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From these 34 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 tenth entry is les râles , and it is the place on this list where one French word has to be unpacked into four English ones. In a chest, les râles are the wet clicking heard through a stethoscope, and the English word for that is « crackles ». « Rales » was the borrowed term for a century and has been dropped on purpose, because half the profession used it of one sound and half of another; a report that still carries it is being read rather than understood. Away from the clinic the same noun keeps going. Le râle of somebody dying is the « death rattle ». Le râle des genêts is a bird, the corncrake, named after the noise it makes in a hayfield at night. And the verb has travelled furthest of all: râler in everyday French is to grumble, so il râle tout le temps describes a colleague and not a patient. One rasping sound, four English words, and only the first of them belongs in a lung report.
The words
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Noun (f) (21)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
la spirométrie the spirometry Noun (f) C2 La spirométrie se fait debout ou assis. Spirometry is repeated until three efforts agree with one another.
la capacité vitale the vital capacity Noun (f) C2 La capacité vitale reste presque normale. Vital capacity falls as the lung grows stiffer.
la réponse aux bronchodilatateurs the bronchodilator response Noun (f) C2 La réponse aux bronchodilatateurs oriente le diagnostic. A bronchodilator response is measured twenty minutes after the dose.
l’obstruction bronchique the airflow obstruction Noun (f) C2 L’obstruction bronchique se voit sur la courbe. Airflow obstruction is confirmed by a ratio and not by a single number.
la toux chronique the chronic cough Noun (f) C2 Une toux chronique dure des mois. A chronic cough that outlasts eight weeks is investigated.
l’expectoration the sputum Noun (f) C2 L’expectoration change de couleur pendant la crise. Sputum is collected first thing in the morning.
la gazométrie the blood gas analysis Noun (f) C2 La gazométrie montre un manque d’oxygène. Blood gas analysis settles whether oxygen on its own is enough.
l’insuffisance respiratoire the respiratory failure Noun (f) C2 L’insuffisance respiratoire s’installe lentement. Respiratory failure is defined by two numbers rather than by how the patient looks.
l’oxygénothérapie de longue durée the long-term oxygen therapy Noun (f) C2 L’oxygénothérapie de longue durée occupe tout le salon. Long-term oxygen therapy works only if it is worn for most of the day.
la ventilation non invasive the non-invasive ventilation Noun (f) C2 La ventilation non invasive se fait par un masque. Non-invasive ventilation is set up over the first few nights.
la technique d’inhalation the inhaler technique Noun (f) C2 La technique d’inhalation est revue à chaque visite. Inhaler technique explains more failures than the drug itself does.
la chambre d’inhalation the spacer Noun (f) C2 La chambre d’inhalation aide surtout les enfants. A spacer catches the dose that would otherwise hit the throat.
l’exacerbation the exacerbation Noun (f) C2 Une exacerbation conduit souvent à l’hôpital. An exacerbation is a worsening measured in days rather than hours.
la trousse d’urgence the rescue pack Noun (f) C2 La trousse d’urgence reste dans le sac. The rescue pack stays at home and is started on agreed rules.
la fibrose pulmonaire the pulmonary fibrosis Noun (f) C2 La fibrose pulmonaire raidit le tissu. Pulmonary fibrosis reduces what the lung is still able to hold.
l’exposition professionnelle the occupational exposure Noun (f) C2 L’exposition professionnelle remonte à des décennies. Occupational exposure is asked about job by job.
la bronchoscopie the bronchoscopy Noun (f) C2 La bronchoscopie se fait sous légère sédation. Bronchoscopy brings back a sample from the place in question.
la tuberculose the tuberculosis Noun (f) C2 La tuberculose n’a jamais disparu. Tuberculosis is treated for months and never for weeks.
la réhabilitation respiratoire the pulmonary rehabilitation Noun (f) C2 La réhabilitation respiratoire mêle exercice et suivi. Pulmonary rehabilitation runs in a group over several weeks.
la vaccination contre la grippe the influenza vaccination Noun (f) C2 La vaccination contre la grippe revient chaque automne. Influenza vaccination has to be repeated because the virus keeps changing.
la surveillance à domicile the home monitoring Noun (f) C2 La surveillance à domicile évite bien des séjours. Home monitoring sends a reading in without anybody travelling.
Noun (m) (13)
Grammar for these: Definite article: le, la, les · Indefinite article: un, une
le volume expiratoire maximal seconde the forced expiratory volume in one second Noun (m) C2 Le volume expiratoire maximal seconde baisse chaque année. The forced expiratory volume in one second is the figure the diagnosis turns on.
le débit de pointe the peak flow Noun (m) C2 Elle note son débit de pointe chaque matin. Peak flow drops before the patient notices anything.
le sifflement the wheeze Noun (m) C2 Le sifflement s’entend sans stéthoscope. The wheeze is loudest when the patient breathes out.
les râles the crackles Noun (m) C2 Les râles apparaissent à la base des poumons. Crackles do not clear when the patient coughs.
l’essoufflement à l’effort the breathlessness on exertion Noun (m) C2 L’essoufflement à l’effort commence dans l’escalier. Breathlessness on exertion is often put down to age first.
l’arrêt du tabac the smoking cessation Noun (m) C2 L’arrêt du tabac change la pente de la courbe. Smoking cessation is written into the notes with a date beside it.
les paquets-années the pack-years Noun (m) C2 Le dossier indique le nombre de paquets-années. Pack-years multiply the daily packet by the number of years smoked.
l’amiante the asbestos Noun (m) C2 L’amiante se cache encore dans les vieux bâtiments. Asbestos stayed in use long after the harm was known.
l’épanchement pleural the pleural effusion Noun (m) C2 L’épanchement pleural gêne la respiration. A pleural effusion shows as a rising line on the film.
le pneumothorax the pneumothorax Noun (m) C2 Le pneumothorax survient parfois sans cause. A pneumothorax can arrive in somebody young and otherwise well.
le nodule pulmonaire the pulmonary nodule Noun (m) C2 Le nodule pulmonaire est surveillé par des images. A pulmonary nodule turns out, more often than not, to be nothing at all.
le trouble respiratoire du sommeil the sleep-disordered breathing Noun (m) C2 Le trouble respiratoire du sommeil fatigue toute la journée. Sleep-disordered breathing is suspected when the nights are loud and the days are drowsy.
l’exercice respiratoire the breathing exercise Noun (m) C2 Un exercice respiratoire calme la panique. A breathing exercise is practised twice a day at home.
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