Bouche

Bouche is a French noun meaning the mouth, the opening used for eating, speaking, and breathing. It can also denote any opening or orifice in an object or in nature. The word is feminine (la bouche) and forms such as les bouches are used for plural references.

In everyday language and anatomy, bouche primarily refers to the human mouth but can also describe the mouths of animals or other openings that resemble a mouth. Common expressions include ouvrir la bouche (to open one’s mouth) and bouche bée (mouth agape, astonished). Beyond living beings, bouche can describe openings in objects, such as the mouth of a pipe or a cave, or other conduits like a ventilation opening.

In gastronomy and wine, bouche is used to discuss sensations perceived in the mouth. The phrase en bouche refers to flavors and textures experienced on the palate, including aftertaste, and is a component of tasting notes that characterize a dish or wine.

Other uses include geographical and technical contexts. For rivers, embouchure is the standard term for the mouth where the river flows into another body of water, while bouche can appear in descriptions of openings or orifices. In engineering or plumbing, bouche d’égout or bouche d’aération describe specific openings or vents. Overall, bouche denotes a mouth-like opening, with specialized senses in medicine, culinary arts, and technical language.