Symptoms and how you feel
In French, physical pain is often expressed with = “to have pain in...” or “to hurt.” You do not usually say “my head hurts” with the head as the subject. Instead, you say .
Use + + a body part: , , , . If the noun starts with a vowel, use like .
This is very common in everyday speech and easy to build: It is one of the most useful doctor phrases at A1.
You can also make it negative: And you can add a little quantity:
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| to hurt / to have pain in | ||
| to hurt / to have pain in | ||
| to the / in the (masculine body part) | ||
| to the / in the (masculine body part) | ||
| to the / in the (feminine body part) | ||
| to the / in the (feminine body part) | ||
| to the / in the (plural body part) | ||
| to the / in the (plural body part) | ||
| to the / in the (before vowel) | ||
| to the / in the (before vowel) | ||
J’ai mal à la gorge.My throat hurts.
Vous avez mal où ?Where does it hurt?
Je n’ai pas mal au dos.My back doesn’t hurt.
J’ai un peu mal à l’oreille.My ear hurts a little.
Nous avons mal à la tête.We have a headache / Our heads hurt.
Est-ce que vous avez mal aux oreilles ?Do your ears hurt?
Le docteur dit : « Ouvrez la bouche. »The doctor says: “Open your mouth.”
Vous avez mal au bras ou à la main ?Does your arm hurt or your hand?
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
My throat hurts.
?
Where does it hurt?
.
My back doesn’t hurt.
.
My ear hurts a little.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
J’ai mal .
My throat hurts.
Vous avez mal ?
Where does it hurt?
Je n’ai pas mal .
My back doesn’t hurt.
J’ai un peu mal .
My ear hurts a little.
Nous avons mal .
We have a headache / Our heads hurt.
Est-ce que vous avez mal ?
Do your ears hurt?
Le docteur dit : « Ouvrez . »
The doctor says: “Open your mouth.”
Vous avez mal ou à la main ?
Does your arm hurt or your hand?
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Je n’ai pas mal .
My back doesn’t hurt.
J’ai un peu mal .
My ear hurts a little.
Nous avons mal .
We have a headache / Our heads hurt.
Est-ce que vous avez mal ?
Do your ears hurt?
Le docteur dit : « Ouvrez . »
The doctor says: “Open your mouth.”
Vous avez mal ou à la main ?
Does your arm hurt or your hand?
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
My throat hurts.
Where does it hurt?
My back doesn’t hurt.
My ear hurts a little.
We have a headache / Our heads hurt.
Do your ears hurt?
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
My throat hurts.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My throat hurts.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Where does it hurt?
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Where does it hurt?
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My back doesn’t hurt.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My back doesn’t hurt.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My ear hurts a little.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My ear hurts a little.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
