To talk about a health problem, we often use very simple words like to be in pain, to be ill, not to feel well and to be tired. We can say I’m in pain when something hurts, and I’m ill when one has a general state of illness. For a vague discomfort, we also say I feel strange or I don’t feel well. When the signs are numerous, we talk about symptoms.

Pain is expressed with to have pain in + body part. We say my head hurts, my stomach hurts and my teeth hurt. The form changes with the article: in the for the head, in the for the stomach, in the for a plural such as the legs. For more precise pain, we add the exact location: my back hurts, my knee hurts, my shoulder hurts. We can also use it hurts to emphasize the sensation.

têtegorgemalpoitrinegenouchevilledosdouleurpartie du corpsventre

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La partie du corps où l’on ressent souvent des douleurs digestivesUne zone précise du corps dont on peut parler pour localiser une douleurUn souffrance physique que l’on ressent dans une partie du corpsLa partie du corps où l’on peut ressentir une douleur comme un mal de têteLa zone du cou par où passent l’air et les alimentsLa partie avant du thorax, près du cœur et des poumonsL’articulation entre la cuisse et la jambeL’articulation entre la jambe et le piedLa partie du corps située à l’arrière du troncUne sensation désagréable dans le corps

Vocabulary of pain and body areas

Word	Definition
douleur	An unpleasant sensation in the body.
mal	A physical suffering felt in part of the body.
tête	The part of the body where one can feel pain such as a headache.
dos	The part of the body located at the back of the trunk.
ventre	The part of the body where digestive pain is often felt.
gorge	The area of the neck through which air and food pass.
poitrine	The front part of the thorax, near the heart and lungs.
genou	The joint between the thigh and the leg.
cheville	The joint between the leg and the foot.
partie du corps	A specific area of the body that can be mentioned to locate pain.

Scramble

A cough is common when one has a cold or an irritated throat. We say to cough for the action, and I have a cough for the symptom. A sneeze is expressed with to sneeze. The nose can be blocked or running: I have a blocked nose and I have a runny nose are the most common phrases. When breathing becomes difficult, we say I am short of breath or I am having difficulty breathing. To talk about discomfort in the lungs or chest, we often say my chest feels tight.

essoufflementrespirationrhumetouxenrouementnez bouchégorge irritéeéternuement

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Un nez qui laisse mal passer l’airUne voix plus grave ou cassée que d’habitudeUne gorge qui pique ou qui brûleUne expulsion brusque de l’air par le nezUne petite infection courante qui donne souvent le nez qui coule ou bouchéL’action de faire entrer et sortir l’air du corpsUne difficulté à respirer normalementUne expulsion répétée de l’air pour dégager la gorge ou les poumons

Vocabulary of respiratory symptoms

Word	Definition
toux	A repeated expulsion of air to clear the throat or lungs.
éternuement	A sudden expulsion of air through the nose.
nez bouché	A nose that does not let air pass easily.
essoufflement	A difficulty breathing normally.
respiration	The action of bringing air into and out of the body.
gorge irritée	A throat that stings or burns.
enrouement	A voice that is lower or strained than usual.
rhume	A minor common infection that often causes a runny or stuffy nose.

Scramble

Digestive problems are described with very common words. To feel nauseous expresses the urge to vomit. To vomit describes the action itself, and vomiting names the symptom. For bowel movements, to have diarrhea indicates frequent and liquid stools, while to be constipated means that evacuation is difficult and infrequent. We also say my stomach hurts when the pain is in the abdominal area, even if the cause is not yet known.

diarrhéeindigestionballonnementmal de ventrenauséeconstipationestomacvomissement

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Un malaise après un repas trop lourdDes selles très liquides et fréquentesUne envie de vomir ou une gêne dans l’estomacL’organe qui reçoit les aliments après la boucheUne difficulté à aller à la selleUne douleur dans la zone abdominaleUne sensation de ventre gonfléLe fait de rejetter le contenu de l’estomac par la bouche

Vocabulary of digestive symptoms

Word	Definition
nausée	An urge to vomit or discomfort in the stomach.
vomissement	The act of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth.
diarrhée	Very watery and frequent stools.
constipation	A difficulty having a bowel movement.
mal de ventre	Pain in the abdominal area.
estomac	The organ that receives food after the mouth.
indigestion	Feeling unwell after a heavy meal.
ballonnement	A sensation of a swollen stomach.

