animals.

Here are some explanations and distinctions:

Peau
- Primarily means the skin covering the body.
- Can also be used metaphorically, like in "avoir la peau dure" (to be tough or resilient), or "la peau de chagrin" (a metaphor for something diminishing).
- Used both literally and figuratively.
Chair
- Means "flesh" — the soft tissue building around muscles and beneath the skin.
- Differs from "peau" because "chair" is the muscle mass or soft tissue underneath the skin.
- For example, "peau et chair" together = "skin and flesh."
Écorce
- Means "bark" of a tree, but sometimes metaphorically can mean the outer layer of something.
- Not used for human or animal skin, but occasionally for analogy.

In summary, "peau" specifically refers to the skin as the external layer of the living body, while "chair" refers to the flesh beneath the skin. "Peau" can also appear in various figurative expressions related to protection, vulnerability, or identity.