J'ai mal à la tête
I have a headache
Usage
Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Avoir mal à + body part" is the standard pain expression. Stomach: au ventre, back: au dos
Appelez une ambulance, s'il vous plaît
Please call an ambulance
Usage
Used in emergencies to ask bystanders to call an ambulance
Grammar Note
The imperative "Appelez" is effective in emergencies. Also learn "Au secours!" (Help!)
Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ?
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Usage
Used to locate the nearest pharmacy when you need medicine
Grammar Note
"Le/la plus + adjective" forms the superlative. French pharmacies display a green cross neon sign
Je suis allergique aux arachides
I am allergic to peanuts
Usage
Used at restaurants or medical facilities to communicate a food allergy
Grammar Note
Structure: "allergique à + allergen". Aux = à + les. Dairy: au lait, gluten: au gluten
J'ai de la fièvre
I have a fever
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or others that you have a fever
Grammar Note
"Fièvre" is feminine. "De la" is a partitive article. To specify: "J'ai 38 degrés de fièvre"
Je voudrais consulter un médecin
I would like to see a doctor
Usage
Used when booking an appointment or at a reception desk to request a doctor
Grammar Note
"Voudrais" is the conditional of "vouloir", expressing polite desire. Good for non-emergency consultations
J'ai des nausées
I feel nauseous
Usage
Used to describe nausea to a doctor or medical staff
Grammar Note
"Nausées" is typically plural. "J'ai envie de vomir" is a more direct alternative
Parlez-vous anglais ?
Do you speak English?
Usage
Used at medical facilities to ask if English-speaking staff are available
Grammar Note
Inversion question form. "Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?" is an equivalent alternative
J'ai une assurance maladie
I have health insurance
Usage
Used at a hospital reception to inform staff of your health insurance
Grammar Note
Hospitals may ask for your insurance card (carte d'assurance). Have your insurer's contact handy
Pouvez-vous me donner une ordonnance ?
Could you give me a prescription?
Usage
Politely requests a prescription from a doctor after a medical consultation
Grammar Note
Inverted "pouvoir" for polite requests. In France, prescription drugs and OTC drugs are clearly separated
Je suis enceinte
I am pregnant
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist you are pregnant — it decides which medicines and X-rays are safe
Grammar Note
Here "enceinte" is a feminine-only adjective; the identical noun means "loudspeaker", so keep the full sentence rather than the bare word
l'asthme
Asthma
Usage
Point to this to tell staff you have asthma
Grammar Note
Masculine noun elided to "l'"; an inhaler is "l'inhalateur"
le diabète
Diabetes
Usage
Point to this to tell staff you are diabetic
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; the sentence form is "Je suis diabétique"
l'hypertension
High blood pressure
Usage
Point to this to tell staff you have high blood pressure
Grammar Note
Feminine noun (la, elided to l'); low blood pressure is "l'hypotension"
la maladie cardiaque
Heart disease
Usage
Point to this to tell staff you have a heart condition
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; the adjective "cardiaque" has the same masculine and feminine form
l'épilepsie
Epilepsy
Usage
Point to this to tell staff you have epilepsy
Grammar Note
Feminine noun elided to "l'"; a seizure is "la crise"
la fracture
Fracture
Usage
Shown while pointing at the injured spot to report a suspected fracture
les difficultés respiratoires
Difficulty breathing
Usage
Point to this to report shortness of breath — fastest when you are too breathless to speak
Grammar Note
Feminine plural; the sentence form is "J'ai du mal à respirer"
les vertiges
Dizziness
Usage
Point to this to report feeling dizzy
Grammar Note
Used in the masculine plural; the sentence form is "J'ai des vertiges"
le saignement
Bleeding
Usage
Shown while pointing at the site to report bleeding
la brûlure
Burn
Usage
Point to this to report a burn
la plaie
Wound
Usage
The word for a wound itself; a shallow cut is "la coupure"
l'oreille
Ear
Usage
Point to this to report ear pain or trouble
Grammar Note
Feminine noun elided to "l'"; "my ear hurts" is "J'ai mal à l'oreille"
le cou
Neck
Usage
Point to this to report neck pain
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; not to be confused with the homophone "coup" (a blow)
l'épaule
Shoulder
Usage
Point to this to report shoulder pain
Grammar Note
Feminine noun elided to "l'"
le genou
Knee
Usage
Point to this to report knee pain
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; the plural is "les genoux" (an -x plural)
le doigt
Finger
Usage
Point to this to report a finger injury or pain
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; the final "gt" is silent. A toe is "l'orteil"
la peau
Skin
Usage
Point to this to report a skin problem
le bras
Arm
Usage
Point to this to report arm pain or injury
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; the final "s" is silent and the plural looks identical
le nez
Nose
Usage
Point to this to report a blocked or bleeding nose
la toux
Cough
Usage
Point to this to report that you have a cough
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; "I have a cough" is "J'ai de la toux", or "Je tousse" as a verb
