Welcome to lesson 115 — a short, practical set of phrases for the doctor's office. We'll focus on clear ways to describe pain, past treatments, and ask the right follow-up questions.
Listen, repeat, and then practice using short quizzes and speaking prompts. You'll sound ready for a real appointment.
Level B1: In this CEFR-aligned lesson (115) you'll practice 10 useful French phrases for a doctor visit: rating pain, explaining what you've tried, saying how symptoms affect daily life, and asking about tests or contagion. By the end you'll be able to describe how a symptom has changed, ask about restrictions, and plan a follow-up.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Practice polite medical questions and clear symptom descriptions (B1).
Learn to say how bad the pain is and which treatments didn't help.
Be able to ask about tests, contagion, restrictions, and follow-up timing.
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.
Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais ___.
On a scale from 1 to 10, it's about ___ .
Meaning: On a scale from 1 to 10, it's about ___.
When to use: Use this to give a number when a doctor asks you to rate pain or discomfort.
Tip: Don't reply with just '7' without the frame when the doctor expects a sentence.
Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais 7.
On a scale of 1–10, I'd say 7.
Si je dois noter la douleur: sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais 4.
If I have to rate it: on a scale of 1–10, I'd say 4.
J'ai pris ___, mais ça n'a pas aidé.
I took ___, but it didn't help.
Meaning: I took ___, but it didn't help.
When to use: Say this to explain which medicine or treatment you already tried before the appointment.
Tip: Beginner error: leaving out the article (e.g., say 'pris paracétamol' instead of 'pris du paracétamol').
J'ai pris du paracétamol, mais ça n'a pas aidé.
I took paracetamol, but it didn't help.
J'ai pris des anti-inflammatoires, mais ça n'a pas aidé.
I took anti-inflammatories, but it didn't help.
Je n'arrive plus à ___ à cause de ça.
I haven't been able to ___ because of it.
Meaning: I haven't been able to ___ because of it.
When to use: Use this with an infinitive verb to explain how a symptom prevents an activity (e.g., dormir, marcher).
Je n'arrive plus à dormir à cause de ça.
I can't sleep because of it.
Je n'arrive plus à marcher à cause de la douleur.
I can't walk because of the pain.
Est-ce que je dois faire des examens ?
Do I need any tests?
Meaning: Do I need any tests?
When to use: Ask this when you want to know if the doctor recommends blood work, imaging, or other exams.
Est-ce que je dois faire des examens ?
Do I need to have any tests?
Avec ces symptômes, est-ce que je dois faire des examens complémentaires ?
With these symptoms, do I need additional tests?
Est-ce que je dois éviter ___ ?
Should I avoid ___ ?
Meaning: Should I avoid ___?
When to use: Use this to ask about foods, activities, medications or situations to avoid while recovering.
Est-ce que je dois éviter le sport ?
Should I avoid exercise?
Est-ce que je dois éviter l'alcool ?
Should I avoid alcohol?
Je dois revenir quand ?
When should I come back?
Meaning: When should I come back?
When to use: Ask this to clarify the timing for a follow-up appointment or check-up.
Je dois revenir quand ?
When should I come back?
Si les symptômes persistent, je dois revenir quand ?
If symptoms persist, when should I come back?
J'ai remarqué ___ récemment.
I've noticed ___ recently.
Meaning: I've noticed ___ recently.
When to use: Use this to report a new symptom or a change you've observed.
J'ai remarqué un gonflement récemment.
I've noticed swelling recently.
J'ai remarqué que la douleur augmente la nuit récemment.
I've noticed the pain increases at night recently.
La douleur va vers ___.
The pain spreads to my ___.
Meaning: The pain spreads to my ___.
When to use: Say this to describe that pain is moving from one body part to another (use the correct preposition for body parts).
Tip: Watch prepositions: use 'vers' for 'towards' and 'jusqu'à' for 'as far as.'
La douleur va vers l'épaule.
The pain goes toward the shoulder.
La douleur va vers la jambe droite.
The pain spreads to the right leg.
Est-ce que ça peut être un effet secondaire de ___ ?
Could this be a side effect of ___?
Meaning: Could this be a side effect of ___?
When to use: Ask this when you suspect a medicine or treatment is causing a symptom.
Est-ce que ça peut être un effet secondaire de mon médicament ?
Could this be a side effect of my medication?
Est-ce que ça peut être un effet secondaire de l'antibiotique ?
Could this be a side effect of the antibiotic?
Est-ce que c'est contagieux ?
Is it contagious?
Meaning: Is it contagious?
When to use: Use this to ask whether an illness or symptom can be transmitted to others.
Est-ce que c'est contagieux ?
Is it contagious?
Avec ces signes, est-ce que c'est contagieux pour ma famille ?
With these signs, is it contagious for my family?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Quick clinic exchange about pain, failed medication, and tests
What is Anna mainly describing?
Anna
Bonjour, j'ai remarqué une douleur au bras récemment.
Hello, I've noticed pain in my arm recently.
David
D'accord. Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais combien ?
Okay. On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you say it?
Anna
Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais 6. La douleur va vers l'épaule et je n'arrive plus à dormir à cause de ça.
On a scale of 1–10, I'd say 6. The pain goes to my shoulder and I can't sleep because of it.
David
Vous avez pris quelque chose pour la douleur ?
Did you take anything for the pain?
Anna
J'ai pris du paracétamol, mais ça n'a pas aidé. Est-ce que je dois faire des examens ?
I took paracetamol, but it didn't help. Do I need any tests?
David
Nous allons voir. Et non, ce n'est probablement pas contagieux.
We'll check. And no, it's probably not contagious.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which French phrase asks if a symptom could be a side effect of medication?
Which phrase means 'Do I need any tests?'
If you want to ask about returning for a follow-up, which phrase do you use?
Which sentence tells the doctor a treatment did not help?
When asked his pain level, he answers: On a scale of 1 to 10, I'd say 7.
Quand on lui demande son niveau de douleur, il répond: ___.
After taking medicine without results, the patient says: I took paracetamol, but it didn't help.
Après avoir pris des médicaments sans résultat, le patient dit: ___.
Worried for the family, the patient asks the doctor: Is it contagious?
Inquiet pour la famille, le patient demande au médecin: ___.
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:
Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, je dirais ___.
On a scale from 1 to 10, it's about ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
J'ai pris ___, mais ça n'a pas aidé.
I took ___, but it didn't help.
Say this phrase out loud:
Je n'arrive plus à ___ à cause de ça.
I haven't been able to ___ because of it.
Say this phrase out loud:
Est-ce que je dois faire des examens ?
Do I need any tests?
Say this phrase out loud:
Est-ce que je dois éviter ___ ?
Should I avoid ___?
Say this phrase out loud:
Je dois revenir quand ?
When should I come back?
Say this phrase out loud:
J'ai remarqué ___ récemment.
I've noticed ___ recently.
Say this phrase out loud:
La douleur va vers ___.
The pain spreads to my ___.
Say this phrase out loud:
Est-ce que ça peut être un effet secondaire de ___ ?
