French - Lesson 155 of 159: Health: basic complaints

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Je suis allergique à ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Meaning: I'm allergic to ___.

When to use: Use this phrase when you need to say what causes your allergy, for example to food, pollen, or medicine. Follow with the allergen: aux noix, au lait, à l'arachide, au pollen.

Tip: Remember the article: use au / à l' / aux depending on the noun (au lait, à l'arachide, aux noix).

Je suis allergique aux noix.

I'm allergic to nuts.

Je suis allergique au pollen au printemps.

I'm allergic to pollen in spring.

J'ai mal à ___.

My ___ hurts. / I have pain in my ___.

Meaning: My ___ hurts. / I have pain in my ___.

When to use: Use this with body parts: J'ai mal à la tête, J'ai mal au dos, J'ai mal aux dents. The structure is J'ai mal + à + article + body part.

Tip: Don’t drop the 'à'—say J'ai mal à la tête, not J'ai mal la tête.

J'ai mal à la tête depuis ce matin.

My head has hurt since this morning.

Après le sport, j'ai mal aux genoux.

After exercise, my knees hurt.

J'ai de la fièvre.

I have a fever.

Meaning: I have a fever.

When to use: Say this at the pharmacy, to a doctor, or to a friend when you feel hot and unwell: J'ai de la fièvre.

Je reste au lit, j'ai de la fièvre.

I'm staying in bed, I have a fever.

Si j'ai de la fièvre, je prends ma température.

If I have a fever, I take my temperature.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

At a small clinic in France

Two people in a small clinic discussing symptoms: headache, fever, and an allergy to nuts.

Who has a fever?

Anna

Bonjour David, ça va ?

Hello David, how are you?

David

Pas très bien. J'ai de la fièvre.

Not very well. I have a fever.

Anna

Tu as mal où ?

Where does it hurt?

David

J'ai mal à la tête et au dos.

My head and back hurt.

Anna

Et tu es allergique à quelque chose ?

Are you allergic to anything?

David

Oui, je suis allergique aux noix.

Yes, I'm allergic to nuts.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which phrase means 'I'm allergic to peanuts.'?

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

Which phrase means 'I have a fever'?

At the pharmacy, which phrase do you use to say you are sick with a fever?

Anna tells the waiter: "I'm allergic to nuts."

Anna tells the waiter: "I'm allergic to nuts." She says: "___"

At the clinic, David says: "My head hurts."

At the clinic, David explains: "My head hurts." He says: "___"

When you feel hot and unwell, you say: "I have a fever."

When you feel hot and unwell, you tell the pharmacist: "___"

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:

Je suis allergique à ___.

I'm allergic to ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai mal à ___.

My ___ hurts. / I have pain in my ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

J'ai de la fièvre.

I have a fever.