The ultimate guide to French Insurance and Healthcare terms
Navigating the French insurance and healthcare systems can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the terms. Whether you’re an expat settling in France or a visitor trying to understand local policies, mastering these terms is key to accessing the right services and avoiding costly mistakes. In this guide, we’ll break down the essential vocabulary you need to know to confidently manage your health and insurance needs in France. Read on to become fluent in the language of French insurance and healthcare!
Table of Contents
Hospitalization / Hospitalisation:
The question of payment will come after your wellbeing
In an emergency situation, you will be taken care of regardless of your nationality, professional, or financial situation.
PEC (Prise en Charge)
If you have a planned hospital stay or after emergency care, you may be asked for a “PEC.”
This document allows the hospital or clinic to claim the amounts due for your treatments directly from your « Régime Obligatoire » and potentially from your « Top-Up. »
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
If you are in France on holiday, you may present your EHIC.
Required medical documents and information:
- Blood group card: « carte de groupe sanguin »
- Allergies: « Avez-vous des allergies? » or « Êtes-vous allergique? »
- Medical and surgical history: « antécédents médicaux ou chirurgicaux »
- Current treatment: « Quel est votre traitement actuel / courant / en cours? »
- Special diet: « Avez-vous un régime spécial? »
- No salt: « Sans sel »
- No sugar: « Sans sucre »
- Gluten-free: « Sans gluten »
KEY WORDS
USEFUL PHRASES
| ENGLISH | FRENCH |
|---|---|
| Aching | Douloureux |
| Ambulance | Ambulance |
| Anaesthetic | Anesthésique |
| Anaesthetic | Anesthésie |
| Ankle | La cheville |
| Appendix | L'appendice |
| Arm | Le bras |
| Assistant nurse | Aide soignante |
| Back | Le dos |
| Back of the neck | La nuque |
| Bedpan | Un bassin |
| Bell / buzzer | Sonnette |
| Bladder | La vessie |
| Blood | Le sang |
| Blood test | Prise de sang |
| Blood test (results) | Résultat sanguin, Bilan sanguin |
| Blood test to be taken fasting | Prise de sang à jeun |
| Body | Le corps |
| Bone | L'os |
| Bottle | Une bouteille |
| Bowels | Les intestins |
| Brain | Le cerveau |
| Breast | Le sein |
| Bruise | Un bleu / une contusion / un hématome |
| Burn | une brûlure |
| Burning sensation | Sensation de chaleur / douleur cuisante |
| Buttocks / bottom | Les fesses |
| Calf | Le mollet |
| Capsule | Gélule |
| Car accident | Accident de la route |
| Casualty / A&E | Urgences |
| Change your dressing | Faire votre pansement |
| Cheeks | Les joues |
| Chest | La poitrine |
| Chin | Le menton |
| Collarbone | La clavicule |
| Contraceptive pill | La pilule |
| Cough / a cough | Tousser / une toux |
| Covered in bruised | Être couvert de bleus |
| Crushed | Ecrasé / broyé |
| Crutches | Les béquilles |
| Cut | Coupe |
| Dizziness | Le vertige |
| Doctor | Médecin |
| Drawsheet | L’alèse |
| Dressing gown | Robe de chambre |
| Drink (A) | Une boisson |
| Drink (To) | Boire |
| Ear | L'oreille |
| Eat | Manger |
| ECG | Electrocardiogramme (électro) |
| Elbow | Le coude |
| Exhausted | Épuisé |
| Eye (eyes) | L’œil (Les yeux) |
| Face | Le visage |
| Face flannel | Un gant de toilette |
| Feel sick | J'ai des nausées / J'ai mal au cœur |
| Feel unwell / faint | J'ai un malaise / j'ai la tête qui tourne |
| Finger | Le doigt |
| Fingernail | L'ongle |
| Foot | Le pied |
| Forehead | Le front |
| Gall bladder | La vésicule biliaire |
| Get undressed | Déshabillez-vous |
| Grazed | Écorché |
| Gum | Gencive |
| Hand | La main |
| Have a wash | Faire sa toilette |
| Head | La tête |
| Heart | Le cœur |
