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épaule

shoulder

noun eh-POL Less Common
Body & Health Body Parts

Usage Note

Épaule is standard for the shoulder joint and the cut of meat (épaule d'agneau — shoulder of lamb). The idiom hausser les épaules ('to shrug') is very frequent in everyday speech and writing. The related verb épauler means 'to support' or 'to help someone out', carrying the idea of lending a shoulder.

Examples

"Elle lui a posé la main sur l'épaule."

Natural Translation

She placed her hand on his shoulder.

Literal Translation

She to-him has placed the hand on the-shoulder

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