French - Doctor Visit

Lesson 114 of 159

Learner at a doctor's reception desk practicing French phrases for a doctor visit.

Goal: Describe symptoms, ask about medicine and recovery

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready for Lesson 114? Today we’ll practice real phrases to use at the doctor. Short and practical — you’ll be able to describe symptoms, say how long they’ve lasted, and ask about treatment.

Listen, repeat, and then try the short conversation and practice tasks. Small steps: clear phrases you can use right away.

Level B1: In this lesson you’ll practice telling a doctor what’s wrong and asking practical questions: say how long symptoms have lasted, where it hurts, if it’s getting worse, report a fever or an allergy, and ask about medicine and recovery time. This CEFR-aligned lesson (114) focuses on useful, natural phrases for a medical visit.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Report symptom, duration and location (B1 practical phrasing).
  • Say whether symptoms are improving or getting worse and report fever or allergies.
  • Ask how often to take medicine and how long recovery will take.
A patient preparing to explain symptoms in French during a clinic visit, focusing on duration and pain location.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

J’ai ___ depuis ___ jours.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Meaning: I've been having ___ for ___ days.

When to use: When you want to tell the doctor how long a symptom has been happening.

Tip: Don’t use 'pendant' for an ongoing symptom; use 'depuis' to say it started in the past and continues.

J’ai mal à la tête depuis trois jours.
I’ve had a headache for three days.
J’ai de la fièvre depuis deux jours.
I’ve had a fever for two days.

Ça a commencé il y a ___.

It started ___ ago.

Meaning: It started ___ ago.

When to use: To describe when the symptom began (e.g., two days ago, a week ago).

Ça a commencé il y a deux jours.
It started two days ago.
Ça a commencé il y a une semaine après le voyage.
It started a week ago after the trip.

J'ai mal au ___ .

The pain is in my ___.

Meaning: The pain is in my ___. / My ___ hurts.

When to use: When you need to say where you feel pain (head, back, stomach...).

Tip: Remember the article: use 'au' (masculine), 'à la' (feminine), 'aux' (plural).

J'ai mal au dos quand je reste debout longtemps.
My back hurts when I stand for a long time.
J'ai mal à l'épaule depuis le match de tennis.
My shoulder has hurt since the tennis match.

C'est léger, mais ça ne passe pas.

It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Meaning: It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

When to use: To explain a persistent but not severe symptom.

C'est léger, mais ça ne passe pas depuis des jours.
It's mild, but it hasn't gone away for days.
La douleur est légère; c'est léger, mais ça ne passe pas.
The pain is mild; it's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Ça empire.

It's getting worse.

Meaning: It's getting worse.

When to use: When symptoms are increasing in severity or frequency.

Au début c'était supportable, mais maintenant ça empire.
At first it was bearable, but now it's getting worse.
Mon état empire depuis hier soir.
My condition is getting worse since last night.

Je crois que j'ai de la fièvre.

I think I have a fever.

Meaning: I think I have a fever.

When to use: To report that you suspect you have a fever or high temperature.

Je crois que j'ai de la fièvre; j'ai froid et je transpire.
I think I have a fever; I'm cold then sweating.
Je crois que j'ai de la fièvre, la température est monté ce matin.
I think I have a fever; my temperature rose this morning.

Je dois prendre ce médicament à quelle fréquence ?

How often should I take this medicine?

Meaning: How often should I take this medicine?

When to use: When you need clear instructions for medication timing.

Je dois prendre ce médicament à quelle fréquence ? Avant ou après les repas ?
How often should I take this medicine? Before or after meals?
Pour ce sirop, je dois le prendre à quelle fréquence ?
For this syrup, how often should I take it?

Il faut combien de temps pour que ça aille mieux ?

How long will it take to feel better?

Meaning: How long will it take to feel better?

When to use: To ask the expected recovery time from the doctor.

Il faut combien de temps pour que ça aille mieux ? Est-ce quelques jours ?
How long will it take to get better? A few days?
Après le traitement, il faut combien de temps pour que ça aille mieux ?
After the treatment, how long until it gets better?

