Oh no! You feel sick on holiday in France or another French nation. Don’t put off going to the clinic or hospital. Instead, learn basic French health vocabulary and phrases to get you through your visit stress-free.
Remember, your health is the #1 most important thing even while on holiday! Don’t wait to get checked out by a medical professional if something is seriously wrong – it’s not worth it to jeopardize your well-being.
Since communication is critical for a successful hospital visit, knowing basic French vocabulary is a confidence boost that can help make your visit less of a headache. If you know essential phrases and words, you and the French-speaking doctors will have a smoother time understanding each other. Now let’s get started learning this easy, useful French health-related vocabulary!
Health Vocabulary In French: Must-Knows
Basic Body Parts In French
Whether your tooth, foot, or stomach hurts, knowing basic body parts in French can help you describe your pain to the doctor.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
| The body | Le corps | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Le corps[/Speechword] |
| Head | Tête | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Tête[/Speechword] |
| Heart | Cœur | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Cœur[/Speechword] |
| Knee | Genou | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Genou[/Speechword] |
| Eye | Oeil | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Oeil[/Speechword] |
| Tooth | Dent | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Dent[/Speechword] |
| Nose | Nez | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Nez[/Speechword] |
| Arm | Bras | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Bras[/Speechword] |
| Ear | Oreille | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Oreille[/Speechword] |
| Mouth | Bouche | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Bouche[/Speechword] |
| Hand | Main | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Main[/Speechword] |
| Left hand | Main gauche | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Main gauche[/Speechword] |
| Right hand | Main droite | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Main droite[/Speechword] |
| Finger | Doigt | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Doigt[/Speechword] |
| Leg | Jambe | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Jambe[/Speechword] |
| Left leg | Jambe gauche | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Jambe gauche[/Speechword] |
| Right leg | Jambe droite | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Jambe droite[/Speechword] |
| Foot | Pied | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Pied[/Speechword] |
| Toe | Orteil | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Orteil[/Speechword] |
| Breast | Sein | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Sein[/Speechword] |
| Hair | Cheveux | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Cheveux[/Speechword] |
| Stomach | Estomac | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Estomac[/Speechword] |
| Skin | Peau | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Peau[/Speechword] |
| Fingernails | Les ongles | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Les ongles[/Speechword] |
Health & Medical Words In French
Want to take your knowledge a step further? Mastering symptoms and specific medically-related French words is a surefire way to communicate all your needs. Keep reading to learn the simple words & phrases.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
| Headache | Maux de tête | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Maux de tête[/Speechword] |
| Fever | Fièvre | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Fièvre[/Speechword] |
| Chills | Frissons | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Frissons[/Speechword] |
| Pain | Douleur | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Douleur[/Speechword] |
| Feel dizzy | Avoir des vertiges | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Avoir des vertiges[/Speechword] |
| Swelling | Gonflement | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Gonflement[/Speechword] |
| Sore throat | Mal de gorge | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Mal de gorge[/Speechword] |
| Cough | Toux | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Toux[/Speechword] |
| Flu | Grippe | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Grippe[/Speechword] |
| Medication | Médicaments | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Médicaments[/Speechword] |
| Prescription | Prescription | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Prescription[/Speechword] |
| Antibiotics | Antibiotiques | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Antibiotiques[/Speechword] |
| Blood | Sang | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Sang[/Speechword] |
| Blood test | Analyse de sang | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Analyse de sang[/Speechword] |
| Blood pressure | Tension artérielle | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Tension artérielle[/Speechword] |
| Injection | Injection | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Injection[/Speechword] |
| Needles | Aiguilles | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Aiguilles[/Speechword] |
| Inflammation | Inflammation | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Inflammation[/Speechword] |
| Chest pain | Douleur thoracique | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Douleur thoracique[/Speechword] |
| Vomiting | Vomissements | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Vomissements[/Speechword] |
| Diarrhea | Diarrhée | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Diarrhée[/Speechword] |
| Nausea | Nausées | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Nausées[/Speechword] |
| Doctor | Docteur | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Docteur[/Speechword] |
| Nurse | Infirmière | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Infirmière[/Speechword] |
| Hospital | Hôpital | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Hôpital[/Speechword] |
| Emergency | Urgence | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Urgence[/Speechword] |
| Surgery | Chirurgie | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Chirurgie[/Speechword] |
| Cancer | Cancer | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Cancer[/Speechword] |
| Birth | Naissance | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Naissance[/Speechword] |
| Pregnant | Enceinte | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Enceinte[/Speechword] |
| Medicine | La médecine | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]La médecine[/Speechword] |
Health-Related Expressions In French
The following phrases are commonly used French expressions that you can dazzle doctors with. Asking these targeted questions will grant you and the medical team a better understanding of the problem – and hopefully help you on your path to full recovery.
