How to Talk About Your Health in French
They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away — but no one is entirely safe from feeling under the weather, a bit off, or even seriously ill. You can also accidentally injure yourself or experience pain that needs attention.
If this happens while you’re in a French-speaking country, not being able to clearly explain your symptoms or needs at the pharmacy or doctor’s office can be really frustrating.
That’s why in this article, you’ll find:
- Useful vocabulary to describe your symptoms
- Key phrases and sentences to understand and use when speaking with healthcare professionals
- A few practical tips for EU foreigners about how the healthcare system works in France
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Must-Know Vocab Related to Health Matters
Below are three useful vocabulary tables to help you describe symptoms, understand common health issues, and communicate effectively at the doctor’s or pharmacy.
General Symptoms
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir un mal, des maux de tête / une migraine | have a headache / migraine |
| avoir la tête qui tourne | dizzy head |
| avoir de la sinusite / des vertiges / des nausées / de la fièvre | have sinusitis / dizziness / nausea / fever |
ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat)
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir mal aux oreilles / une otite | have an earache / an otitis |
| des bourdonnements | buzzing in the ears |
| avoir le nez bouché / le nez qui coule | have a blocked nose / runny nose |
| avoir mal à la gorge | have a sore throat |
| une toux sèche / une toux grasse | a dry cough / a hacking cough |
| tousser / des quintes de toux | coughing / coughing attacks |
Teeth and Mouth
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir mal aux dents | have toothache |
| une carie | cavities |
| des aphtes | mouth ulcers |
Illnesses and Infections
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir une angine | have angina |
| avoir la grippe | get the flu |
| avoir des ganglions | have ganglions |
| avoir une infection urinaire | urinary infection |
| une mycose | mycosis |
Muscle & Body Pain
| French | English |
|---|---|
| avoir des courbatures / mal au dos | aches and pains / back pain |
| avoir mal au ventre (à gauche / à droite) | tummy ache (left / right side) |
| mal à l’estomac / des crampes / des ballonnements / des gaz | stomach ache / cramps / bloating / gas |
Digestive Issues
| French | English |
|---|---|
| vomir / avoir des vomissements | vomiting |
| avoir la diarrhée | diarrhea |
| être constipé | being constipated |
Skin, Allergies, & Irritations
| French | English |
|---|---|
| faire une crise d’hémorroïdes / d’urticaire / d’eczéma | suffer a haemorrhoids / urticaria / eczema attack |
| avoir une piqûre / morsure d’insecte | insect bite |
| des boutons / des cloques / des plaques / des démangeaisons | bumps / blisters / patches / itching |
Injuries & Pain
| French | English |
|---|---|
| se faire une entorse à la cheville | to sprain an ankle |
| se faire une fracture | a fracture |
| avoir un hématome | to have a bruise |
| s’être brulé / avoir une brulure | get a burn |
| saigner / des saignements / une hémorragie | bleed / bleeding / hemorrhage |
For Expectant Mothers
| French | English |
|---|---|
| perdre les eaux | break water |
| avoir des contractions | have labour pains / contractions |
Dialogues: At the Doctor / At the Pharmacy
Below are two sample dialogues — one at the doctor’s office and one at the pharmacy — to help you understand and practice real-life healthcare conversations in French, complete with English translations.
Dialogue 1: Chez le médecin
Dialogue 1: At the Doctor’s
Médecin : Bonjour, asseyez-vous. Comment puis-je vous aider ?
Doctor: Hello, take a seat. How can I help you?
Patient : Bonjour, docteur. Et bien, je me sens assez faible depuis deux jours. J’ai mal à la gorge, des courbatures et très peu d’énergie.
Patient: Hello, doctor. Well, I’ve been feeling quite weak for two days. I have a sore throat, body aches, and very little energy.
Médecin : Je vois, avez-vous d’autres symptômes comme des maux de tête, des frissons, des nausées ?
Doctor: I see. Do you have any other symptoms like headaches, chills, or nausea?
Patient : Oui, des migraines et des sueurs nocturnes.
Patient: Yes, migraines and night sweats.
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Médecin : Bien. Je vais prendre votre température… Effectivement, vous avez un peu de fièvre. On va prendre votre tension et vérifier votre rythme cardiaque. Voyons voir votre pouls… Mh…Votre tension est un peu basse. Respirez profondément, je vais vous écouter avec le stéthoscope.
