Learning French: vocabulary to use at a medical appointment in France

If ever you start to feel unwell while in France, you may be required to speak to a French medical professional. This is why it can be useful to learn vocabulary to describe your symptoms.

We take a sneak peek at some basic French phrases that could be useful when speaking to a health helpline or during an appointment, as featured in the Little Language School’s online course.

Helpful vocabulary exercise 

Here is a non-exhaustive list of some more key questions doctors may ask and phrases that could come in handy when discussing an injury or health issue:

• Qu’est-ce que je peux faire pour vous ? - What can I do for you?

• Alors, qu’est ce qui vous amène ? - So, what brings you here?

• Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas ? - What is the matter?

• Vous avez des douleurs ? - Do you have any pain?

• Vous avez mal ? - Are you in pain?

• Vous avez mal où ? - Where does it hurt?

• J’ai mal ici - It hurts here.

• J’ai mal au dos - My back hurts.

• J’ai mal à la hanche - My hip hurts.

• J’ai mal à l’estomac - My stomach hurts.

• J’ai mal aux articulations - My joints hurt.

• Vous avez des difficultés à respirer ? - Do you have difficulty breathing?

• Vous avez du mal à lever votre bras ? - Do you have trouble lifting your arm?

• J’ai du mal à dormir - I have trouble sleeping.

• J’ai du mal à manger - I have trouble eating. 

• Vous avez une fièvre ? - Do you have a fever?

• Vous avez mal à la tête ? - Do you have a headache?

• Vous toussez ? - Do you have a cough? 

• Vous avez des nausées ou des vomissements ? - Have you experienced any nausea or vomiting?

• J’ai du mal à respirer - I have trouble breathing.

• Je tousse - I have a cough.

• J’ai des vomissements - I have been vomiting. 

Read more: How I coped during French hospital stay with imperfect language skills

A top tip when being asked about symptoms is to listen for key words – for example ‘mal’ or ‘du mal à’ in the question. 

‘Mal’ on its own is asking you what hurts, and so your response might be: j’ai mal au bras (I have a sore arm). 

‘Du mal à’ is asking if you are struggling to do something. You just repeat back the phrase with the action, so your response could be: j’ai du mal à m’asseoir (I am having difficulty sitting down).

Once you have tried saying each of these phrases out loud, attempt the following exercise.

This person is so ill they cannot speak properly. Rearrange the words in each line to create five correct French sentences that describe symptoms, you can use your vocab sheet to help.

1. de la fièvre J’ai

2. à des J’ai difficultés respirer

3. à la J’ai tête mal

4. du à mal J’ai manger

5. du bras J’ai mon mal lever à 

Read more: Seven French expressions revolving around health

Going to a medical appointment 

Read through this conversation a couple of times then put the sentences in the correct order.

 A La tête, d’accord. Vous toussez?

 B Ah – vous avez des nausées?

 C Je comprends. Vous avez du mal à dormir?

 D Bonjour Monsieur, qu’est-ce qui vous amène ?

 E Non, pas à dormir, mais j’ai du mal à manger.

 F Non, je ne tousse pas mais j’ai de la fièvre.

 G Bonjour. J’ai mal à la tête. C’est terrible!

 H Oui, et des vomissements.

Practise the conversation with someone each taking a role, or practise by yourself speaking out loud.

Try changing the underlined sections to another phrase from your vocabulary list.

This lesson is an extract from Module 5 of the Little Language School online French course. These exercises are intended for use alongside a selection of explanatory videos. 

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