thigh

IPA/θaɪ/
KK[θˈaɪ]IPA/θaɪ/

thigh — noun

  • thighsingular
  • thighsplural

1. the upper section of a human leg, stretching from the hip down to the knee

1.nounA2
Definition

the upper section of a human leg, stretching from the hip down to the knee

Example

Rachid pulled a muscle in his thigh while running for the bus.

collocation: pull a muscle in one's thigh

The doctor asked Élise to lie down and then gently pressed on her thigh.

Common collocations
  • thigh muscle
  • inner thigh
  • thigh bone
  • pull a thigh
  • strain a thigh
  • thigh area
Synonyms
  • upper leg

    less anatomical term, used in everyday conversation

  • femur

    technically only the bone inside the thigh, not the whole limb section

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

Usage Note

The thigh is the part of the leg above the knee, not the lower leg (calf). In everyday language, people also commonly say 'upper leg' instead of 'thigh,' especially when describing clothing fit or injury location.

Common Mistakes

She hurt her thigh below her knee.
She hurt her calf below her knee.
The thigh is above the knee; the back of the lower leg below the knee is the calf.

2. the upper leg portion of a chicken, turkey, or similar bird, prepared and eaten

2.nounB1
Definition

the upper leg portion of a chicken, turkey, or similar bird, prepared and eaten as food

Example

Roya ordered baked chicken thighs served with roasted garlic and fresh herbs.

collocation: baked chicken thighs

Rodrigo grilled the chicken thighs on the barbecue until the skin was golden.

collocation: grilled chicken thighs with crispy skin

Common collocations
  • chicken thighs
  • turkey thighs
  • boneless thighs
  • skinless thighs
  • baked thighs
  • grilled thighs
  • roasted thighs
  • thigh meat
Synonyms
  • dark meat

    broader term referring to all leg meat (thigh and drumstick) in poultry

Grammar Patterns

countable noun

usually in plural 'thighs'

Usage Note

In recipes and menus, chicken thighs are often sold either bone-in or boneless, with or without the skin. They are darker and more flavorful than chicken breast meat.

Common Mistakes

I bought chicken drums for the soup.' (meaning the upper leg)
I bought chicken thighs for the soup.
The drumstick is the lower leg; the thigh is the upper part.

Word family

  • thighbone
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

The thigh is the fleshy upper section of the leg from the hip to the knee. 'Upper leg' is a simpler everyday term that describes the same area without using an anatomical word — for example, a doctor might say 'upper leg' to a child. 'Femur' refers only to the single large bone inside the thigh, not the whole muscular limb, so it fits only in medical or scientific contexts ('a fractured femur'). The 'calf' is frequently confused with the thigh by learners, but the calf sits below the knee at the back of the lower leg, making it a completely different body part. Use 'thigh' or 'upper leg' for the segment above the knee, and 'calf' for the segment below.

upper legfemur ↗calf ↗thigh ↗

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'thigh' comes from Old English 'þeoh', which traces back through Proto-Germanic '*theuham' to the Proto-Indo-European root '*teuk-', meaning 'to swell'. This root likely refers to the rounded, fleshy shape of the upper leg. The modern spelling appeared in Middle English, replacing earlier forms like 'theh' and 'thygh'.