Health Words in French 85 Essential Terms and Useful Phrases

Health vocabulary shows up fast in real life. You need it at the pharmacy, at the doctor’s office, while traveling, and even during very glamorous moments like explaining that your stomach is staging a rebellion.

This guide gives you practical French health words and phrases you can actually use, with simple pronunciation help, clear meanings, and example sentences. We’ll stick to standard France French, with a few learner notes where nuance matters.

Because “I have a headache” is much more useful than knowing the word for “spleen” on day one.

If you want more French basics first, you can explore the full French learning hub. You can also check your level with the French placement test or review everyday words with the French vocabulary test.

Table of Contents

Core Health Nouns You’ll Hear All The Time

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
la santé	sahn-TAY	health	La santé est importante.	Health is important.	Common general word for health.
la maladie	mah-lah-DEE	illness, disease	Cette maladie est contagieuse.	This illness is contagious.	Can mean both illness and disease depending on context.
le symptôme	sehm-TOHM	symptom	La fièvre est un symptôme fréquent.	Fever is a common symptom.	Often used in medical contexts.
le traitement	trah-te-MAHN	treatment	Le traitement dure une semaine.	The treatment lasts one week.	Very common at the doctor or pharmacy.
l’ordonnance	or-do-NAHNS	prescription	J’ai une ordonnance du médecin.	I have a prescription from the doctor.	Feminine noun: une ordonnance.
le médicament	may-dee-kah-MAHN	medicine, medication	Je prends ce médicament après le repas.	I take this medication after the meal.	Generic term for medication.
la douleur	doo-LUR	pain	La douleur est plus forte le soir.	The pain is stronger in the evening.	Useful for more formal or medical descriptions.
la fièvre	fee-EVR	fever	J’ai de la fièvre depuis ce matin.	I’ve had a fever since this morning.	Use avoir: avoir de la fièvre.
la toux	too	cough	Ma toux ne passe pas.	My cough isn’t going away.	The final x is silent.
le rhume	RUM	cold	J’ai un rhume et je suis fatigué.	I have a cold and I’m tired.	Very common everyday word.
la grippe	greep	flu	Il a la grippe cette semaine.	He has the flu this week.	Not the same as a simple cold.
l’infection	een-fek-SYON	infection	Le médecin pense à une infection.	The doctor thinks it may be an infection.	Common in clinic and hospital contexts.

People And Places In Health Settings

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
le médecin	med-SAN	doctor	Je vais chez le médecin demain.	I’m going to the doctor tomorrow.	General word for doctor.
le docteur	dawk-TUR	doctor	Le docteur Martin va vous recevoir.	Doctor Martin will see you.	Often used when addressing a doctor.
l’infirmier / l’infirmière	een-feer-MYAY / een-feer-MYEHR	nurse	L’infirmière m’a donné les instructions.	The nurse gave me the instructions.	Masculine and feminine forms matter.
le pharmacien / la pharmacienne	far-ma-syen / far-ma-syen	pharmacist	Le pharmacien peut vous conseiller.	The pharmacist can advise you.	Very useful in France, where pharmacists often help with minor issues.
l’hôpital	oh-pee-TAL	hospital	Il est à l’hôpital depuis hier.	He has been in the hospital since yesterday.	The h is silent, so you get elision: à l’hôpital.
la pharmacie	far-ma-SEE	pharmacy	La pharmacie ferme à 19 heures.	The pharmacy closes at 7 p.m.	Do not confuse with English “pharmacy” as a subject area only.
les urgences	lay zur-ZHAHNS	emergency room, emergency department	On doit aller aux urgences.	We need to go to the ER.	Plural form in French. Note the liaison in les urgences.
le rendez-vous	rahn-day-voo	appointment	J’ai un rendez-vous chez le dentiste.	I have an appointment with the dentist.	Useful far beyond health topics too.
la consultation	kon-sul-ta-SYON	consultation, appointment	La consultation dure quinze minutes.	The consultation lasts fifteen minutes.	A bit more formal than rendez-vous.
la salle d’attente	sal da-TAHNT	waiting room	Il y a beaucoup de monde dans la salle d’attente.	There are lots of people in the waiting room.	Literally “waiting room.”

