However, you can express the concept in different ways:
Literal translation:
* Squelette vivant: This is the most literal translation, but it sounds a bit awkward in French.
Figurative options:
* Un homme/une femme squelettique: This literally means "a skeletal man/woman," conveying the image of someone very thin.
* Un être squelettique: This means "a skeletal being" and is a more general way to describe someone extremely thin.
* Un corps amaigri: This translates to "a thin body" and can be used to describe someone who has lost a lot of weight.
Context-specific options:
* Depending on the context, you could also use more descriptive phrases, such as "Il était si maigre qu'on pouvait compter ses os" (He was so thin you could count his bones) or "Elle était réduite à l'état de peau et d'os" (She was reduced to skin and bones).
Ultimately, the best way to translate "living skeleton" depends on the specific context and the desired level of formality.