French Vocabulary – Avoir Mal – Body Parts
Not Feeling Great? Here’s How to Say It in French
Whether it’s a headache, a sore throat, or a runny nose, knowing how to describe everyday aches and pains is essential—especially when you’re traveling or living in a French-speaking country. In this post, we’ll explore how to use the expression “avoir mal à” with different parts of the body. You’ll learn practical vocabulary for everything from la tête to les orteils, plus useful phrases to describe common symptoms. If you’ve ever needed to explain where it hurts—or just want to be prepared—this is the vocab list for you!
You can download a free PDF of this vocabulary list in my private French Grammar Library.
| le corps | body |
| les cheveux | hair |
| la tête | head |
| avoir mal à la tête | to have a headache |
| le visage | face |
| l’oeil | eye |
| les yeux | eyes |
| avoir mal aux yeux | to have sore eyes |
| avoir les yeux qui piquent | to have stingy eyes |
| avoir les yeux qui brûlent | to have burning eyes |
| avoir les yeux gonflés | to have swollen eyes |
| le nez | nose |
| avoir le nez qui coule | to have a runny nose |
| la joue | cheek |
| la bouche | mouth |
| les lèvres | lips |
| les dents | teeth |
| avoir mal aux dents | to have sore teeth |
| les oreilles | ears |
| avoir mal à l’oreille | to have an earache |
| le cou | neck |
| la gorge | throat |
| avoir mal à la gorge | to have a sore throat |
| la poitrine | chest |
| le coeur | heart |
| avoir mal au coeur | to be feeling sick |
| l’estomac | stomach |
| avoir mal à l’estomac | to have a stomachache |
| le ventre | tummy |
| avoir mal au ventre | to have a tummyache |
| le bras | arm |
| l’épaule | shoulder |
| le coude | elbow |
| le poignet | wrist |
| la main | hand |
| le doigt | finger |
| l’ongle | fingernail |
| le pouce | thumb |
| le dos | back |
| la jambe | leg |
| le genou | knee |
| la cheville | ankle |
| le pied | foot |
| l’orteil | toe |