| Heel | Le talon |
| High temperature | La fièvre |
| Hip | La hanche |
| Hospital gown (open at the back) | Casaque / blouse opératoire |
| Infection | Infection |
| Injection | Piqûre |
| Intensive care | Soins intensifs |
| Jaw | La mâchoire |
| Joint | L'articulation |
| Kidney | Le rein |
| Knee | Le genou |
| Leg | La jambe |
| Lip | La lèvre |
| Local anaesthetic | Anesthésie locale |
| Lump | Une masse / un nodule |
| Medicine | Le médicament |
| Midwife | Sage-femme |
| Mobility aid | Aide à la mobilité |
| Neck | Le cou |
| Nurse | Infirmier / Infirmière |
| Operation | Opération |
| Ovaries | Les ovaires |
| Pain | Douleur |
| Painkiller | Antidouleur |
| Paracetamol | Paracétamol |
| Patient | Le patient |
| Pharmacy | Pharmacie |
| Plaster | Un plâtre |
| Prescription | Ordonnance |
| Put the bandage on | Mettre le bandage |
| Put the dressing on | Mettre le pansement |
| Raise your arm | Levez le bras |
| Redness | Rougeur |
| Relax | Se détendre |
| Respiratory rate | Fréquence respiratoire |
| Results | Résultats |
| Scalp | Le cuir chevelu |
| Scales | Balance |
| Scent | Une odeur |
| Shaking | Tremblements |
| Sick | Malade |
| Sleep | Le sommeil |
| Sniff | Renifler |
| Stethoscope | Stéthoscope |
| Sugar | Sucre |
| Surgeon | Chirurgien |
| Sweat | La sueur |
| Sweaty | Transpirant |
| Symptoms | Les symptômes |
| Take blood pressure | Mesurer la tension |
| Take your temperature | Prendre votre température |
| Throat | La gorge |
| Thump | Un coup |
| Toes | Les orteils |
| Tongue | La langue |
| Trauma | Traumatisme |
| Twisted | Tordu |
| Vomit | Vomi |
| Wound | Une plaie |
| Wrists | Les poignets |
| ENGLISH | FRENCH |
|---|---|
| Adhesion | Adhésion |
| Back pain | Douloureux au dos |
| Bad breath | Halitose |
| Blood in the urine | Du sang dans les urines |
| Bleeding | Saignement |
| Bleeding nose | Saignement de nez |
| Body aches | Douleurs corporelles |
| Breathless | Essoufflé |
| Burning sensation when passing urine | Sensation de brûlure en urinant |
| Choking | Etouffement |
| Colic | Colique |
| Cold sweat | Transpiration froide |
| Constipation | Constipation |
| Cramping | Crampe |
| Cramps | Crampes |
| Diarrhoea | Diarrhée |
| Dizziness | Vertige |
| Fainting | Évanouissement |
| Fatigue | Fatigue |
| Fever | Fièvre |
| Flu symptoms | Symptômes de la grippe |
| Headache | Mal de tête |
| Heart palpitations | Palpitations cardiaques |
| Hot flushes | Bouffées de chaleur |
| Injury | Une blessure |
| Insomnia | Insomnie |
| Nausea | Nausée |
| Painful periods | Règles douloureuses |
| Pinched nerve | Nerf coincé |
| Rash | Une éruption cutanée |
| Shortness of breath | Essoufflement |
| Stiffness | Rigidité |
| Swelling | Gonflement |
| Thirsty | Assoiffé |
| Vomiting | Vomissements |
Understand French Insurance and Healthcare terms
To wrap up, understanding French insurance and healthcare terms is an essential step in ensuring you receive the right care and coverage while living in or visiting France. With a clearer grasp of the key terms, you can navigate the complexities of the French system with confidence, whether you’re registering for health insurance, seeking medical services, or managing policy details. Keep in mind that staying informed about the latest updates in French healthcare and insurance laws will help you avoid unexpected costs and ensure you’re always covered when you need it most. By familiarising yourself with these vital terms, you’ll be better prepared to make informed decisions and effectively communicate with healthcare providers and insurance companies. Whether you’re an expat, a long-term resident, or simply planning a stay in France, knowing these crucial French insurance and healthcare terms is a step towards securing peace of mind.