French Expression · Advanced
En chair et en os
In the flesh / In person
Pronunciation: ahn shair ay ahn zohss
Meaning
To refer to someone or something physically present, rather than imagined or only heard about.
Example
Je n'arrivais pas à y croire quand je l'ai vu en chair et en os.
I couldn't believe it when I saw him in the flesh.
Common mistakes & tips
- Practice En chair et en os out loud — read the pronunciation guide above and repeat.
- Use it in your own sentence today; reuse beats rereading.
- Pay attention to context: this is a advanced-level French expression.