Scramble

Some signs can be seen on the skin or body. Redness appears when an area becomes red. Swelling indicates that a part of the body is larger than usual. A rash or skin rash refers to pimples, patches or marks on the skin. A bruise is a purplish mark after an impact. A wound is an opening in the skin, often after a cut or an accident. We can also say I have a bump when the area is swollen after a blow.

plaiehématomeirritationéruptionrougeurbleugonflementcicatrice

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Un ensemble de petites marques sur la peauUne partie du corps qui augmente de volumeUne réaction de la peau qui devient sensible ou gênéeUne accumulation de sang sous la peau après un chocUne marque qui reste après une blessureUne zone de peau qui devient rougeUne blessure ouverte sur la peauUne tache de peau due à un choc

Vocabulary of visible signs on the body

Word	Definition
rougeur	An area of skin that becomes red.
gonflement	A part of the body that increases in size.
éruption	A group of small marks on the skin.
bleu	A skin mark caused by an impact.
plaie	An open injury on the skin.
cicatrice	A mark that remains after an injury.
irritation	A skin reaction that makes it sensitive or uncomfortable.
hématome	A collection of blood under the skin after an impact.

Scramble

A cut often comes from a knife, glass or a sharp object. A burn can come from fire, hot water or a chemical product. A sprain often affects the ankle or wrist after a twist. A fracture is a broken bone. A bite comes from an animal or a person. To describe the state of the injury, we often add a simple verb: I cut my finger, I burned my hand, I sprained my ankle.

contusioncoupureécorchurebrûlureentorsefracturefouluremorsure

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Une blessure légère d’une articulation après un mauvais gesteUne blessure faite par un objet tranchantUne blessure causée par un choc sans plaie ouverteUne petite blessure superficielle de la peauUne lésion causée par la chaleur, le froid ou un produitUne blessure causée par des dentsUne cassure d’un osUne blessure d’une articulation après un faux mouvement

Vocabulary of frequent injuries

Word	Definition
coupure	An injury made by a sharp object.
brûlure	An injury caused by heat, cold, or a product.
entorse	A joint injury after a wrong movement.
fracture	A broken bone.
morsure	An injury caused by teeth.
écorchure	A small superficial injury to the skin.
foulure	A minor joint injury after a bad movement.
contusion	An injury caused by an impact without an open wound.

Scramble

The severity of a symptom is specified with very direct words. Mild describes pain or an injury that is not very severe. Severe or very severe indicates a high intensity. Unbearable indicates pain that is too intense to tolerate. Continuous describes something that does not stop, such as continuous pain. Sudden or all of a sudden indicates a rapid onset: the pain came on suddenly. We can also say at times when the symptom comes and goes.

Forms for describing pain intensity

Usage	Explanation
Mild pain	Used when the pain is present but manageable.
Severe pain	Used when the pain is very distinct and difficult to ignore.
Unbearable pain	Used when the pain is almost impossible to tolerate.
Continuous pain	Used when the pain is present without stopping.
Sudden pain	Used when the pain arrives abruptly.
Serious injury	Used when the injury requires prompt attention.
A little pain	Used to say that there is only moderate discomfort.
Very painful	Used when something is particularly difficult to tolerate.

When it is necessary to ask for help, we say I need help, call a doctor or an ambulance is needed. For a medical concern, you need to see a doctor is a common phrase. In France, one calls 15 for SAMU, and 112 for the European emergency number. In a serious situation, we can say it’s an emergency or I think it’s serious. To explain the problem quickly, we often use I have + symptom + for + duration: my stomach has hurt since this morning, I have had a fever for two days.