Doctor: Alright. I’ll take your temperature… You do have a slight fever. We’ll take your blood pressure and check your heart rate. Let’s see your pulse… Mh… Your blood pressure is a little low. Take a deep breath, I’m going to listen with the stethoscope.
Il s’agit d’un virus, donc on va éviter les antibiotiques qui ne serviraient à rien. Je vais vous prescrire du paracétamol pour la fièvre, et des pastilles pour calmer le mal de gorge. Et puis surtout, du repos et beaucoup d’hydratation.
It’s a virus, so we’ll avoid antibiotics — they wouldn’t help. I’ll prescribe some paracetamol for the fever, and lozenges to soothe the sore throat. And above all, rest and lots of fluids.
Patient : Merci, docteur.
Patient: Thank you, doctor.
Médecin : De rien ! Si les symptômes persistent, reprenez rendez-vous et on refera un diagnostic.
Doctor: You’re welcome! If the symptoms persist, book another appointment and we’ll reassess.
Dialogue 2 : À la pharmacie
Dialogue 2: At the Pharmacy
Pharmacien : Bonjour, qu’est-ce qu’il vous fallait ?
Pharmacist: Hello, what can I help you with?
Patient : Bonjour, j’ai une ordonnance du médecin. Il m’a prescrit du paracétamol et des pastilles pour la gorge.
Patient: Hello, I have a prescription from the doctor. He prescribed paracetamol and throat lozenges.
Pharmacien : Très bien. Voici le paracétamol. Vous prendrez un comprimé toutes les quatre à six heures si vous avez de la fièvre.
Pharmacist: Very good. Here’s the paracetamol. Take one tablet every four to six hours if you have a fever.
Patient : D’accord. Et pour les pastilles, auriez-vous un sirop à la place, je préfère…
Patient: Okay. And instead of lozenges, do you have a syrup? I prefer that…
Pharmacien : Oh oui, je peux vous trouver cela. Prenez-en une cuillère à soupe trois fois par jour, matin, midi et soir. Par contre, il peut provoquer de la somnolence.
Pharmacist: Oh yes, I can find that for you. Take one tablespoon three times a day — morning, noon, and evening. However, it may cause drowsiness.
Patient : Ah, d’accord, entendu !
Patient: Ah, alright, got it!
Pharmacien : Beaucoup de repos et beaucoup d’eau, d’infusion, et vous devriez allez mieux d’ici 48 heures. Il y a beaucoup de virus en ce moment… Si votre état ne s’améliore pas dans quelques jours, consultez à nouveau votre médecin.
Pharmacist: Lots of rest, lots of water and herbal tea, and you should feel better within 48 hours. There are a lot of viruses going around at the moment… If you’re not better in a few days, see your doctor again.
Patient : Merci beaucoup. Combien je vous dois ?
Patient: Thank you very much. How much do I owe you?
Pharmacien : 22 euros.
Pharmacist: 22 euros.
Patient : Par carte, s’il vous plaît.
Patient: By card, please.
Pharmacien : Voici le ticket, merci, bon rétablissement !
Pharmacist: Here’s the receipt, thank you, get well soon!
Patient : Merci, au revoir !
Patient: Thank you, goodbye!
Tips and Info About French Healthcare
Understanding how the French healthcare system works can make all the difference if you ever need medical help while abroad. Here are some essentials you should know as a foreign visitor.
Planning a Stay in France?
If you are an insured national of the European Economic Area, you would need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) (called la carte européenne d’assurance maladie (CEAM)).
Thanks to this card, you can benefit from health care coverage in France in case of unforeseen and medically necessary care (care that cannot wait until you return to your country). You can also request reimbursement for healthcare expenses: medical, pharmaceutical (remember to always ask for your receipt!), dental, hospitalization, etc.
You’ll be able to ask for treatment from a contracted doctor or approved healthcare establishment and benefit from the same conditions as French insured people.
🔗 Useful link: service-public.fr
Not from the EU?
It is always a good idea to get insurance or some kind of international health coverage. Or you can check with your health insurance provider about how coverage works abroad if you already have one.
Stay healthy, but be prepared!
Whether traveling, studying, or living in France, knowing how to describe your symptoms, navigate a pharmacy, or access healthcare services can save you time, stress, and discomfort. Keep this guide handy — and hopefully, you won’t need it too often!
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