B2 · 50 words
At the doctor’s and in hospital in French
Prescription, emergency department, screening, medical confidentiality — the words of a health service.
Practise this list
From these 50 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 words of a health service. Near the end sits la pénurie de personnel, and both languages have the Latin penuria, a lack of something. English narrowed it to one lack: « penury » is having no money, « living in penury » is said of a person, and nobody would use it of a staff rota. French kept the old breadth and uses it of anything that has run short: une pénurie de personnel, une pénurie de vaccins, une pénurie de médecins, une pénurie d’essence. The English word for all of those is the plain « shortage », which looks nothing like it, while the word that does look like it has drifted into a different subject entirely. So a French headline about unfilled posts reads, to somebody who trusts the cognate, as a headline about poverty — and the two are not the same story.
The words
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Verb (7)
dépisterto detect earlyVerbB2
On dépiste la maladie bien avant les symptômes.The disease is detected long before the symptoms.
diagnostiquerto diagnoseVerbB2
Le médecin a diagnostiqué une allergie.The doctor diagnosed an allergy.
prescrireto prescribeVerbB2
Elle m’a prescrit deux semaines de repos.She prescribed me two weeks of rest.
soignerto treatVerbB2
On soigne la douleur avant la cause.The pain is treated before the cause.
opérerto operate onVerbB2
On l’a opéré du genou.They operated on his knee.
hospitaliserto admit to hospitalVerbB2
Il a fallu l’hospitaliser une nuit.He had to be admitted to hospital for one night.
vaccinerto vaccinateVerbB2
On vaccine les enfants à partir de deux mois.Children are vaccinated from the age of two months.
Adjective (5)
Grammar for these: Adjective agreement · Where the adjective goes
chroniquechronicAdjectiveB2
La douleur est devenue chronique.The pain has become chronic.
béninbenignAdjectiveB2
La tumeur est bénigne.The tumour is benign.
aiguacuteAdjectiveB2
Il s’agit d’une crise aiguë.This is an acute attack.
préventifpreventiveAdjectiveB2
Le traitement est purement préventif.The treatment is purely preventive.
ambulatoireoutpatientAdjectiveB2
L’intervention est ambulatoire.The procedure is done as an outpatient.
Noun (f) (20)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
l’assurance maladiethe health insuranceNoun (f)B2
L’assurance maladie rembourse une partie du prix.Health insurance refunds part of the price.
l’ordonnance médicalethe prescriptionNoun (f)B2
L’ordonnance médicale est valable trois mois.The prescription is valid for three months.
la préventionpreventionNoun (f)B2
La prévention coûte moins que le traitement.Prevention costs less than treatment.
la vaccinationthe vaccinationNoun (f)B2
La vaccination se fait en deux fois.The vaccination is given in two doses.
la posologiethe dosageNoun (f)B2
La posologie change pour les enfants.The dosage changes for children.
la pharmacie de gardethe duty pharmacyNoun (f)B2
La pharmacie de garde est ouverte la nuit.The duty pharmacy is open at night.
l’hospitalisationthe hospital stayNoun (f)B2
L’hospitalisation a duré cinq jours.The hospital stay lasted five days.
l’analyse de sangthe blood testNoun (f)B2
L’analyse de sang est à jeun.The blood test is done on an empty stomach.
la radiographiethe X-rayNoun (f)B2
La radiographie ne montre rien de cassé.The X-ray shows nothing broken.
l’anesthésiethe anaestheticNoun (f)B2
L’anesthésie locale suffit pour cette intervention.A local anaesthetic is enough for this procedure.
la convalescencethe convalescenceNoun (f)B2
La convalescence prend plusieurs semaines.Convalescence takes several weeks.
la rééducationthe rehabilitationNoun (f)B2
La rééducation commence dès le lendemain.Rehabilitation starts the very next day.
la maladie chroniquethe chronic illnessNoun (f)B2
La maladie chronique demande un suivi régulier.A chronic illness calls for regular monitoring.
la pénurie de personnelthe staff shortageNoun (f)B2
La pénurie de personnel ferme des lits.The staff shortage is closing beds.
la maison de retraitethe care homeNoun (f)B2
La maison de retraite a une liste d’attente.The care home has a waiting list.
la santé publiquepublic healthNoun (f)B2
La santé publique relève de l’État.Public health is a matter for the state.
l’épidémiethe epidemicNoun (f)B2
L’épidémie a reculé en trois semaines.The epidemic receded within three weeks.
la contagioncontagionNoun (f)B2
La contagion se fait par les mains.Contagion happens through the hands.
l’imageriemedical imagingNoun (f)B2
L’imagerie a remplacé une opération exploratoire.Medical imaging has replaced exploratory surgery.
la contre-indicationthe contraindicationNoun (f)B2
La contre-indication figure sur la notice.The contraindication is listed on the leaflet.
Noun (m) (18)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
le tiers payantthe direct billingNoun (m)B2
Avec le tiers payant, on ne paie rien sur place.With direct billing you pay nothing on the spot.
le généralistethe general practitionerNoun (m)B2
Le généraliste renvoie vers un confrère.The general practitioner refers the patient to a colleague.
le service des urgencesthe emergency departmentNoun (m)B2
Le service des urgences était plein à minuit.The emergency department was full at midnight.
le pronosticthe prognosisNoun (m)B2
Le pronostic reste prudent.The prognosis remains cautious.
le dépistagethe screeningNoun (m)B2
Le dépistage est proposé tous les deux ans.Screening is offered every two years.
le génériquethe generic medicineNoun (m)B2
Le générique contient la même molécule.The generic medicine contains the same molecule.
le bloc opératoirethe operating theatreNoun (m)B2
Le bloc opératoire est occupé jusqu’à midi.The operating theatre is busy until midday.
le handicapthe disabilityNoun (m)B2
Le handicap n’est pas visible de l’extérieur.The disability is not visible from the outside.
le suivi médicalthe medical follow-upNoun (m)B2
Le suivi médical se fait tous les six mois.The medical follow-up happens every six months.
le consentement éclairéthe informed consentNoun (m)B2
Le consentement éclairé suppose une explication complète.Informed consent presupposes a full explanation.
le secret médicalmedical confidentialityNoun (m)B2
Le secret médical vaut aussi après la mort.Medical confidentiality holds after death as well.
le désert médicalthe medical desertNoun (m)B2
Le désert médical touche surtout les campagnes.The medical desert affects the countryside above all.
l’aidantthe family carerNoun (m)B2
L’aidant s’occupe de sa mère depuis quatre ans.The family carer has been looking after his mother for four years.
les soins palliatifspalliative careNoun (m)B2
Les soins palliatifs soulagent sans guérir.Palliative care relieves without curing.
le don d’organesthe organ donationNoun (m)B2
Le don d’organes repose sur le consentement présumé.Organ donation rests on presumed consent.
le geste barrièrethe protective measureNoun (m)B2
Le geste barrière le plus simple reste le lavage des mains.The simplest protective measure is still washing your hands.
le confinementthe lockdownNoun (m)B2
Le confinement a duré deux mois.The lockdown lasted two months.
le prélèvement sanguinthe blood sampleNoun (m)B2
Le prélèvement sanguin prend deux minutes.Taking a blood sample takes two minutes.
Missing a word? Look it up in the dictionary
This list belongs to Government, health care, education — three lists and 150 words that can also be practised as a whole.