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B1  ·  35 words

Doctor and chemist in French

Appointment, prescription, and the words for what hurts.

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From these 35 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.

More about this list

The list for a visit nobody plans, and it holds one word that splits in a way English never does. La radio is the radio set — j’écoute la radio le matin — and it is also the X-ray, because it is short for la radiographie. So le médecin regarde la radio is a doctor looking at a plate, not at a wireless. The two senses share a root, radius, the ray: one is the ray broadcast through the air, the other the ray sent through a body. English kept the first and named the second after the letter Röntgen used for something he could not identify, so nothing in « X-ray » points back to « radio » at all. The giveaway is the verb: you listen to one and you look at the other, and French lets the sentence decide.

The words

Verb (4)

se casserto break (a bone)VerbB1
Je me suis cassé le bras à vélo.I broke my arm cycling.
se foulerto sprainVerbB1
Je me suis foulé le pied dans l’escalier.I sprained my foot on the stairs.
s’évanouirto faintVerbB1
Elle s’est évanouie au milieu de la rue.She fainted in the middle of the street.
guérirto get better, to healVerbB1
Vous allez guérir vite, ne vous inquiétez pas.You will get better quickly, do not worry.

Adjective (1)

Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes

enfléswollenAdjectiveB1
La cheville est très enflée.The ankle is very swollen.

Phrase (1)

à jeunon an empty stomachPhraseB1
La prise de sang se fait à jeun.The blood test is done on an empty stomach.

Noun (m) (14)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

le médecin traitantthe GPNoun (m)B1
Il faut demander au médecin traitant.You have to ask the GP.
le compriméthe tabletNoun (m)B1
Prenez un comprimé le matin et un le soir.Take one tablet in the morning and one in the evening.
le siropthe cough syrupNoun (m)B1
Le sirop a un goût affreux.The cough syrup tastes awful.
l’effet secondairethe side effectNoun (m)B1
Ce médicament a peu d’effets secondaires.This medicine has few side effects.
le symptômethe symptomNoun (m)B1
Les symptômes ont commencé il y a trois jours.The symptoms started three days ago.
le diagnosticthe diagnosisNoun (m)B1
Il n’y a pas encore de diagnostic définitif.There is no final diagnosis yet.
le vaccinthe vaccineNoun (m)B1
Le vaccin est gratuit pour tout le monde.The vaccine is free for everybody.
le traitementthe treatmentNoun (m)B1
Le traitement dure six semaines.The treatment lasts six weeks.
l’arrêt de travailthe sick noteNoun (m)B1
Je suis en arrêt de travail jusqu’à vendredi.I am off sick until Friday.
le remboursementthe reimbursementNoun (m)B1
Le remboursement arrive en quelques jours.The reimbursement arrives within a few days.
le pansementthe dressing, the plasterNoun (m)B1
On change le pansement tous les jours.The dressing is changed every day.
le spécialistethe consultant, the specialistNoun (m)B1
On m’a envoyé chez un spécialiste.I was sent to a consultant.
le servicethe ward, the departmentNoun (m)B1
Il est dans le service de cardiologie.He is in the cardiology ward.
le dossier médicalthe medical recordsNoun (m)B1
Tout est dans le dossier médical.It is all in the medical records.

Noun (f) (15)

Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une

les urgencesA&E, the emergency departmentNoun (f)B1
On l’a emmené aux urgences pendant la nuit.They took him to A&E during the night.
la carte Vitalethe health insurance cardNoun (f)B1
N’oubliez pas votre carte Vitale.Do not forget your health insurance card.
la consultationthe consultationNoun (f)B1
La consultation est à trois heures et demie.The consultation is at half past three.
la pommadethe ointmentNoun (f)B1
Appliquez la pommade deux fois par jour.Apply the ointment twice a day.
la dosethe doseNoun (f)B1
Ne dépassez pas la dose indiquée.Do not exceed the stated dose.
la prise de sangthe blood testNoun (f)B1
Je dois faire une prise de sang demain.I have to have a blood test tomorrow.
la tensionthe blood pressureNoun (f)B1
La tension est un peu élevée.The blood pressure is slightly high.
l’opérationthe operationNoun (f)B1
L’opération s’est bien passée.The operation went well.
la mutuellethe top-up health insuranceNoun (f)B1
La mutuelle rembourse le reste.The top-up insurance refunds the rest.
l’allergiethe allergyNoun (f)B1
J’ai une allergie aux fruits à coque.I have a nut allergy.
la blessurethe injury, the woundNoun (f)B1
La blessure cicatrise bien.The wound is healing nicely.
la brûlurethe burnNoun (f)B1
Ce n’est qu’une brûlure légère.It is only a slight burn.
l’ambulancethe ambulanceNoun (f)B1
L’ambulance est arrivée en dix minutes.The ambulance arrived within ten minutes.
la date de péremptionthe expiry dateNoun (f)B1
Vérifiez la date de péremption avant de le prendre.Check the expiry date before taking it.
la radiothe X-rayNoun (f)B1
Le médecin a regardé la radio.The doctor looked at the X-ray.

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