Body Parts That Matter In Health Conversations

For a deeper body-related vocabulary set, see body care and hygiene in French and body actions and gestures in French. For now, here are the body parts that tend to show up when something hurts.

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
la tête	tet	head	J’ai mal à la tête.	I have a headache.	Classic phrase. Use avoir mal à.
le ventre	VAHNTR	stomach, belly	J’ai mal au ventre.	My stomach hurts.	Very common in everyday speech.
la gorge	gorzh	throat	J’ai mal à la gorge.	I have a sore throat.	Useful for colds and infections.
le dos	doh	back	J’ai mal au dos après le voyage.	My back hurts after the trip.	The final s is silent.
la jambe	zhahmb	leg	Elle a mal à la jambe gauche.	Her left leg hurts.	Gauche means left.
le bras	brah	arm	Il s’est blessé au bras.	He injured his arm.	The final s is silent.
la main	mahn	hand	Je me suis coupé la main.	I cut my hand.	Very common in accident descriptions.
le pied	pyay	foot	J’ai mal au pied droit.	My right foot hurts.	Au = à + le.
le cœur	kur	heart	Le cœur est un organe essentiel.	The heart is an essential organ.	The spelling looks meaner than the pronunciation.
les poumons	lay poo-MON	lungs	Cette maladie touche les poumons.	This illness affects the lungs.	Plural noun in most contexts.
la peau	poh	skin	J’ai la peau très sèche.	I have very dry skin.	Also useful in skincare topics.
le sang	sahn	blood	Le test montre du sang dans l’analyse.	The test shows blood in the analysis.	Common in medical contexts.

Common Symptoms And Problems

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
avoir mal	ah-VWAR mahl	to hurt, to be in pain	J’ai mal depuis hier soir.	I’ve been in pain since last night.	Core pattern: avoir mal à + body part.
être malade	etr mah-LAHD	to be sick	Je suis malade aujourd’hui.	I’m sick today.	General way to say you are ill.
être fatigué / fatiguée	etr fa-tee-GAY	to be tired	Je suis très fatiguée ce matin.	I’m very tired this morning.	Adjective agrees with gender.
tousser	too-SAY	to cough	Il tousse toute la nuit.	He coughs all night.	Verb form of la toux.
éternuer	ay-ter-nu-AY	to sneeze	Elle éternue sans arrêt.	She keeps sneezing.	Useful during allergy season, aka chaos season.
avoir de la fièvre	ah-VWAR duh la fee-EVR	to have a fever	Il a de la fièvre et des frissons.	He has a fever and chills.	Use de la, not just fièvre alone in this pattern.
avoir des nausées	ah-VWAR day noh-ZAY	to feel nauseous	J’ai des nausées depuis le déjeuner.	I’ve felt nauseous since lunch.	Plural noun in French.
vomir	voh-MEER	to vomit	L’enfant a vomi cette nuit.	The child vomited last night.	Direct and useful, unfortunately.
avoir la diarrhée	ah-VWAR la dya-RAY	to have diarrhea	J’ai la diarrhée depuis hier.	I’ve had diarrhea since yesterday.	Not elegant, but definitely practical.
être constipé / constipée	etr kon-stee-PAY	to be constipated	Je suis constipé depuis deux jours.	I’ve been constipated for two days.	False friend alert: French constipé does not mean “having a cold.”
avoir le nez bouché	ah-VWAR luh nay boo-SHAY	to have a blocked nose	J’ai le nez bouché, je respire mal.	My nose is blocked; I’m breathing badly.	Very common with colds.
avoir le nez qui coule	ah-VWAR luh nay kee kool	to have a runny nose	Mon fils a le nez qui coule.	My son has a runny nose.	Very natural everyday phrasing.
avoir des vertiges	ah-VWAR day ver-TEEZH	to feel dizzy	J’ai des vertiges quand je me lève.	I feel dizzy when I stand up.	Plural noun again in French.
être essoufflé / essoufflée	etr ay-soo-FLAY	to be out of breath	Je suis essoufflé après les escaliers.	I’m out of breath after the stairs.	Useful for health and exercise contexts.
avoir une allergie	ah-VWAR oon a-ler-ZHEE	to have an allergy	J’ai une allergie aux arachides.	I have a peanut allergy.	Aux = à + les.

