Inside the French "parcours de soins coordonnés", the Assurance Maladie reimburses 70% of the base tariff of a general practitioner's consultation, as long as you have declared a médecin traitant. That system is why your first medical appointment in France involves more vocabulary than you might expect: you will be asked about your carte Vitale, your médecin traitant and your symptoms, usually in that order. The good news is that the language involved is small and very repetitive.
How do you book a doctor's appointment in French?
Ask for a rendez-vous with a short, polite request, and expect the receptionist to offer you a day and a time. Most appointments are booked online, but a phone call or a reception desk still comes up often, especially outside big cities.
- Bonjour, je voudrais prendre rendez-vous avec le docteur Martin. Hello, I would like to book an appointment with Dr Martin
- C'est pour une première consultation. It is for a first consultation
- Avez-vous quelque chose cette semaine ? Do you have anything this week?
- C'est assez urgent, j'ai de la fièvre depuis deux jours. It is fairly urgent, I have had a fever for two days
At the cabinet, you will often hear "Vous avez votre carte Vitale ?" (Do you have your health insurance card?) and "Qui est votre médecin traitant ?" (Who is your registered doctor?). If you are new to the system, say "Je viens d'arriver en France, je n'ai pas encore de médecin traitant" (I have just arrived in France, I do not have a registered doctor yet).
How do you describe symptoms in French?
Use "j'ai mal à" followed by the body part for pain, and "depuis" followed by a duration to say how long it has lasted. This one pattern covers most of what a doctor needs to hear first.
Notice the preposition. French says j'ai mal à la tête (literally "I have pain at the head"), not "my head hurts".
- J'ai mal à la tête. I have a headache
- J'ai mal au dos. My back hurts
- J'ai mal aux oreilles. My ears hurt
- J'ai mal au ventre. I have a stomach ache
- J'ai de la fièvre. I have a fever
- Je tousse beaucoup, surtout la nuit. I cough a lot, especially at night
- J'ai la nausée. I feel nauseous
- Je suis très fatigué(e) en ce moment. I am very tired at the moment
Then add the time. Ça dure depuis trois jours (it has lasted for three days) uses the present tense with depuis, because the problem is still going on. If it has stopped, switch to the past: J'ai eu de la fièvre pendant deux jours (I had a fever for two days). The distinction is the same one explained in our guide to depuis, pendant and il y a.
| What you want to say | Natural French |
|---|---|
| It hurts here | J'ai mal ici. |
| It is sharp | C'est une douleur vive. |
| It comes and goes | Ça va et ça vient. |
| It is getting worse | Ça empire. |
| I am allergic to penicillin | Je suis allergique à la pénicilline. |
What will the doctor ask you, and how do you answer?
Expect short direct questions, usually with vous, and answer with the simplest true sentence you can. You do not need long answers.
- Où avez-vous mal ? Where does it hurt?
- Depuis quand ? Since when?
- Est-ce que vous avez de la fièvre ? Do you have a fever?
- Vous prenez des médicaments ? Are you taking any medication?
- Vous avez des allergies ? Do you have any allergies?
Good answers are short: Ici, au genou (here, at the knee), Depuis lundi (since Monday), Non, aucun médicament (no, no medication), Oui, je suis allergique aux antibiotiques (yes, I am allergic to antibiotics).
If you do not understand, say so directly rather than nodding. Pouvez-vous répéter, s'il vous plaît ? (Can you repeat, please?) and Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? (Can you speak more slowly?) are normal requests and doctors answer them without fuss.
How do you understand an ordonnance and use the pharmacy?
The ordonnance is the prescription, and the pharmacist is allowed and expected to explain it to you. Take it to the pharmacie, hand it over with your carte Vitale, and ask if anything is unclear.
- Comment dois-je prendre ce médicament ? How should I take this medicine?
- Deux fois par jour, matin et soir. Twice a day, morning and evening
- Avant ou pendant les repas ? Before or during meals?
- Est-ce qu'il y a des effets secondaires ? Are there any side effects?
- Pendant combien de temps ? For how long?
Learn the three words that appear on most boxes: comprimé (tablet), gélule (capsule) and sirop (syrup).
What should you say in an emergency?
Call 15 for the SAMU or 112 for the European emergency number, and give your location first. Both numbers work from any phone. The operator will ask short questions, so rehearse these lines now rather than under stress.
- J'ai besoin d'une ambulance. I need an ambulance
- Je suis au 12 rue des Lilas, à Lyon. I am at 12 rue des Lilas, in Lyon
- Mon ami ne respire plus bien. My friend is not breathing well
Medical vocabulary is one of the few areas where a small, well-chosen list does more than months of general study. If you want to practise these conversations out loud, with a native speaker who will play the receptionist, the doctor and the pharmacist, Yann runs exactly this kind of role-play. You can book a free trial lesson at frenchwithyann.com and tell him what you want to be able to say before your next appointment.
Common questions
How do I say I am sick in French?
Say "Je ne me sens pas bien" for a general feeling of being unwell, or be specific with "J'ai de la fièvre" (I have a fever) or "J'ai mal à la gorge" (I have a sore throat). Specific phrases help the doctor much more than a general one.
What number do I call for a medical emergency in France?
Call 15 for the SAMU, the medical emergency service, or 112, the European emergency number that works from any phone. Say your address first, then what has happened, then your name.
Do I need to speak perfect French to see a doctor in France?
No. Doctors expect imperfect French and a clear, short description is enough. Knowing about ten key phrases and the words for the main body parts will cover most consultations.