]]>

British Broadcasting CorporationHome 5u2a19

Accessibility links

Cool French - Health 6e6p2p

These contain some examples of vulgar language.

mp3 (file size 1,2 MB) - right click and choose 'save target as'
Print Get a print version of this page

It is sometimes difficult to stay cool when you are ill. Nevertheless here is a list of words and expressions that should help you talk about your aches and still remain dignified. Some of the expressions may be a bit strong, but that when you are ill, in search of comfort or sympathy, what matters is not how much you are actually suffering but how much others think you are suffering.

Where to go when you're ill
Parts of the body
My ... is sore
I am so ill

(* = familiar, ** = very familiar, *** = vulgar, v = Verlan (back-slang), Lit. = literally)

Where to go when you're ill 4y536l

Le toubib (*) The doctor. From Arabic for doctor.
One of the words that the French imported from Algeria.

L'hosto, l'hosteau (*) L'hôpital The hospital.
This is an example of related words where a vowel with a ^ in one word corresponds to vowel + s in another, e.g. fête and festin, goût and gustatif.

Le gynéco (*) (le gynécologue) Gynaecologist.

Le psy (*) (le psychologue) Psychologist.

Le kiné (*) (le kinésythérapeute) Physiotherapist.

back to the top

Parts of the body 2hb6n

Le pif (*) The nose.

La tronche The face.

La gueule (*) The face.

Les chicots (*) The teeth. Lit. the stumps, the stubs...
Understood by all, although not very flattering.

Le bide The belly, the tummy.

back to the top

My ... is sore 3b3i2s

J'ai mal au/à la + [any of the aforementioned body parts]: I have a sore [body part that's sore].

J'ai mal au bide I have a tummy ache.


J'ai mal is a rather conventional way of expressing your pain. If no other expression comes to mind, at least make sure you use a cool word to designate the painful body part.

back to the top

I am so ill 1b2s45

Je ne suis pas bien ! Je vais mal ! (*) I'm really bad.

J'ai la crève (**) I have a cold.

Je vais gerber (*) I'm going to be sick.

Je suis en morceaux (*) I'm in pieces.

Je vais tomber dans les pommes ! (*) Lit. I'm going to fall into the apples. Never mind the origin of that very usual expression, you'll never it if you do happen to out.

Je vais tomber dans les vapes ! (*) I am going to out.

back to the top


Argument Class Drinking Family
Food Friends Going out Health
Interjections Money Moods Music
Play up/Play down Politics Professions Pulling

More French from BBC Languages
More from BBC Languages

BBC navigation 1p2s5i

BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.