Useful Phrases At The Doctor Or Pharmacy

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
J’ai mal à…	zhay mahl ah	I have pain in…	J’ai mal à la gorge.	I have a sore throat.	Add the body part after à.
Je ne me sens pas bien.	zhuh nuh muh sahn pah byan	I don’t feel well.	Je ne me sens pas bien depuis ce matin.	I haven’t felt well since this morning.	Very natural all-purpose phrase.
Depuis quand ?	duh-PWEE kahn	Since when?	Depuis quand avez-vous ces symptômes ?	How long have you had these symptoms?	Common question from medical staff.
Depuis hier.	duh-PWEE yer	Since yesterday.	J’ai mal au ventre depuis hier.	My stomach has hurt since yesterday.	Depuis is key for duration from a starting point.
Où avez-vous mal ?	oo ah-vay voo mahl	Where does it hurt?	Où avez-vous mal exactement ?	Where exactly does it hurt?	Polite question with vous.
Respirez profondément.	res-pee-RAY pro-fon-day-MAHN	Breathe deeply.	Respirez profondément, s’il vous plaît.	Breathe deeply, please.	Common instruction in exams.
Ouvrez la bouche.	oo-VRAY la boosh	Open your mouth.	Ouvrez la bouche et dites “ah”.	Open your mouth and say “ah.”	Classic doctor moment.
Prenez ce médicament.	pruh-NAY suh may-dee-kah-MAHN	Take this medicine.	Prenez ce médicament deux fois par jour.	Take this medicine twice a day.	Prenez is formal or plural imperative.
Il faut du repos.	eel fo du ruh-POH	You need rest.	Avec la grippe, il faut du repos.	With the flu, you need rest.	Il faut = “it is necessary / you need.”
sans ordonnance	sahn zor-do-NAHNS	without prescription, over the counter	Ce médicament est disponible sans ordonnance.	This medicine is available over the counter.	Useful at the pharmacy.
sur ordonnance	sur or-do-NAHNS	by prescription	Ce traitement est sur ordonnance.	This treatment is prescription-only.	Opposite of sans ordonnance.
Avez-vous des allergies ?	ah-vay voo day za-ler-ZHEE	Do you have any allergies?	Avez-vous des allergies à signaler ?	Do you have any allergies to report?	Notice the liaison in des allergies.
Je suis allergique à…	zhuh swee za-ler-ZHEEK ah	I’m allergic to…	Je suis allergique à la pénicilline.	I’m allergic to penicillin.	Important phrase to memorize exactly.
J’ai besoin d’un médecin.	zhay buh-ZWAN dun med-SAN	I need a doctor.	Excusez-moi, j’ai besoin d’un médecin.	Excuse me, I need a doctor.	Very useful in emergencies.
Appelez une ambulance.	a-play oon ahm-bu-LAHNS	Call an ambulance.	Vite, appelez une ambulance !	Quick, call an ambulance!	Direct emergency phrase.

Medical Verbs You’ll Need

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
soigner	swa-NYAY	to treat, care for	Le médecin soigne son patient.	The doctor treats his patient.	Common general verb.
guérir	gay-REER	to heal, recover	J’espère guérir rapidement.	I hope to recover quickly.	Can mean getting better.
examiner	eg-zah-mee-NAY	to examine	Le docteur va vous examiner.	The doctor is going to examine you.	Very common in appointments.
prescrire	pray-SKREER	to prescribe	Le médecin a prescrit des antibiotiques.	The doctor prescribed antibiotics.	Formal but frequent medical verb.
prendre	PRAHNDR	to take	Je dois prendre ce comprimé le soir.	I have to take this tablet in the evening.	Used for medicine, transport, and many other things because French likes efficiency.
avaler	a-va-LAY	to swallow	J’ai du mal à avaler.	I have trouble swallowing.	Useful with throat issues.
respirer	res-pee-RAY	to breathe	J’ai du mal à respirer.	I’m having trouble breathing.	Important emergency phrase.
se reposer	suh ruh-po-ZAY	to rest	Tu dois te reposer.	You need to rest.	Reflexive verb: literally “to rest oneself.”
se blesser	suh blay-SAY	to injure oneself	Elle s’est blessée au genou.	She injured her knee.	Reflexive and very useful after accidents.
vacciner	vak-see-NAY	to vaccinate	Ils ont vacciné les enfants.	They vaccinated the children.	Also appears as le vaccin for vaccine.

