Learn medical vocabulary in French
Medical professions in French
Healthcare is a complex sector, with a rich scientific vocabulary. If you're considering a career in this sector, whether in Switzerland or in another French speaking country, it's essential to have a good understanding of medical concepts in French.
| French word | English word |
|---|---|
| un médecin | a doctor |
| un médecin généraliste | a general practitioner |
| le personnel soignant | the nursing staff |
| un aide soignant | a nursing auxiliary |
| un infirmier | a nurse |
| un pharmacien | a pharmacist |
| un chirurgien | a surgeon |
| un kinésithérapeute | a physiotherapist |
| un pédiatre | a pediatrician |
| un radiologue | a radiologist |
| une sage-femme | a midwife |
| un dermatologue | a dermatologist |
| un acupuncteur | an acupuncturist |
| un cardiologue | a heart specialist / cardiologist |
| un dentiste | a dentist |
| un gynécologue | a gynaecologist |
| un diététicien | a dietician |
| un psychiatre | a psychiatrist |
| un psychologue | a psychologist |
| un cancérologue | a cancerologist |
| un ostéopathe | a osteopath |
| un orthophoniste | a speech therapist |
| un allergologue | a allergist |
French anatomy vocabulary
Mastering the vocabulary of anatomy is essential for a good overall understanding of medical French. To be able to take care of a patient, you need to have full knowledge of the vocabulary of the different parts of the body. Here are a few examples:
| French word | English word |
|---|---|
| un os | a bone |
| un nerf | a nerve |
| une veine | a vein |
| une artère | an artery |
| une articulation | a joint |
| la salive | the saliva |
| le sang | the blood |
| la tête | the head |
| l’abdomen | the abdomen |
| le cou | the neck |
| le thorax | the chest |
| la main | the hand |
| le bras | the arm |
| l’avant-bras | the forearm |
| le coude | the elbow |
| le poignet | the wrist |
| le doigt | the finger |
| la cheville | the ankle |
| la hanche | the hip |
| les orteils | the toes |
| le pied | the foot |
| la cuisse | the thigh |
| la jambe | the leg |
| l’épaule | the shoulder |
| le genou | the knee |
Symptoms and illnesses in French
If the English terms used to define illnesses are complex, so are the French ones. Your learning of medical vocabulary will therefore depend to a large extent on memorizing the French expressions used to define the various illnesses.
| French word | English word |
|---|---|
| un rhume | a cold |
| la toux | cough |
| un mal de gorge | a sore throat |
| la grippe | the flu |
| être essouflé | to be breathless |
| être enroué | to be hoarse |
| fièvre | fever |
| vomir | to vomit |
| une enflure | a swelling |
| une infection | an infection |
| paralysé | paralysed |
| être cloué au lit | to be bedridden |
| trembler | to shake |
| un mal de tête | a headache |
| se propager | to spread |
| avoir la nausée | to feel nauseous |
| une entorse | a dislocation |
| un AVC | a stroke |
| troubles de la personnalité | personality disorders |
| leucémie | leukaemia |
| être alité | to be laid up |
| asthme | asthma |
| une allergie | an allergy |
| une bronchite | a bronchitis |
| se sentir malade | to feel sick |
| folie | lunacy |
| un claquage musculaire | a muscular tear |
| une névrose | nevrosis |
| le diabète | diabetes |
| une otite | an ear infection |
| la rougeole | measles |
| avoir mal | to be in pain |
| la sclérose en plaques | multiple sclerosis |
| une tumeur | a tumour |
| une verrue | a wart |
| tomber malade | to fall ill |
| engourdissement | numbness |
| une épidémie | an epidemic |
| pathologie | pathology |
French care and healing vocabulary
Here you'll find a list of care and healing vocabulary in French, essential for taking care of patients and explaining what they need to heal.
| French word | English word |
|---|---|
| se remettre de… | to recover from… |
| une ordonnance | a prescription |
| un médicament | a medicine |
| une pilule | a pill |
| soulager | to relieve |
| un cachet | a tablet |
| une pommade | an ointment |
| un diagnostic | a diagnosis |
| un vaccin | a vaccin |
| un antiseptique | an antiseptic |
| prendre des mésures préventives | to take preventive measures |
| une injection | a shot |
| un antidouleur | a painkiller |
| greffer un organe | to transplant an organ |
| recoudre | to stitch up |
| un pansement | a plaster |
| un thermomètre | a thermometer |
| reprendre des forces | to gain strength |
| guérir | to cure |
| un mouchoir | a tissue |
| atténuer | to ease |
| un anti-dépresseur | an anti-depressant |
| prendre des médicaments | to take drugs |
| une gélule | a capsule |
| un sparadrap | a sticking plaster |
| traitement | treatment |
| être hospitalisé | to be admitted to hospital |
| en écharpe | in a sling |
| premiers soins | first aid |
| tâter le pouls | to feel the pulse |
| un plâtre | a plaster |
| en urgence | emergency |
| panser une plaie | to dress a wound |
| effectuer une opération sur quelqu’un | to perform an operation on somebody |