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Describing Symptoms — "I've Been Having..."
10 min
A2
Free
The problem
Being sick in a foreign country is stressful enough. Not being able to describe what's wrong makes it worse. French speakers often translate literally — "J'ai mal à la tête" becomes "I have pain at the head". English uses different structures for different types of pain.
Describing pain
"I've got a headache." / "I've got a sore throat."
J'ai mal à la tête. / J'ai mal à la gorge.
→ "I've got a [body part]-ache" for head, stomach, back, tooth. "Sore" for throat, muscles, eyes.
J'ai mal à la tête. / J'ai mal à la gorge.
→ "I've got a [body part]-ache" for head, stomach, back, tooth. "Sore" for throat, muscles, eyes.
"It hurts when I swallow." / "It hurts here." [point]
Ça fait mal quand j'avale. / Ça fait mal ici.
"It hurts" = ça fait mal. "It hurts when I..." describes when the pain happens.
Ça fait mal quand j'avale. / Ça fait mal ici.
"It hurts" = ça fait mal. "It hurts when I..." describes when the pain happens.
"I've got a sharp pain in my chest." / "It's a dull ache in my lower back."
J'ai une douleur vive dans la poitrine. / C'est une douleur sourde dans le bas du dos.
Sharp = sudden, intense. Dull = constant, low-level. Doctors will ask "Is it sharp or dull?"
J'ai une douleur vive dans la poitrine. / C'est une douleur sourde dans le bas du dos.
Sharp = sudden, intense. Dull = constant, low-level. Doctors will ask "Is it sharp or dull?"
Describing duration
"I've been having headaches for about a week."
J'ai des maux de tête depuis environ une semaine.
→ Present perfect continuous + "for" — something ongoing. NOT "I have headaches since one week."
J'ai des maux de tête depuis environ une semaine.
→ Present perfect continuous + "for" — something ongoing. NOT "I have headaches since one week."
"It started two days ago." / "It came on suddenly last night."
Ça a commencé il y a deux jours. / C'est arrivé soudainement hier soir.
Past simple for when it started. "Came on" = appeared/began (common medical phrasal verb).
Ça a commencé il y a deux jours. / C'est arrivé soudainement hier soir.
Past simple for when it started. "Came on" = appeared/began (common medical phrasal verb).
Other symptoms
"I feel dizzy." / "I feel nauseous." / "I've been running a temperature."
J'ai des vertiges. / J'ai la nausée. / J'ai de la fièvre.
"Running a temperature" = avoir de la fièvre. More natural than "I have fever."
J'ai des vertiges. / J'ai la nausée. / J'ai de la fièvre.
"Running a temperature" = avoir de la fièvre. More natural than "I have fever."
"I've been feeling run down."
Je me sens fatigué / à plat.
"Run down" = generally unwell, tired, low energy. Very common expression.
Je me sens fatigué / à plat.
"Run down" = generally unwell, tired, low energy. Very common expression.
Allergies & medications
"I'm allergic to penicillin." / "I'm currently taking blood pressure medication."
Je suis allergique à la pénicilline. / Je prends actuellement un traitement pour la tension.
Always mention allergies and current medications FIRST. Don't wait to be asked.
Je suis allergique à la pénicilline. / Je prends actuellement un traitement pour la tension.
Always mention allergies and current medications FIRST. Don't wait to be asked.
Common mistakes
"I have pain at the head" → "I've got a headache." "I have headaches since one week" → "I've been having headaches for about a week." "I have fever" → "I've got a temperature" or "I've been running a temperature." And "nauseous" is pronounced NAW-shus, not naw-zee-us.