| English | French | Pronunciation |
| I feel sick. | J’ai des courbatures. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai des courbatures.[/Speechword] |
| I need an emergency appointment. | J’ai besoin d’un rendez-vous d’urgence. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai besoin d’un rendez-vous d’urgence.[/Speechword] |
| My … hurts. | J’ai mal … | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai mal …[/Speechword] |
| I do not feel well. | Je ne me sens pas très bien. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Je ne me sens pas très bien.[/Speechword] |
| I have a fever. | J’ai de la fièvre. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai de la fièvre.[/Speechword] |
| I have a headache. | J’ai une migraine. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai une migraine.[/Speechword] |
| I have a stomach ache. | J’ai mal au ventre. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai mal au ventre.[/Speechword] |
| I have a cough. | J’ai mal à la tête. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai mal à la tête.[/Speechword] |
| I need a doctor. | J’ai besoin d’un docteur. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai besoin d’un docteur.[/Speechword] |
| I have chills. | J’ai des frissons. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai des frissons.[/Speechword] |
| My muscles are sore. | J’ai mal à la gorge. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]J’ai mal à la gorge.[/Speechword] |
| Do I need medicine? | Ai-je besoin d’un médicament? | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Ai-je besoin d’un médicament?[/Speechword] |
| What tests do I need? | De quels examens médicaux ai-je besoin? | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]De quels examens médicaux ai-je besoin?[/Speechword] |
| What is wrong with me? | Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas chez moi? | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas chez moi?[/Speechword] |
| How much does this cost? | Combien cela coûte-t-il? | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Combien cela coûte-t-il ?[/Speechword] |
| Fill out these documents. | Remplissez ces documents. | [Speechword voice=”French Female” isinline]Remplissez ces documents.[/Speechword] |
Three Medical Precautions To Take Before Your Trip To France
If you’re afraid of racking up a huge medical bill in France, then these three tips are for you! It saves mega money to travel prepared!
#1: European Health Insurance Card
Before leaving for a European holiday, apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This card entitles you to essential care during a temporary time abroad.
You can receive a card for free from your current health insurance provider if you live in Europe. This card will claim any expenses from your health insurer, which makes you less likely to pay out of pocket!
The intention behind the card is that people traveling through Europe will be less likely to go home to receive medical care if they become ill.
The EHIC is valid in all of the EU (plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, and the UK), so you can fully relax during your time in France knowing you would be covered in case of an emergency.
#2: Travel Insurance
If your insurance provider does not cover a European Health Insurance card (i.e., if you do not live in Europe), then definitely get travel insurance.
The cost of hospital visits may be more expensive for foreigners in France, so to combat this, buy travel insurance. Travel health insurance ensures that your medical expenses are covered abroad.
It is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it! So get travel insurance and sleep well, knowing you’re fully covered in an emergency.
#3: Get Vaccinated
Vaccines & boosters support your immune system, making it less likely for you to catch an illness. Plus, some French hospitals and clinics will not treat you unless you are fully vaccinated with the COVID, Hepatitis A + B, and Influenza vaccines.
Be smart and follow these three precautions to stay covered & in good health in France.
To Conclude
If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being sick on holiday, here is an easy guide that will help you communicate with medical professionals.
You don’t need to be a master in French to communicate your needs to medical staff. It’s always better to be prepared while traveling, and knowing some of the French medical expressions and vocabulary listed in this article will have you fully equipped if (God forbid!) something happens.
Learn French With Ling
Did this little glimpse into the French health vocabulary make you want to learn more? You can start mastering French today with the Ling App – a multifaceted language learning app equipped with fun quizzes, various challenges, and engaging lessons taught by native French speakers.
Want to make learning French fun? Download the free Ling App today from the App Store and Play Store … you will never regret the time spent learning a new language!
Do you want more snippets of easy-to-learn French? Check out French Sports Vocabulary #1 Best Guide & How To Tell The Time In French? 7 Things To Know
