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Le cabinet médical
Whether you have a chronic illness or come down with a common cold, you might have to visit le médecin during your travels. Here’s some essential vocabulary for talking to doctors and getting the help you need.
at the doctor’s office | chez le médecin * | |
appointment | un rendez-vous | |
doctor | un médecin | |
doctor’s office | le cabinet médical | |
~ insurance card | la carte vitale | |
nurse | un infirmier une infirmière | |
patient | un patient une patiente | |
specialist | un/e spécialiste | |
waiting room | la salle d’attente |
* In French, it’s typical to use chez + job title to refer to some places of business – learn more.
In both French and English, the most common verbs for talking about ailments are the most common verbs in the language, but être and avoir are not always equivalent to "to be" and "to have," respectively, when it comes to illness. This list is arranged alphabetically by ailment, but be sure to pay attention to the verb you need to use with each one.
Ailments | Maladies | |||
to be | allergic to … * | être | allergique à … * | |
to have | arthritis | avoir | de l’arthrite | |
to have | asthma | être | asthmatique | |
to be | cold | avoir | froid | |
to have | a cold | être | enrhumé | |
to be | constipated | être | constipé | |
to have | diabetes | être | diabétique | |
to have | diarrhea | avoir | la diarrhée | |
to be | dizzy | avoir | le vertige | |
to have | an earache | avoir | mal à l’oreille ** | |
to have | a fever | avoir | de la fièvre | |
to have | the flu | avoir | la grippe | |
to have | frostbite | avoir | des engelures | |
to have | a hangover | avoir | la gueule de bois | |
to have | hay fever | avoir | un rhume des foins | |
to have | a headache | avoir | mal à la tête ** | |
to have | a heart attack | avoir | une crise cardiaque, un infarctus | |
to have | heartburn | avoir | des brûlures d’estomac | |
to have | hemorrhoids (piles) | avoir | des hémorroïdes | |
to have | high blood pressure | faire | de l’hypertension | |
to be | hot | avoir | chaud | |
to be | infected | être | infecté | |
to have | an infection | avoir | une infection | |
to have | insomnia | être | insomniaque | |
to be | jet lagged | être | fatigué dû au décalage horaire | |
to have | low blood pressure | faire | de l’hypotension | |
to have | motion sickness | avoir | le mal des transports | |
to be | pregnant | être | enceinte | |
to have | a runny nose | avoir | le nez qui coule | |
to be | seasick | avoir | le mal de mer | |
to be | sick | être | malade | |
to have | sinusitis | avoir | de la sinusite | |
to have | a stomachache | avoir | mal à l’estomac ** | |
to have | a stroke | avoir | une attaque | |
to be | sunburnt | être | brûlé par le soleil | |
to be | tired | être | fatigué | |
to have | a toothache | avoir | mal aux dents ** | |
to need … | avoir besoin … | |||
an inhaler | d’un inhalateur | |||
a prescription | d’une ordonnance | |||
stitches | de points de suture | |||
surgery | de chirurgie | |||
treatment | de traitement | |||
an ultrasound | d’une échographie | |||
an x-ray | d’une radio | |||
Verbs | Verbes (click for conjugations) | |||
to ache all over | avoir mal partout | |||
to bandage | panser | |||
to bleed | saigner | |||
to break (one’s arm, leg) | se casser (le bras, la jambe) | |||
to catch a cold | s’enrhumer | |||
to cough | tousser | |||
to faint | s’évanouir | |||
to feel sick | se sentir malade | |||
to recover | guérir | |||
to sneeze (response: bless you) | éternuer (à tes souhaits / à vos souhaits) | |||
to throw up | vomir |
* Allergic to something? See vocab for medicines and food.
** For other aches and pains, see French body parts.
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