Vocabulary: the body, illness and healthy living

Parts of the body, saying what hurts, illness and accidents, and how to stay healthy.

Practise this lesson free (7 questions)

The body

J'ai mal à la tête / au ventre / aux dents = I have a headache / stomach ache / toothache.
FrenchEnglish
la têtehead
le brasarm
la mainhand
le doigtfinger
la jambeleg
le piedfoot
le dosback
le ventrestomach
la gorgethroat
l'oreille (f)ear
le neznose
la bouchemouth
les dents (f)teeth
le cœurheart
le corpsbody
la peau (H)skin

Illness and the doctor

Avoir mal à + body part: au with masculine (au bras), à la with feminine (à la jambe), aux with plural.
FrenchEnglish
maladeill
la maladieillness
avoir de la fièvreto have a temperature
tousserto cough
le rhumea cold
la grippeflu
le médicamentmedicine
l'hôpital (m)hospital
le rendez-vousappointment
se sentirto feel
allergiqueallergic
avoir mal au cœurto feel sick
la fièvre (H)fever, temperature

Accidents and healthy living

Je me suis cassé la jambe. = I broke my leg (no mon / ma with the body).
FrenchEnglish
se casser la jambeto break your leg
tomberto fall
se blesser (H)to hurt yourself
l'urgence (f) (H)emergency
sain(e)healthy
malsain(e)unhealthy
être en formeto be fit
la santéhealth
faire de l'exerciceto exercise
dormirto sleep
fumerto smoke
la droguedrugs
le stressstress
stressé(e) (H)stressed
Worked example

Translate: I fell off my bike and I hurt my arm.

  1. I fell = je suis tombé(e) (tomber takes être); off my bike = de mon vélo
  2. I hurt my arm = je me suis fait mal au bras, or j'ai mal au bras (it hurts now)

Answer: Je suis tombé de mon vélo et je me suis fait mal au bras.

Key idea

La tête, le bras, la main, la jambe, le pied, le dos, le ventre, la gorge, les dents. J'ai mal à la tête / au ventre / aux dents; malade, la fièvre, tousser, le rhume, la grippe, le médicament. Je me suis cassé la jambe; sain, malsain, être en forme, la santé.

Key words
être en forme
to be fit
la santé
health

All GCSE and International GCSE French key terms and definitions →

Quick check

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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. What does le nez mean?

    1. stomach
    2. nose
    3. heart
    4. head
    Show the answer

    Answer: nose

    Le nez = nose.

  2. Which is the French for "ear"?

    1. les dents (f)
    2. le dos
    3. la peau (H)
    4. l'oreille (f)
    Show the answer

    Answer: l'oreille (f)

    Ear = l'oreille.

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Practise this lesson free (7 questions)All GCSE and International GCSE French lessons

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Sources and references

Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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