Whether you’re visiting a doctor, discussing health issues, or understanding medical terms, this vocabulary list will help you talk about health and medical matters in French with ease.
1. General Health Terms (Les Termes Généraux de Santé)
Key words for talking about general health and wellness.
- La santé – Health
- Être en bonne santé – To be in good health
- Être en mauvaise santé – To be in poor health
- Le bien-être – Well-being
- Le médecin – Doctor
- Le patient / La patiente – Patient
- L’hôpital (m) – Hospital
- La clinique – Clinic
- Le cabinet médical – Doctor’s office
- Le rendez-vous médical – Doctor’s appointment
- Les urgences (f) – Emergency room
- L’assurance maladie (f) – Health insurance
Example Sentence:
- J’ai un rendez-vous chez le médecin demain. (I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow.)
2. Body Parts (Les Parties du Corps)
Essential vocabulary for describing body parts during a health consultation.
- La tête – Head
- Le visage – Face
- Le bras – Arm
- La main – Hand
- Le cou – Neck
- L’épaule (f) – Shoulder
- Le dos – Back
- La jambe – Leg
- Le genou – Knee
- Le pied – Foot
- Le cœur – Heart
- Les poumons (m) – Lungs
- L’estomac (m) – Stomach
- Le foie – Liver
- Les reins (m) – Kidneys
- La peau – Skin
Example Sentence:
- J’ai mal à la tête et au dos. (I have a headache and a backache.)
3. Common Symptoms (Les Symptômes Courants)
Words to describe symptoms you may experience.
- La fièvre – Fever
- La toux – Cough
- Le mal de tête – Headache
- Le mal de gorge – Sore throat
- Le mal de ventre – Stomachache
- Le rhume – Cold
- L’allergie (f) – Allergy
- Les vertiges (m) – Dizziness
- La nausée – Nausea
- Les frissons (m) – Chills
- La fatigue – Fatigue
- L’insomnie (f) – Insomnia
- Les douleurs musculaires (f) – Muscle pain
Example Sentence:
- J’ai de la fièvre et une toux depuis hier. (I’ve had a fever and a cough since yesterday.)
4. Medical Conditions and Illnesses (Les Maladies et Affections Médicales)
Vocabulary for discussing common medical conditions and illnesses.
- Le diabète – Diabetes
- L’hypertension (f) – High blood pressure
- L’asthme (m) – Asthma
- L’infection (f) – Infection
- La grippe – Flu
- L’angine (f) – Strep throat
- L’allergie (f) – Allergy
- L’infarctus (m) – Heart attack
- L’AVC (m) – Stroke
- La migraine – Migraine
- Le cancer – Cancer
- Le Covid-19 – Covid-19
- La fracture – Fracture
- L’otite (f) – Ear infection
Example Sentence:
- Mon père a l’hypertension et doit surveiller sa santé. (My father has high blood pressure and needs to monitor his health.)
5. Treatments and Medications (Les Traitements et Médicaments)
Words related to treatments, prescriptions, and medications.
- Le médicament – Medicine / medication
- L’ordonnance (f) – Prescription
- Le traitement – Treatment
- La piqûre – Injection
- La radiographie – X-ray
- L’opération (f) – Surgery
- Le pansement – Bandage
- La pommade – Ointment
- Le sirop pour la toux – Cough syrup
- Les analgésiques (m) – Painkillers
- Les antibiotiques (m) – Antibiotics
- Le vaccin – Vaccine
- La thérapie – Therapy
Example Sentence:
- Le médecin m’a prescrit des antibiotiques pour soigner l’infection. (The doctor prescribed me antibiotics to treat the infection.)
6. At the Pharmacy (À la Pharmacie)
Common terms and phrases you’ll need at the pharmacy.
- La pharmacie – Pharmacy
- Le pharmacien / La pharmacienne – Pharmacist
- Acheter des médicaments – To buy medicine
- Sans ordonnance – Over-the-counter
- Avez-vous quelque chose pour… ? – Do you have something for…?
- Combien de fois par jour ? – How many times a day?
- Les effets secondaires – Side effects
- Le dosage – Dosage
- Le gel désinfectant – Hand sanitizer
- Les vitamines (f) – Vitamins
Example Sentence:
- Le pharmacien m’a donné un sirop pour la toux sans ordonnance. (The pharmacist gave me over-the-counter cough syrup.)
7. Emergency Situations (Les Situations d’Urgence)
Key phrases and vocabulary for emergencies.
- Appeler une ambulance – To call an ambulance
- Le numéro d’urgence – Emergency number
- J’ai besoin d’aide ! – I need help!
- Je ne me sens pas bien. – I don’t feel well.
- Je suis blessé(e). – I’m injured.
- C’est une urgence. – It’s an emergency.
- Avez-vous mal ? – Are you in pain?
- Où avez-vous mal ? – Where does it hurt?
- L’accident (m) – Accident
- L’hémorragie (f) – Hemorrhage
- L’arrêt cardiaque (m) – Cardiac arrest
- Les premiers secours – First aid
Example Sentence:
- Appelez une ambulance, c’est une urgence. (Call an ambulance, it’s an emergency.)
8. Preventive Health (La Santé Préventive)
Terms related to staying healthy and preventive care.
- Faire un bilan de santé – To have a health check-up
- Se faire vacciner – To get vaccinated
- Manger équilibré – To eat a balanced diet
- Faire de l’exercice – To exercise
- Prendre des vitamines – To take vitamins
- Boire beaucoup d’eau – To drink plenty of water
- Éviter le stress – To avoid stress
- Se reposer – To rest
- Dormir suffisamment – To get enough sleep
- Arrêter de fumer – To stop smoking
- Prendre soin de soi – To take care of oneself
Example Sentence:
- Faire de l’exercice et manger équilibré est important pour rester en bonne santé. (Exercising and eating a balanced diet is important for staying healthy.)
Practice Quiz
Test your knowledge with this short quiz:
- What is the French word for “doctor”?
- How do you say “headache” in French?
- Translate: “I have a fever and a cough.”
- What is the French word for “prescription”?
- How do you say “to exercise” in French?
Conclusion
With this comprehensive French health vocabulary, you’ll be able to talk about your health, describe symptoms, and navigate medical situations with ease. Whether you’re visiting a doctor, getting medication at the pharmacy, or simply discussing wellness, these terms will help you communicate confidently. Prenez soin de vous ! (Take care of yourself!)
