Explaining myself to the doctor: Describing a symptom

🇫🇷 In France, patients commonly address a physician as [docteur] in greetings like [Bonjour docteur] or [Merci docteur]. It sounds normal and polite.

🇫🇷 This is a normal, polite way to greet a doctor in France. Using [docteur] directly here sounds natural, not overly formal.

💬 [Qu'est-ce qui] is a fixed way to ask what is happening or what is wrong: [Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?], [Qu'est-ce qui vous gêne ?]. Say it as one chunk rather than building it word by word.

💬 French often says [ça ne va pas] or [qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?] where English would say something is wrong. It literally uses [go], so you can reuse it for health, mood, or situations.

💬 [Qu'est-ce qui] is a common pattern for asking what is happening: [Qu'est-ce qui ne va pas ?], [Qu'est-ce qui se passe ?]. Learn the whole opening as one chunk.

💬 French usually says [j'ai mal à...] for pain in a body part: [j'ai mal à la tête], [j'ai mal au dos]. It uses [have] here, not [am].

💬 With body parts after [avoir mal à], French normally uses the article: [à la tête], [au ventre], [à l'oreille]. You do not usually say "my" the way English does.

💬 For pain in a body part, French uses [avoir mal à]: [j'ai mal à la tête], [j'ai mal à la gorge]. This pattern is very reusable at the doctor.