This article will guide you through the most common French vocabulary needed to understand and give basic medical instructions. It covers verbs, nouns, and phrases related to taking medication, following treatments, and communicating with healthcare professionals.
Taking Medication
This section covers vocabulary for common instructions you might see on prescription labels or hear from a pharmacist.
Verbs and Phrases
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| prendre | to take | Prenez deux comprimés par jour. | Take two tablets per day. |
| avaler | to swallow | Avalez le médicament avec de l'eau. | Swallow the medicine with water. |
| appliquer | to apply | Appliquez la crème sur la peau. | Apply the cream on the skin. |
| inhaler | to inhale | Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour. | Inhale one dose three times a day. |
| répéter | to repeat | Répétez l'opération matin et soir. | Repeat the procedure morning and evening. |
| éviter | to avoid | Évitez de manger avant la prise. | Avoid eating before taking it. |
I have to cancel my appointment.
Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous.
"Je dois annuler" means "I have to cancel," and "mon rendez-vous" means "my appointment." The correct translation is "Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous."
Avoid eating before taking it.
Évitez de manger avant la prise.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "de manger" means "eating," and "avant la prise" means "before taking it." The correct translation is "Évitez de manger avant la prise."
Avoid sunlight during the treatment.
Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "le soleil" means "the sunlight," "pendant" means "during," and "le traitement" means "the treatment." The correct translation is "Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement."
Inhale one dose three times a day.
Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour.
"Inhalez" means "inhale," "une dose" means "one dose," and "trois fois par jour" means "three times a day." The correct translation is "Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour."
Quantity and Frequency
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| une dose | a dose | Prenez une dose avant le repas. | Take one dose before the meal. |
| un comprimé | a tablet | Prenez un comprimé toutes les huit heures. | Take one tablet every eight hours. |
| un sirop | syrup | Prenez deux cuillères de sirop par jour. | Take two spoonfuls of syrup per day. |
| par jour | per day | Prenez le médicament deux fois par jour. | Take the medicine twice a day. |
| avant | before | Prenez le médicament avant de manger. | Take the medicine before eating. |
| après | after | Prenez le médicament après le repas. | Take the medicine after the meal. |
Following Treatment
This section includes vocabulary for instructions related to ongoing treatments and care.
Verbs and Phrases
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| reposer | to rest | Reposez-vous pendant deux jours. | Rest for two days. |
| surveiller | to monitor | Surveillez votre température. | Monitor your temperature. |
| noter | to note | Notez tout effet secondaire. | Note any side effects. |
| changer | to change | Changez le pansement chaque jour. | Change the dressing daily. |
| consulter | to consult | Consultez un médecin si ça empire. | See a doctor if it gets worse. |
| éviter | to avoid | Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement. | Avoid sunlight during the treatment. |
I have to cancel my appointment.
Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous.
"Je dois annuler" means "I have to cancel," and "mon rendez-vous" means "my appointment." The correct translation is "Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous."
Avoid eating before taking it.
Évitez de manger avant la prise.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "de manger" means "eating," and "avant la prise" means "before taking it." The correct translation is "Évitez de manger avant la prise."
Avoid sunlight during the treatment.
Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "le soleil" means "the sunlight," "pendant" means "during," and "le traitement" means "the treatment." The correct translation is "Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement."
Inhale one dose three times a day.
Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour.
"Inhalez" means "inhale," "une dose" means "one dose," and "trois fois par jour" means "three times a day." The correct translation is "Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour."
Time and Conditions
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| chaque jour | every day | Nettoyez la plaie chaque jour. | Clean the wound every day. |
| pendant | during | Ne buvez pas d'alcool pendant le traitement. | Do not drink alcohol during the treatment. |
| jusqu'à | until | Prenez le médicament jusqu'à dimanche. | Take the medicine until Sunday. |
| si besoin | if needed | Prenez un comprimé si besoin. | Take a tablet if needed. |
| dès que | as soon as | Appelez le médecin dès que possible. | Call the doctor as soon as possible. |
Doctor's Appointments
This section provides vocabulary for scheduling and preparing for medical visits.
Verbs and Phrases
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| prendre rendez-vous | to make an appointment | J'ai pris rendez-vous chez le médecin. | I made an appointment with the doctor. |
| annuler | to cancel | Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous. | I have to cancel my appointment. |
| apporter | to bring | Apportez votre carnet de santé. | Bring your health record. |
| expliquer | to explain | Expliquez vos symptômes au médecin. | Explain your symptoms to the doctor. |
| attendre | to wait | Attendez dans la salle d'attente. | Wait in the waiting room. |
| prescrire | to prescribe | Le médecin a prescrit un nouvel antibiotique. | The doctor prescribed a new antibiotic. |
I have to cancel my appointment.
Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous.
"Je dois annuler" means "I have to cancel," and "mon rendez-vous" means "my appointment." The correct translation is "Je dois annuler mon rendez-vous."
Avoid eating before taking it.
Évitez de manger avant la prise.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "de manger" means "eating," and "avant la prise" means "before taking it." The correct translation is "Évitez de manger avant la prise."
Avoid sunlight during the treatment.
Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement.
"Évitez" means "avoid," "le soleil" means "the sunlight," "pendant" means "during," and "le traitement" means "the treatment." The correct translation is "Évitez le soleil pendant le traitement."
Inhale one dose three times a day.
Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour.
"Inhalez" means "inhale," "une dose" means "one dose," and "trois fois par jour" means "three times a day." The correct translation is "Inhalez une dose trois fois par jour."
Common Instructions
| French | English | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| à jeun | on an empty stomach | Venez à jeun pour la prise de sang. | Come on an empty stomach for the blood test. |
| carte vitale | health insurance card | Présentez votre carte Vitale à l'accueil. | Present your health insurance card at reception. |
| bilan | check-up | Je viens pour un bilan médical. | I am here for a medical check-up. |
| ordonnance | prescription | Apportez l’ordonnance au pharmacien. | Bring the prescription to the pharmacist. |
| résultat | result | Vous recevrez les résultats dans une semaine. | You will receive the results in a week. |
| suivi | follow-up | Un rendez-vous de suivi est prévu dans un mois. | A follow-up appointment is scheduled in a month. |
I am here for a medical check-up.
Je viens pour un bilan médical.
"Je viens pour" means "I am here for," and "un bilan médical" means "a medical check-up." The correct translation is "Je viens pour un bilan médical."
Useful Expressions
These are common full-sentence instructions you might hear or need to say in a medical context.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Comment prenez-vous votre médicament ? | How do you take your medicine? |
| Avez-vous des allergies ? | Do you have any allergies? |
| Prenez ce médicament avec de l’eau. | Take this medicine with water. |
| Ne dépassez pas la dose recommandée. | Do not exceed the recommended dose. |
| Revenez me voir dans une semaine. | Come back to see me in a week. |
| Si vous avez des questions, n’hésitez pas à demander. | If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. |
With this vocabulary, you should be able to understand and follow most basic medical instructions in French.
Flashcards (1 of 41)
- English: to take
- English Example: Take two tablets per day.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
