French for Describing Symptoms and Severity at the Doctor's
Learn to describe symptoms and their severity in French, from mild to severe, with precise vocabulary and phrases for medical contexts.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you're not feeling well in a French-speaking environment, being able to describe your symptoms clearly and indicate how severe they are is essential. This lesson goes beyond basic statements like 'J'ai une allergie' to help you express details such as intensity, duration, and type of discomfort. You'll learn how to say where it hurts, how much it hurts, and how long you've been experiencing symptoms, using standard French. We'll also cover useful questions a doctor might ask and how to respond appropriately.
By the end, you can…
- describe common symptoms and their severity in French.
- answer questions about the duration and intensity of symptoms.
- use appropriate expressions to communicate with a healthcare provider.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
J'ai mal à la tête depuis deux jours.
I've had a headache for two days.
zhay mal ah lah tet duh-pwee zhoor
Use 'avoir mal à' + body part to say something hurts. 'Depuis' indicates duration.
La douleur est légère, mais constante.
The pain is mild but constant.
lah doo-lur eh lay-zhehr, meh kon-stahnt
Describe severity with adjectives like 'légère' (mild), 'modérée' (moderate), 'intense' (intense).
J'ai de la fièvre, autour de 38 degrés.
I have a fever, around 38 degrees.
zhay duh lah fyehv, oh-toor duh trahnt-weet duh-gray
Use 'avoir de la fièvre' for fever. Give temperature in Celsius.
Ça me lance dans le dos.
I have a sharp pain in my back.
sah muh lahns dahn luh doh
'Lancer' describes a sharp, shooting pain. 'Dans le dos' means in the back.
Je me sens faible et j'ai des nausées.
I feel weak and I'm nauseous.
zhuh muh sahn fehbl eh zhay day noh-zay
Use 'se sentir' + adjective for how you feel. 'Avoir des nausées' for nausea.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To describe pain, use 'avoir mal à' + definite article + body part: 'J'ai mal à la gorge' (I have a sore throat), 'J'ai mal au ventre' (I have a stomachache), 'J'ai mal aux dents' (I have a toothache). Note that 'à' contracts with 'le' to 'au' and with 'les' to 'aux'. For severity, add adverbs: 'très mal' (very painful), 'un peu mal' (a little painful). You can also specify duration with 'depuis' + time: 'depuis une semaine' (for a week).
When to use it
Use these phrases when consulting a doctor, pharmacist, or describing your condition to someone. For example, if you have a persistent cough, you might say: 'Je tousse beaucoup depuis trois jours' (I've been coughing a lot for three days). If the pain is severe, say: 'La douleur est insupportable' (The pain is unbearable). When a doctor asks 'Où avez-vous mal ?' (Where does it hurt?), respond with 'J'ai mal à...' or point to the area and say 'Ici, ça fait mal' (Here, it hurts).
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Bonjour docteur, je ne me sens pas bien.
Hello doctor, I don't feel well.bohn-zhoor dok-tur, zhuh nuh muh sahn pah byanQuels sont vos symptômes ?
What are your symptoms?kel son vo samptomJ'ai mal à la tête et j'ai de la fièvre depuis hier soir.
I have a headache and I've had a fever since last night.zhay mal ah lah tet eh zhay duh lah fyehv duh-pwee yehr swahrD'accord. La douleur est-elle forte ?
Okay. Is the pain severe?dah-kor. lah doo-lur eh-tel fortA little context goes a long way
In France, when describing symptoms to a doctor, it's common to be direct and specific about pain and duration. Doctors may ask 'Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, comment évaluez-vous la douleur ?' (On a scale of 1 to 10, how do you rate the pain?). In more formal contexts, use 'vous' with healthcare professionals. In Quebec, some expressions may differ slightly, but medical vocabulary is largely the same.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'Je suis mal à la tête' to mean 'I have a headache'.
Try this instead: The correct expression is 'J'ai mal à la tête'. 'Je suis mal' means 'I am bad' or 'I am uncomfortable', not 'I have pain'. Always use 'avoir mal à' for pain.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How would you say 'I have a stomachache since this morning' in French?
Show a sample answer
J'ai mal au ventre depuis ce matin.
This uses 'avoir mal au' (contraction of 'à le') and 'depuis' with a time expression. Alternative: 'J'ai des maux de ventre depuis ce matin.'
2Translate: 'The pain is moderate but I also have nausea.'
Show a sample answer
La douleur est modérée mais j'ai aussi des nausées.
This uses 'modérée' for moderate and 'avoir des nausées' for nausea. You could also say 'j'ai la nausée' (singular) in some regions.
3What question might a doctor ask to determine the severity of your pain?
Show a sample answer
Sur une échelle de 1 à 10, comment évaluez-vous la douleur ?
This is a common way to assess pain intensity. Another way: 'La douleur est-elle légère, modérée ou intense ?'
Use 'avoir mal à' + body part for pain, add adverbs for severity, and 'depuis' for duration. Be specific and direct with healthcare providers.
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