Je suis allergique à ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Meaning: I'm allergic to ___.

When to use: To tell the doctor about drug or substance allergies (penicillin, paracetamol, etc.).

Je suis allergique à la pénicilline, donc ne me la prescrivez pas.
I'm allergic to penicillin, so please don't prescribe it.
Je suis allergique aux antibiotiques oraux depuis l'enfance.
I'm allergic to oral antibiotics since childhood.

C'est grave ?

Is it something serious?

Meaning: Is it something serious?

When to use: To ask whether the symptom or condition is serious.

C'est grave ? J'ai un peu peur pour ma santé.
Is it serious? I'm a little worried about my health.
Vous pensez que c'est grave ?
Do you think it's serious?

Ça me fait mal quand je ___.

It hurts when I ___ .

Meaning: It hurts when I ___.

When to use: To describe actions that trigger pain (e.g., breathe, move, eat).

Ça me fait mal quand je respire profondément.
It hurts when I breathe deeply.
Ça me fait mal quand je me penche en avant.
It hurts when I bend forward.

Je me sens ___ quand je ___.

I feel ___ when I ___ .

Meaning: I feel ___ when I ___.

When to use: To describe a physical reaction in a specific situation (e.g., dizzy when standing).

Je me sens étourdi quand je me lève rapidement.
I feel dizzy when I stand up quickly.
Je me sens nauséeux quand je mange du lait.
I feel nauseous when I drink milk.

La douleur va et vient.

The pain comes and goes.

Meaning: The pain comes and goes.

When to use: To describe intermittent pain or discomfort.

La douleur va et vient, surtout la nuit.
The pain comes and goes, especially at night.
Depuis hier, la douleur va et vient toutes les heures.
Since yesterday the pain comes and goes every hour.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Short visit at a clinic between patient Anna and Dr. David.

Two people in a clinic speaking French: one describes symptoms and asks about medicine and recovery time.

Who says they think they have a fever?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Bonjour, docteur. J’ai mal à la tête depuis trois jours.

Hello, doctor. I’ve had a headache for three days.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Ça a commencé il y a trois jours ? Ça empire ?

It started three days ago? Is it getting worse?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Un peu — c'est léger, mais ça ne passe pas. Je crois que j'ai de la fièvre.

A bit — it’s mild, but it doesn't go away. I think I have a fever.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

D'accord. Il faut combien de temps pour que ça aille mieux ?

Okay. How long will it take to get better?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Et je dois prendre ce médicament à quelle fréquence ?

And how often should I take this medicine?

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Je vais vérifier vos signes et on décidera le traitement.

I'll check your signs and we'll decide on treatment.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which French phrase asks if something is serious?

Which phrase asks when the symptom began?

How do you say 'My back hurts' in French?

Which phrase would you use to ask 'How often should I take this medicine?'

I feel sick when I eat, so I've had a toothache for two days.

Je me sens mal quand je mange, donc j’ai ___ depuis deux jours.

The doctor asks 'When did it start?' The patient answers 'It started three days ago.'

Le médecin demande : "____" Patient : "Il a commencé il y a trois jours."

Anna: 'I'm taking this syrup, but it's mild and it doesn't go away.'

Anna : "Je prends ce sirop, mais ___."

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

J’ai ___ depuis ___ jours.

I've been having ___ for ___ days.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça a commencé il y a ___.

It started ___ ago.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai mal au ___ .

The pain is in my ___. / My ___ hurts.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est léger, mais ça ne passe pas.

It's mild, but it doesn't go away.

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça empire.

It's getting worse.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je crois que j'ai de la fièvre.

I think I have a fever.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je dois prendre ce médicament à quelle fréquence ?

How often should I take this medicine?

Say this phrase out loud:

Il faut combien de temps pour que ça aille mieux ?

How long will it take to feel better?

Say this phrase out loud:

Je suis allergique à ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

C'est grave ?

Is it something serious?

Say this phrase out loud:

Ça me fait mal quand je ___.

It hurts when I ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je me sens ___ quand je ___.

I feel ___ when I ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

La douleur va et vient.

The pain comes and goes.