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French · Vocabulary · A2 to B1

French health vocabulary: j’ai mal à la tête, la pharmacie, and the médecin

À la pharmacie · what’s wrong?
Vous
J’aiI-havemalpainà la tête.at the head
zhay MAL a la TET · “I have a headache.”
Le pharmacien
Preneztakedu paracétamol,some paracetamoltoutes les six heures.every six hours
pruh-NAY dü pa-ra-say-ta-MOL, toot lay see ZUHR · “Take paracetamol every six hours.”
Why: Tête is feminine: à la tête. In France, paracetamol (Doliprane) is sold at the pharmacy counter.

Short answer: say where it hurts with J’ai mal + à, joined to the article: j’ai mal au dos (back), à la tête (head), aux dents (teeth). Other symptoms take avoir too: j’ai de la fièvre (a temperature), j’ai la grippe (flu). For minor problems, French people ask le pharmacien first; for a prescription (une ordonnance) you see le médecin. In an emergency call le 15 (medical) or le 112.

Avoir mal à + body part

Au dos, à la gorge, à l’oreille, aux pieds

French uses the article, not “my”, with body parts: literally “I have pain at the head”. À joins le to make au and les to make aux. Tap a body part to hear the sentence.

j’ai mal aumasculine nouns
j’ai mal à lafeminine nouns
j’ai mal à l’before a vowel
j’ai mal auxplural nouns
At the doctor’s

Prendre rendez-vous chez le médecin

A visit from booking to prescription. In France you register with one GP, le médecin traitant, and show your health card, la carte Vitale.

Booking
Je voudraisI would-likeprendreto-takerendez-vous.appointment
zhuh voo-DRAY prondr ron-day-VOO
“I’d like to make an appointment.”Most bookings are now online (Doctolib) or by phone.
Arriving
J’aiI-haverendez-vousappointmentà 10 heures.at 10 o’clock
zhay ron-day-VOO a dee ZUHR
“I have an appointment at ten.”
The question
Qu’est-ce quiwhatne va pas ?not goes
kess KEE nuh va PA
“What’s the matter?”What the doctor asks first.
Explaining
J’aiI-havemalpainau ventreat-the stomachdepuis hier.since yesterday
zhay MAL o VONTR duh-pwee ZYAIR
“I’ve had stomach ache since yesterday.”Depuis + present tense for something still going on.
The prescription
Je vous faisI you makeune ordonnance.a prescription
zhuh voo FAY ün or-do-NONSS
“I’ll write you a prescription.”You take the ordonnance to any pharmacy.
Paying
Voicihere-isma carte Vitale.my health-card
vwa-SEE ma kart vee-TAL
“Here’s my health card.”The carte Vitale lets the state health insurance reimburse you.
Describing symptoms

Je tousse, je suis enrhumé, j’ai de la fièvre

Symptoms use three structures: a verb, être + adjective, or avoir + noun. Words marked (e) add -e when a woman is speaking: je suis enrhumée.

Emergency numbers

15, 18, 112

Learn these three numbers and one sentence before you travel.

15le SAMUMedical emergencies: an ambulance and a doctor.
18les pompiersFire brigade, also for accidents and injuries.
112toutes urgencesThe European number: works everywhere, in any language.
Au secours !helpAppelezcallune ambulance !an ambulance
o suh-KOOR ! a-puh-LAY ün on-bü-LONSS · “Help! Call an ambulance!”
How healthcare works in France

La carte Vitale, la mutuelle

Healthcare is mostly public. You see your médecin traitant (registered GP) first, pay, and are reimbursed through your green carte Vitale; a private top-up, la mutuelle, covers the rest.

Booking an appointment

Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous

The call to the surgery, line by line.

Vous
Bonjour,helloje voudraisI would-likeprendre rendez-vous.to-take appointment
bon-ZHOOR, zhuh voo-DRAY prondr ron-day-VOO · “Hello, I’d like to make an appointment.”
Secrétaire
C’estit’spourforquel motif ?what reason
say poor kel mo-TEEF · “What is it for?”
Vous
J’aiI-havede la fièvresome feverdepuis hier.since yesterday
zhay duh la FYEVR duh-pwee ZYAIR · “I’ve had a fever since yesterday.”
Secrétaire
Demaintomorrowà 10 heures,at 10ça vous va ?that you suits
duh-MAN a dee ZUR, sa voo VA · “Tomorrow at 10, does that suit you?”
Vous
Parfait,perfectmerci.thanks
par-FAY, mair-SEE · “Perfect, thank you.”
Secrétaire
N’oubliez pasdon’t forgetvotre carte Vitale.your Vitale card
noo-blee-AY PA votr kart vee-TAL · “Don’t forget your carte Vitale.”
Keep going

Related guides

est-ce queQuestions →Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas?au dosArticles →Au, à la, aux and du, de la.depuis hierPresent tense →Depuis + present.l’assuranceTravel →Health while you travel.