Chez le médecin
Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Recently in one of my French classes, we were talking about medical emergencies and common illnesses. It got me thinking…
When it comes to French medical vocabulary, most of us are taught the classics:
J’ai mal à la tête – I have a headache
J’ai la grippe – I have the flu
J’ai un rhume – I have a cold
Helpful, yes. But real life isn’t always so tidy. Our bodies have a whole range of ways they can let us down, especially when we’re on holiday, and many of them are a bit more personal (and let’s be honest – a little embarrassing!).
The French, being wonderfully precise, often use more medical terms than we might expect. And these are rarely covered in standard lessons – unless, of course, you’re in class with me!
So, let’s go beyond the basics. Here’s a handy guide to some genuinely useful French medical vocabulary that could make a difference if you find yourself needing to visit le médecin (the doctor), l’infirmier/l’infirmière (the nurse), or le pharmacien/la pharmacienne (the pharmacist).
Everyday Symptoms
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J’ai mal au cœur – I feel nauseous (not “my heart is hurting”!)
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J’ai la Covid – I have Covid (yes, it’s still around)
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J’ai une angine – I have a throat infection or tonsillitis (not angina!)
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J’ai une pharyngite – I have strep throat
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J’ai une sinusite – I have sinusitis
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J’ai des démangeaisons – I have itches / I’m itchy
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J’ai le rhume des foins – I have hay fever
Slightly More Embarrassing – But Very Useful
If you’re eating breakfast, you might want to come back to this bit later…
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J’ai une verrue (plantaire) – I have a verruca
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J’ai une conjonctivite – I have conjunctivitis
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J’ai des vers (intestinaux) / des oxyures – I have (thread)worms
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J’ai une cystite – I have cystitis
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J’ai une gastro – I have a tummy bug
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J’ai des pertes (blanches) – I have a (white) discharge
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J’ai une mycose (vaginale) – I have thrush
Medication Matters
In the UK, we tend to use the generic names for everyday medication – (painkillers, antibiotics, antihistamines) such as “paracetamol”. In France, brand names are much more commonly used.
So, it’s worth knowing that:
Doliprane = Paracetamol
Efferalgan = Effervescent paracetamol tablets
Advil = Ibuprofen
(There are others, but these are the ones you’re most likely to hear when you’re in need of something quickly.)
Final Thought
Hopefully, this is a post you’ll never need to use in practice. But if you’re travelling, living in France, or just want to build real-life vocabulary, this is the sort of French medical vocabulary that can make a huge difference.
Wishing you a healthy summer ahead – but if your tummy, throat, or sinuses do act up, at least you’ll know how to explain it like a pro!
À votre santé !
Frannie x
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