French illnesses vocabulary and phrases, covering common symptoms, conditions, and medical expressions to help describe and understand health problems.
This page teaches you essential French vocabulary for talking about illnesses, including common symptoms, medical conditions, and useful phrases for describing how you feel or understanding a doctor.
Common Symptoms
Here are some of the most common symptoms you might need to describe when talking about feeling unwell or visiting a doctor.
| French Symptom | English Symptom | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| la fièvre | fever | J'ai de la fièvre depuis hier. | I have had a fever since yesterday. |
| la toux | cough | J'ai une toux sèche. | I have a dry cough. |
| le mal de tête | headache | J'ai un mal de tête terrible. | I have a terrible headache. |
| les maux de gorge | sore throat | J'ai mal à la gorge. | I have a sore throat. |
| les nausées | nausea | J'ai des nausées ce matin. | I feel nauseous this morning. |
| les frissons | chills | J'ai des frissons. | I have chills. |
| la fatigue | fatigue | Je me sens très fatigué(e). | I feel very tired. |
| les vertiges | dizziness | J'ai des vertiges quand je me lève. | I feel dizzy when I stand up. |
| la douleur | pain | J'ai une douleur au ventre. | I have pain in my stomach. |
| la congestion | congestion | J'ai la congestion nasale. | I have nasal congestion. |
___ mal à la gorge.
How do you say 'I have a sore throat' in French?
J'ai
The correct phrase is 'J'ai mal à la gorge,' meaning 'I have a sore throat.' 'J'ai' (I have) is used for describing symptoms.
Common Illnesses
These are some of the most common illnesses you might need to talk about in French, whether you’re describing your own condition or understanding someone else.
| French Illness | English Illness | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| le rhume | cold | J'ai attrapé un rhume. | I caught a cold. |
| la grippe | flu | J'ai la grippe depuis trois jours. | I've had the flu for three days. |
| une infection | infection | J'ai une infection urinaire. | I have a urinary infection. |
| une allergie | allergy | J'ai une allergie aux noix. | I'm allergic to nuts. |
| une angine | strep throat | J'ai une angine. | I have strep throat. |
| une bronchite | bronchitis | Il a une bronchite. | He has bronchitis. |
| une otite | ear infection | Mon enfant a une otite. | My child has an ear infection. |
| la diarrhée | diarrhea | J'ai la diarrhée. | I have diarrhea. |
| la constipation | constipation | Je souffre de constipation. | I suffer from constipation. |
| une migraine | migraine | J'ai une migraine aujourd'hui. | I have a migraine today. |
___ attrapé un rhume.
How do you say 'I caught a cold' in French?
J'ai
The correct phrase is 'J'ai attrapé un rhume' meaning 'I caught a cold.' 'J'ai' (I have) is used with 'attrapé' (caught).
Useful Phrases
These are some helpful phrases you can use to describe your symptoms, ask for help, or understand a medical professional.
| French Phrase | English Phrase | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Je ne me sens pas bien. | I don’t feel well. | Je ne me sens pas bien du tout. | I don’t feel well at all. |
| J’ai mal à... | I have a pain in... | J’ai mal à la tête. | I have a headache. |
| Depuis quand ? | Since when? | Depuis quand as-tu de la fièvre ? | Since when have you had a fever? |
| Est-ce que ça fait mal ? | Does it hurt? | Est-ce que ça fait mal quand tu tousses ? | Does it hurt when you cough? |
| Je suis fatigué(e). | I am tired. | Je suis fatiguée depuis ce matin. | I’ve been tired since this morning. |
| Je crois que j’ai... | I think I have... | Je crois que j’ai la grippe. | I think I have the flu. |
| Faut-il voir un médecin ? | Should I see a doctor? | Faut-il voir un médecin pour ce mal de gorge ? | Should I see a doctor for this sore throat? |
| Je prends des médicaments. | I am taking medication. | Je prends des médicaments pour la douleur. | I’m taking medication for the pain. |
| Où est la pharmacie ? | Where is the pharmacy? | Où est la pharmacie la plus proche ? | Where is the nearest pharmacy? |
| Je suis allergique à... | I am allergic to... | Je suis allergique aux antibiotiques. | I am allergic to antibiotics. |
Conclusion
Understanding French vocabulary for illnesses helps you describe symptoms accurately, communicate effectively with healthcare professionals, and navigate medical situations with confidence. Don’t hesitate to practice these words and phrases to build your comfort speaking about health in French.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Symptom: fever
- English Example: I have had a fever since yesterday.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
