noun

le poil

fur · hair

C'est un fil fin qui pousse sur la peau des humains et des animaux.

Definition & meaning

In French, the word "poil" primarily refers to the hair of animals or the body hair of humans. It is distinct from the hair on a human head, which is referred to as cheveu.

There are several distinct contexts for this word:

Animal hair: It describes the individual hairs of a mammal. When referring to the entire coat of an animal, the terms pelage or fourrure are often used.
Human body hair: It refers to the hair found on the arms, legs, or chest.
Bristles: It can refer to the stiff fibers on a brush or the fine, hair-like structures on certain plants.
Idiomatic expressions: The word is used in several common phrases:
- À poil: A colloquial way to say "naked."
- De mauvais poil: Used to describe someone who is in a bad mood.
- Au poil: An informal expression meaning "perfect," "great," or "exactly right."
- Reprendre du poil de la bête: To recover one's strength or spirits after a difficult time.

Grammar & Word origin

"Poil" is a masculine noun (le poil). Its plural form is "les poils."

The word originates from the Latin pilus, which also means "a hair." This Latin root is the source of many related words in Romance languages, as well as the English word "pilosity."

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

pelage: The coat or fur of an animal.
fourrure: Fur, especially when thick or used for clothing.
soie: Technically "silk," but also used to describe the stiff bristles of a hog or certain brushes.
duvet: Refers to "down" or very fine, soft hair.

Antonyms:

plume: A feather (the covering of a bird rather than a mammal).
écaille: A scale (the covering of a fish or reptile).
chauve: An adjective meaning "bald," referring to the absence of hair on the head.
imberbe: An adjective describing a man who has no beard or facial hair.