French for English speakers Townhall · Lesson 2

Symptoms 1

Express pain in French — Aïe, ça fait mal (Ow, it hurts) — and ask Où as-tu mal ? (where does it hurt?) using avoir mal for pain.

Conversation

  1. Honey Honey

    Aïe, ça fait mal.

    Ouch, it hurts.

  2. Yennifer Yennifer

    Où as-tu mal ?

    Where does it hurt?

    Tip: <as-tu mal> = lit. do you have pain?

  3. Honey Honey

    J'ai mal à la jambe.

    My leg hurts.

    Tip: lit. I have pain in the leg.

  4. Yennifer Yennifer

    Attends. Je vais t’aider.

    Wait. I'm gonna help you.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you say 'it hurts' in French?

Ça fait mal (general) or J'ai mal (I'm in pain). For specific body part: j'ai mal à + body part: j'ai mal à la tête (my head hurts).

What does aïe mean?

'Ouch / ow' — the French equivalent of the pain exclamation.

Body parts that commonly hurt?

La tête (head), le dos (back), le ventre (stomach), la gorge (throat), l'oreille (ear), une dent (tooth).

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