Hopefully, you will never need to know French medical terms during your holiday in France. But it can be reassuring to know the main French medical vocabulary, just in case. If you feel unwell during your stay in a lovely French city or area, you should be able to explain your symptoms. So that the doctor makes the right diagnosis and prescribes the right medication to relieve your pain.
Like most of us, viruses and bacteria like to travel! And « la fièvre », « la tension basse or élevée » or « la tête qui tourne » are usually signs that something is wrong. And health care professionals will need your help to identify the cause. It is therefore important to know the most common sicknesses and aches to deal with basic health or medical issue. This article will not transform you into a French doctor but it will allow you to communicate with them!
Mastering French medical terminology could also be very useful to save lives. As a matter of fact, would you know what to do in the event of a 'urgence vitale' i.e. life-threatening emergency? In France, people dial 18 to call the 'pompiers' i.e. the firefighters who are national heroes. They also dial 15 or 112 to call the 'SAMU' (Service d'Aide Médicale d'Urgence) which is the equivalent of the First Aid Squad (US) or Emergency First Aid (UK).
We've compiled a list of the most useful French medical terms to help you talk like a real French patient. They will allow you to explain your symptoms and get the right treatment. Make sure to keep these French medical terms in your pocket by downloading French Translator & Dictionary + for free on your
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Android device. 📲
Help! - Au secours ! / À l'aide ! / Aidez-moi !
Call for help! - Appelez les secours !
Call a doctor! - Appelez un médecin/docteur !
Call an ambulance! - Appelez une ambulance !
Call the firemen! - Appelez les pompiers !
Call the police! - Appelez la police !
I need a doctor. - J'ai besoin d'un médecin.
It hurts. - J'ai mal.
I need medical care. - J'ai besoin de soins médicaux.
I need something for pain. - J'ai besoin d'un antidouleur.
I broke my arm/leg. - Je me suis cassé le bras/la jambe.
I sprained my ankle/wrist. - Je me suis foulé la cheville/le poignet.
I dislocated my shoulder/hip/knee. - Je me suis déboîté/luxé l'épaule/la hanche/le genou.
I cracked my rib. - Je me suis fêlé une côte.
I know first aid. - Je connais les gestes des premiers secours.
There has been an accident. - Il y a eu un accident.
Please inform my family. - Contactez ma famille s'il vous plaît.
I feel unwell. - Je ne me sens pas bien.
I have a fever. - J'ai de la fièvre.
I have a headache. - J'ai mal à la tête. / J'ai des maux de tête.
I keep shivering. - J'ai des frissons.
I cough. - Je tousse.
I feel very tired. - Je me sens très fatigué(e).
I can hardly breath. - J'ai du mal à respirer.
I feel sick. - J'ai mal au cœur.
I am dizzy. - J'ai la tête qui tourne.
I fainted. - J'ai fait un malaise.
My throat aches. - J'ai mal à la gorge.
My stomach aches. - J'ai mal au ventre.
I have stomach pain. - J'ai mal à l'estomac.
I have a bad back. - J'ai mal au dos.
My nose is stuffy. - J'ai le nez bouché.
My nose is bleeding. - Je saigne du nez.
I am bloated. - Je suis ballonné(e).
I feel nauseous. - J'ai la nausée.
I have diarrhea. - J'ai la diarrhée.
I am constipated. - Je suis constipé(e).
I have spots. - J'ai des boutons.
I have aches and pains. - J'ai des courbatures.
I have pins and needles in my legs. - J'ai des fourmis dans les jambes.
allergy - allergie
(Ex: allergy to penicillin - allergie à la pénicilline)
appendicitis - appendicite
asthma - asthme
blister - ampoule
blood pressure - tension
(Ex: high blood pressure - tension élevée / low blood pressure - tension basse)
bronchitis - bronchite
cancer - cancer
canker sore - aphte
chickenpox - varicelle
cholesterol - cholestérol
cough - toux
(Ex: dry cough - toux sèche or loose cough - toux grasse)
diabetes - diabète
cystitis - cystite
cold - rhume
cold sore - bouton de fièvre
concussion - commotion cérébrale
eczema - eczéma
flu - grippe
(Ex: avian flu - grippe aviaire)
fracture - fracture
gastritis - gastrite
gastroenteritis - gastro-entérite
hay fever - rhume des foins
head injury - traumatisme crânien
heart attack - crise cardiaque
haemorrhoids / hemorrhoids - hémorroïdes
hypertension - hypertension
hypotension - hypotension
measles - rougeole
migraine - migraine
multiple sclerosis - sclérose en plaques
nettle rash - urticaire
pandemic - pandémie
pneumonia - pneumonie
rhinitis - rhinite
(Ex: allergic rhinitis - rhinite allergique)
skin rash - éruption cutanée
sore throat - angine
severe sore throat - angine blanche
sprain - entorse
stroke - AVC (Accident Vasculaire Cérébral)
urinary tract infection - infection urinaire
varicose veins - varices
antibiotic - antibiotique
bandage - bandage
compress - compresse
crutch - béquille
desinfectant - désinfectant
dressing - pansement
drinkable suspension - suspension buvable
first aid - premiers secours
injection - piqûre
ointment - pommade
painkiller - antidouleur
pill / tablet - pilule, cachet, comprimé
plaster cast - plâtre
suppository - suppositoire
syrup - sirop
vial - ampoule
to bleed - saigner
to blow one's nose - se moucher
to break - - se casser
to bruise - contusionner
to choke - s'étouffer
to cough - tousser
to crack - se fêler
to die - mourir
to dislocate - se déboîter, se luxer
to faint - s'évanouir
to give birth - accoucher
to heal - guérir
to put in plaster - plâtrer
to scar - cicatriser
to sneeze - éternuer
to suture - suturer
to suffocate - suffoquer
to swell - enfler, gonfler
to throw up - vomir
to treat - soigner
Eager for more French vocabulary or expressions? Here are some articles that you might like!
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Porte-toi bien ! (Take care!)
Christine Ducos-Restagno
Lead French linguist
VidaLingua
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