Medication And Treatment Words

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
un comprimé	kun kom-pree-MAY	tablet, pill	Prenez un comprimé après le repas.	Take one tablet after the meal.	Masculine noun.
une gélule	oon zhay-LUL	capsule	Je prends une gélule le matin.	I take one capsule in the morning.	Feminine noun.
un sirop	un see-ROH	syrup	Ce sirop calme la toux.	This syrup calms the cough.	Often for children or cough treatment.
une crème	oon krem	cream	Appliquez la crème sur la peau.	Apply the cream to the skin.	Useful for skin problems.
un pansement	un pahn-suh-MAHN	bandage, plaster	J’ai besoin d’un pansement.	I need a bandage.	In everyday French, often means adhesive bandage too.
une piqûre	oon pee-KUR	injection, sting	Le médecin m’a fait une piqûre.	The doctor gave me an injection.	Context matters: can also mean insect bite or sting.
un vaccin	un vak-SAN	vaccine	Le vaccin est recommandé.	The vaccine is recommended.	Common public health word.
les antibiotiques	lay zahn-tee-byo-TEEK	antibiotics	Les antibiotiques ne sont pas toujours nécessaires.	Antibiotics are not always necessary.	Plural in most usage.
le dosage	doh-ZAZH	dosage	Respectez bien le dosage.	Follow the dosage carefully.	Very useful on labels and instructions.
les effets secondaires	lay zay-fay suh-gon-DAIR	side effects	Ce médicament a peu d’effets secondaires.	This medicine has few side effects.	Plural expression.

Healthy Lifestyle Vocabulary

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
être en bonne santé	etr ahn bun sahn-TAY	to be in good health	Ma grand-mère est encore en bonne santé.	My grandmother is still in good health.	Very common positive phrase.
une alimentation équilibrée	oon a-lee-mon-ta-SYON ay-kee-lee-BRAY	a balanced diet	Une alimentation équilibrée aide beaucoup.	A balanced diet helps a lot.	Useful in wellness contexts.
faire de l’exercice	fair duh leg-zer-SEES	to exercise	J’essaie de faire de l’exercice chaque jour.	I try to exercise every day.	Notice elision in de l’exercice.
dormir	dor-MEER	to sleep	Je dois dormir davantage.	I need to sleep more.	Sleep is annoyingly important.
le stress	stress	stress	Le stress peut aggraver les symptômes.	Stress can worsen symptoms.	Looks almost identical to English.
la santé mentale	sahn-TAY mahn-TAL	mental health	La santé mentale compte aussi.	Mental health matters too.	Important modern phrase.
être déprimé / déprimée	etr day-pree-MAY	to feel depressed, down	Il se sent déprimé depuis quelque temps.	He has felt depressed for some time.	For emotions vocabulary too, see emotions in French.
se détendre	suh day-TAHNDR	to relax	Il faut se détendre un peu.	You need to relax a bit.	Reflexive verb.
boire de l’eau	bwar duh loh	to drink water	N’oubliez pas de boire de l’eau.	Don’t forget to drink water.	Simple and very useful.
arrêter de fumer	a-ray-TAY duh fu-MAY	to stop smoking	Il veut arrêter de fumer.	He wants to stop smoking.	Frequent public health phrase.

Quick Pronunciation And Grammar Notes

J’ai mal à la tête, j’ai mal au dos, j’ai mal aux jambes: the little word changes with the article. à la for feminine singular, au for masculine singular, and aux for plural.
l’hôpital has a silent h, so French uses elision: à l’hôpital, not à le hôpital. That would be a grammar crime.
Many body parts have silent final letters: bras, dos, nez.
With plural words, you may hear liaison: les urgences, des allergies, les antibiotiques.
French often uses avoir for physical states: avoir mal, avoir de la fièvre, avoir des vertiges, avoir une allergie.

