French · Body & Health
"Headache" in French: mal de tête
le mal de tête
Headache in French is le mal de tête, masculine. The set phrase is j'ai mal de tête. A stronger migraine is often une migraine.
Canceling plans
Je reste chez moi, j'ai mal de tête.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mal de tête
Say it
luh mal duh tet
/lə mal də tɛt/
mal duh tet. Mal is mahl; de is duh; tête is tet with a closed e and silent final e.
"Headache" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le mal de tête | headache Default noun. | Default noun. |
| j'ai mal de tête | I have a headache Most common line. | Most common line. |
| un mal de tête | a headache Indefinite. | Indefinite. |
| contre le mal de tête | for headaches Pharmacy aisle. | Pharmacy aisle. |
How to use mal de tête in real life
- 1Canceling plans
Je reste chez moi, j'ai mal de tête.
I'm staying home; I have a headache.
J'ai mal de tête.
- 2Pharmacy
Vous avez quelque chose contre le mal de tête ?
Do you have something for headaches?
Contre le mal de tête.
- 3After screens
Ce mal de tête vient de trop d'écran.
This headache comes from too much screen time.
Ce mal de tête.
Mistakes English speakers make with mal de tête
Incorrect: J'ai un mal à la tête.
Correct: J'ai mal de tête. / J'ai mal à la tête.
The set phrase is mal de tête; mal à la tête also works, not un mal à la tête.
Incorrect: J'ai une mal de tête.
Correct: J'ai mal de tête.
Use the fixed expression j'ai mal de tête.
Good to know
J'ai mal de tête is everyday French for a regular headache. For a pounding migraine, people switch to j'ai une migraine.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Skipping a party
ChatPal
Tu viens ce soir ?
Are you coming tonight?
You
Non, j'ai mal de tête depuis midi.
No, I've had a headache since noon.
ChatPal
Prends un cachet et repose-toi.
Take a pill and rest.
You
C'est le plan. Ce mal de tête me vide.
That's the plan. This headache is draining me.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Headache" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Headache" in French
How do you say headache in French?
Le mal de tête.
How do you say I have a headache?
J'ai mal de tête.
Is migraine the same?
Migraine is stronger; mal de tête is the general word.
How do you pronounce mal de tête?
mal duh tet.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
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