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Chez le Médecin — French at the doctor’s | Vocabulary

📶 CEFR level: A2

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At the doctor’s — from symptom to prescription. This French at doctor s from symptom prescription vocabulary list gives you 22 essential words — from Je suis malade. (I’m ill.) to la carte Vitale (French health card) — each with audio and its English translation. Use it to build the French words you need to talk about at doctor s from symptom prescription, then test yourself with the games below.

Chez le Médecin

At the doctor’s — from symptom to prescription

Les symptômes 🤒

Je suis malade.I’m ill.
J’ai mal à la têteI have a headache
J’ai de la fièvreI have a fever
Je tousseI’m coughing
J’ai un rhumeI have a cold
J’ai la grippeI have the flu
J’ai mal au ventreI have a stomachache
Je suis fatigué(e)I’m tired

Le rendez-vous 🩺

prendre rendez-vousto make an appointment
la salle d’attentewaiting room
ausculterto examine
respirez fortbreathe deeply
une ordonnancea prescription
les médicamentsmedication
un compriméa tablet
se reposerto rest

À la pharmacie 💊

la pharmaciepharmacy
le pharmacienpharmacist
un sirop(cough) syrup
un pansementa plaster / bandage
trois fois par jourthree times a day
la carte VitaleFrench health card
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🎬 The 20-second version

5 quick questions on « Chez le Médecin » — guess before the reveal. Practise with the free games → Open this short as a page — transcript included →

📘 The doctor’s visit, decoded

  • Avoir mal à + definite article for pain: j’ai mal à la gorge, au dos, aux dents (à+le=au, à+les=aux).
  • The magic opener: Je ne me sens pas bien (I don’t feel well) / Qu’est-ce qui ne va pas ? (what’s wrong?).
  • In France you often go to the pharmacie first — pharmacists give real advice for minor issues (green cross sign).
  • Une ordonnance = prescription (false friend — not an “ordinance”!); the doctor prescrit, the pharmacist délivre.
  • Culture: the carte Vitale is the green health card that handles reimbursement — « Vous avez votre carte Vitale ? »

🔊 Useful phrases

Bonjour docteur, je ne me sens pas bien.Hello doctor, I don’t feel well.
J’ai mal à la gorge depuis deux jours.I’ve had a sore throat for two days.
Prenez un comprimé trois fois par jour.Take one tablet three times a day.
Reposez-vous bien et buvez beaucoup.Rest well and drink plenty.

🔊 Example sentences

J’ai de la fièvre et je tousse.I have a fever and I’m coughing.
Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous.I’d like to make an appointment.
Voici votre ordonnance.Here is your prescription.

✍️ Practice

I have a headache = j’ai mal ___ tête (à + la)

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à la

I have a toothache = j’ai mal ___ dents (à + les)

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aux

a prescription = une ___ (doctor gives it)

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ordonnance

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🎯 More practice — vocabulary recall — both directions

How do you say « I’m ill. »? (recall)

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Je suis malade.

What does « J’ai de la fièvre » mean? (recall)

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I have a fever

How do you say « I have a cold »? (recall)

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J’ai un rhume

What does « J’ai mal au ventre » mean? (recall)

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I have a stomachache

How do you say « to make an appointment »? (recall)

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prendre rendez-vous

What does « ausculter » mean? (recall)

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to examine

How do you say « a prescription »? (recall)

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une ordonnance

What does « un comprimé » mean? (recall)

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a tablet

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Go further: Le Corps & la Santé — body parts & health.

French at doctor s from symptom prescription vocabulary — FAQ

How do you say common at doctor s from symptom prescription words in French?

For example: I’m ill. is « Je suis malade. », I have a headache is « J’ai mal à la tête », I have a fever is « J’ai de la fièvre ». The full list above has 22 French at doctor s from symptom prescription words, each with audio so you can hear the pronunciation.

What are the most useful French at doctor s from symptom prescription words to learn first?

Start with the basics: Je suis malade. (I’m ill.), J’ai mal à la tête (I have a headache), J’ai de la fièvre (I have a fever), Je tousse (I’m coughing), J’ai un rhume (I have a cold), J’ai la grippe (I have the flu). Master these core French words before moving on to the rest of the list.

How can I memorise French at doctor s from symptom prescription vocabulary?

Learn the words in small themed groups, say each one out loud with the audio, and use it in a short sentence about your own life. Spaced repetition is what makes new vocabulary stick — see our guide to learning French vocabulary that sticks.

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