In French health talk, memorizing a few patterns beats memorizing a mountain of random nouns. Learn j’ai mal à…, je me sens mal, and j’ai besoin de…, and suddenly you can survive quite a lot.

Mini Phrase Bank For Real Situations

French	Pronunciation	Meaning	Example Sentence	Translation	Learner Note
Je suis enrhumé / enrhumée.	zhuh swee zahn-ru-MAY	I have a cold.	Je suis enrhumée et je tousse.	I have a cold and I’m coughing.	More specific than je suis malade.
J’ai pris froid.	zhay pree frwah	I caught a chill.	Je crois que j’ai pris froid hier soir.	I think I caught a chill last night.	Common everyday expression.
Ça me brûle.	sah muh brul	It burns.	Quand j’avale, ça me brûle.	When I swallow, it burns.	Useful for throat or skin irritation.
Ça me gratte.	sah muh grat	It itches.	Cette piqûre me gratte beaucoup.	This bite itches a lot.	Useful for skin problems.
Je me suis foulé la cheville.	zhuh muh swee foo-LAY la shuh-VEEY	I sprained my ankle.	Je me suis foulé la cheville en courant.	I sprained my ankle while running.	Very practical injury phrase.
Je me suis coupé le doigt.	zhuh muh swee koo-PAY luh dwah	I cut my finger.	Je me suis coupé le doigt en cuisinant.	I cut my finger while cooking.	French often uses reflexive structure for accidents.
Je fais une réaction allergique.	zhuh feh oon ray-ak-SYON a-ler-ZHEEK	I’m having an allergic reaction.	Je fais une réaction allergique à ce médicament.	I’m having an allergic reaction to this medicine.	Important emergency phrase.
J’ai du mal à respirer.	zhay du mahl ah res-pee-RAY	I’m having trouble breathing.	Depuis ce matin, j’ai du mal à respirer.	Since this morning, I’ve had trouble breathing.	Take this one seriously.
Je me sens mieux.	zhuh muh sahn myuh	I feel better.	Aujourd’hui, je me sens mieux.	Today, I feel better.	Good phrase to know for happier updates.
Je ne me sens toujours pas bien.	zhuh nuh muh sahn too-ZHOOR pah byan	I still don’t feel well.	Après trois jours, je ne me sens toujours pas bien.	After three days, I still don’t feel well.	Toujours here means “still.”

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Not: Je suis mal à la tête.
Correct: J’ai mal à la tête.
French uses avoir mal, not “to be bad at the head.”
Not: Je suis fièvre.
Correct: J’ai de la fièvre.
Again, use avoir.
Not: Je suis constipé if you mean “I have a cold.”
Correct: Je suis enrhumé or j’ai un rhume.
Constipé means constipated. Surprise.
Not: Je vais au pharmacie.
Correct: Je vais à la pharmacie.
Pharmacie is feminine.
Not: Je suis allergique avec la pénicilline.
Correct: Je suis allergique à la pénicilline.
Use à after allergique.

Quick Reference Summary

General health: la santé, la maladie, le symptôme, le traitement
Places and people: le médecin, la pharmacie, l’hôpital, les urgences
Body pain: j’ai mal à la tête, au dos, au ventre, à la gorge
Symptoms: la fièvre, la toux, le rhume, la grippe, les nausées, les vertiges
Medicine: le médicament, l’ordonnance, un comprimé, une gélule, un pansement
Key survival phrases: je ne me sens pas bien, j’ai besoin d’un médecin, je suis allergique à…, appelez une ambulance

That gives you 85 essential French health words and phrases you can use in everyday life, travel, and those annoying moments when your body starts filing complaints. Learn the high-frequency patterns first, especially avoir mal, être malade, and je ne me sens pas bien, and the rest gets much easier.

Yak takeaway: if you can say what hurts, how long it has hurt, and whether you need a doctor, you are already doing very solid survival French.