Usage Note
Cul is a coarse, vulgar word for the buttocks, comparable to English 'ass' or 'arse'. It appears in many colloquial expressions: avoir du cul (to be lucky), cul-de-sac (a dead-end street, now standard in both French and English). Use with caution, as it is considered vulgar in polite company.
Examples
"Il est tombé sur le cul de surprise."
Natural Translation
He fell on his backside in surprise.

Free starter pack
Building your French vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common French words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore French by topic
FrenchNow
5 min read