French · Body & Health
"Hospital" in French: hôpital
l'hôpital
Hospital in French is l'hôpital, masculine. You say à l'hôpital for at/to the hospital. Les urgences are the ER.
Visiting someone
Je vais à l'hôpital voir mon oncle.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce hôpital
Say it
oh-pee-TAL
/o.pi.tal/
Hôpital drops the h sound. The o is like oh, then pee-TAL with stress on the last syllable. The ô is a closed o.
"Hospital" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| l'hôpital | the hospital Main word for a hospital. | Main word for a hospital. |
| à l'hôpital | at / to the hospital Location or destination. | Location or destination. |
| les urgences | the emergency room Where you go for acute care. | Where you go for acute care. |
| être hospitalisé(e) | to be hospitalized Admitted for a stay. | Admitted for a stay. |
How to use hôpital in real life
- 1Visiting someone
Je vais à l'hôpital voir mon oncle.
I'm going to the hospital to see my uncle.
À l'hôpital for destination.
- 2After an accident
On l'a emmené à l'hôpital tout de suite.
They took him to the hospital right away.
Emmené = taken / brought.
- 3Talking about work
Elle travaille à l'hôpital depuis dix ans.
She's worked at the hospital for ten years.
Depuis for how long so far.
Mistakes English speakers make with hôpital
Incorrect: Je vais au hôpital.
Correct: Je vais à l'hôpital.
Hôpital starts with a vowel sound, so use à l', not au.
Incorrect: Je suis dans l'hôpital.
Correct: Je suis à l'hôpital.
French usually says à l'hôpital, not dans, for being there as a patient or visitor.
Good to know
For non-emergencies, people often see a médecin or go to a pharmacie first. Les urgences can mean long waits; for life-threatening cases, call 15 (SAMU) in France.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking on a friend after surgery
ChatPal
Tu es encore à l'hôpital demain ?
Are you still at the hospital tomorrow?
You
Oui, ils me gardent à l'hôpital une nuit.
Yes, they're keeping me in the hospital one night.
ChatPal
Je passe te voir vers 18 h.
I'll stop by around 6 p.m.
You
Parfait. Chambre 214, bâtiment B.
Perfect. Room 214, building B.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Hospital" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Hospital" in French
How do I say at the hospital?
À l'hôpital.
What are the urgences?
The emergency department / ER.
Is hôpital masculine or feminine?
Masculine: un hôpital, l'hôpital.
How do you pronounce hôpital?
Oh-pee-TAL, silent h.
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
Keep reading
- Ordering Food in French: Essential Phrases for 2026Ordering food in french - Learn how to confidently order food in French with real-life phrases and tips for 2026 travelers
- 10 Best French Speaking Practice Apps for 2026Find the best French speaking practice app to build fluency. We review 10 top tools like ChatPal for conversation, travel prep, and building confidence in 2026.
