22 French words to help with a visit to the doctor in France

Need to visit the doctor or pharmacy in France? Here are 22 French words and phrases to help you explain your illness

Avoir mal à (la tête, la gorge)/ au (cœur, genou)/aux (jambes, pieds) – To have a pain in (the head, throat, heart, knee, legs, feet)

Une otite – An ear infection/earache

La fièvre – Fever/high temperature

Une toux – A cough

L’enrouement – Hoarseness

Le rhume – A cold

La grippe – Flu

Le rhume des foins – Hay fever

Être blessé(e) – to be injured

Le manque d’appétit – Lack of appetite

Un cabinet (médical) – A doctor’s surgery

Les heures de consultation – Surgery hours

Une pharmacie de garde – Late-night pharmacy

Les médicaments (nm) – Medicine

Vérifier la tension – To check someone’s blood pressure

Écouter le coeur – To listen to someone’s heartbeat

Apaiser la douleur – To calm the pain

Un comprimé – A pill/tablet

Un antalgique – Analgesic/pain-killer

Une ordonnance – A prescription

La carte vitale – Health insurance card

L’alimentation – Diet/nutrition

More information on accessing the French health care system and more French vocabulary