French · Body & Health

"Toothache" in French: mal de dents

le mal de dents

Say it: mal duh dahnmasculine · le mal de dentsnoun/mal də dɑ̃/

Toothache in French is le mal de dents: j'ai mal aux dents / j'ai un mal de dents. Keep the phrase mal de dents. See a dentiste if it lasts.

Canceling plans

Je reste chez moi, j'ai un mal de dents horrible.
I'm staying home — I have a horrible toothache.
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How to pronounce mal de dents

Say it

mal duh dahn

/mal də dɑ̃/

Mal de dents: mal duh dahn. Nasal en in dents; final s usually silent.

"Toothache" in French: quick reference

FrenchEnglish
le mal de dentstoothache

The condition.

j'ai mal aux dentsI have a toothache

Most spoken form.

un mal de dentsa toothache

Indefinite.

chez le dentisteat the dentist

Related next step.

How to use mal de dents in real life

  1. 1Canceling plans

    Je reste chez moi, j'ai un mal de dents horrible.

    I'm staying home — I have a horrible toothache.

    Mal de dents full phrase.

  2. 2Pharmacy

    Vous avez quelque chose pour le mal de dents ?

    Do you have something for toothache?

    Pour le mal de dents.

  3. 3After sweets

    Ce sucre m'a réveillé un mal de dents.

    That sugar woke up a toothache.

    Un mal de dents.

Mistakes English speakers make with mal de dents

Incorrect: J'ai un toothache.

Correct: J'ai mal aux dents. / J'ai un mal de dents.

Use mal de dents / mal aux dents.

Incorrect: J'ai mal de dent.

Correct: J'ai mal aux dents. / un mal de dents.

Usually plural dents in this phrase.

Good to know

J'ai mal aux dents is the phrase you'll hear most. Emergency dental care exists; ask a pharmacie for the dentiste de garde.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

A rough morning

  1. ChatPal

    Tu grimaces c'est le mal de dents ?

    You're grimacing — is it a toothache?

  2. You

    Oui, un mal de dents depuis hier soir.

    Yes — a toothache since last night.

  3. ChatPal

    On appelle un dentiste pour ce mal de dents.

    We'll call a dentist for this toothache.

  4. You

    Merci, j'ai besoin d'aide.

    Thanks — I need help.

This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.

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"Toothache" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Toothache" in French

How do you say toothache in French?

Le mal de dents; spoken: j'ai mal aux dents.

Mal de dents or mal aux dents?

Both; j'ai mal aux dents is very common.

How do you say I have a toothache?

J'ai mal aux dents.

How do you pronounce mal de dents?

mal duh dahn.

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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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