French · Body & Health
"Sore throat" in French: mal de gorge
le mal de gorge
Sore throat in French is le mal de gorge, masculine. J'ai mal de gorge means I have a sore throat. At the pharmacy, say j'ai un mal de gorge depuis hier.
Calling in sick
Je ne viens pas : j'ai mal de gorge.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce mal de gorge
Say it
mal duh GORZH
/mal də ɡɔʁʒ/
Mal is mal. De is duh. Gorge is GORZH with a soft zh. Together: mal-duh-GORZH.
"Sore throat" in French: quick reference
| French | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| le mal de gorge | sore throat Default medical phrase. | Default medical phrase. |
| j'ai mal de gorge | I have a sore throat Symptom report. | Symptom report. |
| un mal de gorge | a sore throat With un for one episode. | With un for one episode. |
| mal de gorge depuis… | sore throat since… Duration for a doctor or pharmacist. | Duration for a doctor or pharmacist. |
How to use mal de gorge in real life
- 1Calling in sick
Je ne viens pas : j'ai mal de gorge.
I'm not coming — I have a sore throat.
Full phrase mal de gorge.
- 2Pharmacy counter
Vous avez quelque chose pour le mal de gorge ?
Do you have something for a sore throat?
Le mal de gorge as the problem.
- 3Morning check-in
Tu as encore mal de gorge aujourd'hui ?
Do you still have a sore throat today?
Ask with mal de gorge.
Mistakes English speakers make with mal de gorge
Incorrect: J'ai mal à la gorge seulement (dropping de).
Correct: J'ai mal de gorge.
The set phrase is mal de gorge; keep de gorge together.
Incorrect: J'ai un sore throat.
Correct: J'ai un mal de gorge.
Use mal de gorge, not English.
Good to know
French pharmacies are the first stop for a mild mal de gorge: describe duration and fever. Pastilles and sprays are common; if it lasts, a médecin may check for angine.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Texting a friend before canceling plans
ChatPal
Tu viens ce soir ? Tu as l'air fatigué.
Are you coming tonight? You look tired.
You
Non, j'ai mal de gorge depuis ce matin.
No, I've had a sore throat since this morning.
ChatPal
Prends du miel. Le mal de gorge ça fatigue vite.
Take some honey. A sore throat wears you out fast.
You
Oui, je me repose. On se voit plus tard.
Yeah, I'm resting. See you later.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Sore throat" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Sore throat" in French
How do you say sore throat in French?
Le mal de gorge.
How do you say I have a sore throat?
J'ai mal de gorge.
Mal de gorge or angine?
Mal de gorge is the everyday symptom; angine is a more specific throat infection.
How do you pronounce mal de gorge?
mal-duh-GORZH.
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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