les démangeaisons
Itching
Usage
Shown while pointing at the itchy area
Grammar Note
Feminine plural; "it itches" is "Ça me démange"
l'éruption cutanée
Skin rash
Usage
Shown while pointing at the affected area to report a rash
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; without "cutanée" (of the skin), "éruption" can also mean a volcanic eruption
la constipation
Constipation
Usage
Point to this at a pharmacy or clinic to report constipation
les règles
Period (menstruation)
Usage
The everyday French word for menstruation; the same word also means "rules", so only show it in a medical or pharmacy setting
Grammar Note
Only the feminine plural carries this meaning; the clinical term is "les menstruations"
le groupe sanguin
Blood type
Usage
Asked before a transfusion or an operation; show it together with your own group (A / B / AB / O and Rh)
Grammar Note
Masculine noun for the category people are sorted into by the antigens on the surface of their red blood cells
l'hospitalisation
Hospital admission
Usage
For checking whether you have to be admitted, or when you are told that you will be
Grammar Note
Feminine noun elided to "l'"; the verb "hospitaliser" means to place someone in hospital to be treated
les frissons
Chills
Usage
Point to this for the shivery cold feeling that comes with a fever
Grammar Note
Masculine noun, used in the plural as a symptom; glossed as trembling brought on by cold or by fever
le rhume
Common cold
Usage
Covers a runny nose, cough and sore throat together; influenza is "la grippe" and is a different word
Grammar Note
Masculine noun for the inflammation of the lining of the nose and throat; the viral form is also called "le coryza"
Appelez un médecin, s'il vous plaît
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone needs to be seen on the spot
Grammar Note
The "Appelez + noun, s'il vous plaît" frame. "Médecin" is interchangeable with "docteur". If an ambulance is needed, call the SAMU
J'ai mal ici
It hurts here
Usage
Say this while pointing at the spot that hurts; it works even when you do not know the name of the body part
Grammar Note
The "avoir mal à + body part" frame with the body part replaced by the adverb "ici"; adverbs take no preposition, so there is no "à"
Je ne me sens pas bien
I feel sick
Usage
Say that you are unwell before going into specific symptoms
Grammar Note
The negation of "Je me sens bien". The negative is ne + verb + pas, and the reflexive "me" sits after "ne", in the same position as in "Je ne parle pas français."
Je me sens faible
I feel weak
Usage
Describe a heavy, strengthless feeling to a doctor; it is distinct from ordinary tiredness that sleep fixes ("Je suis fatigué")
Grammar Note
The same frame as "Je me sens bien" with a different adjective. "Faible" means lacking physical vigour or strength, which is what a doctor needs to hear. "Faible" has one form for both genders
J'ai vomi plusieurs fois
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tell a doctor that you have been vomiting, and roughly how often
Grammar Note
"Vomir" means to bring up the contents of the stomach through the mouth. The compound past is "avoir" plus the participle "vomi", as in "J'ai perdu". For nausea without vomiting, use "J'ai des nausées"
Ai-je besoin de repos ?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Check with the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
An inverted question, like "Ai-je besoin de crème solaire ?"; the noun after "avoir besoin de" takes no article. The noun "repos" shares its root with the verb "se reposer"
la diarrhée
Diarrhea
Usage
Point to this to name the symptom to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; the sentence form is "J'ai la diarrhée" (keep the article "la")
le caca
Poop
Usage
Everyday child-friendly word; also understood when describing a child's stools to a doctor
Grammar Note
Masculine noun, informal and child-oriented; the verb phrase is "faire caca". For an adult speaking to a doctor, "les selles" (stools) is the neutral word
le pipi
Pee
Usage
Everyday word for adults and children alike; the standard way to say you need the toilet
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; the verb phrase is "faire pipi". With a doctor, the neutral medical word is "l'urine" (urine)
J'ai la diarrhée
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
A symptom phrase built on "avoir", like "J'ai mal à la tête", with the noun "la diarrhée"; the article "la" is required
Je suis constipé(e)
I'm constipated
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
Être + adjective, like "Je suis allergique aux arachides". A woman writes "constipée"; the pronunciation is the same. It is the adjective that corresponds to the noun "la constipation"
J'ai envie de faire pipi
I need to pee
Usage
The ordinary way to say you need to pee, with a companion or a child
Grammar Note
"Avoir envie de" + infinitive expresses a bodily urge. The noun "le pipi" means pee. To a doctor one can say "J'ai envie d'uriner"
J'ai envie de faire caca
I need to poop
Usage
The ordinary way to say you need to poop, with a companion or a child
Grammar Note
The same "avoir envie de" + infinitive frame. "Caca" is child-oriented and informal; in polite settings say "J'ai envie d'aller aux toilettes"
More French phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences