Talking about a headache | Learn French in English

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Use Talking about a headache to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

J'ai un léger mal de tête.

zhay uh(n) lay-ZHAY mahl duh TET. I have a slight headache.

Assieds-toi un moment et ferme les yeux.

ah-SYAY-twah uh(n) moh-MAHN ay fehrm lay ZYUH. Sit down for a minute and rest your eyes.

Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?

tew puh mah-por-TAY duh LOH? Could you bring me some water?

Tiens, bois-la lentement.

tyeh(n), bwah-lah lah(n)-tuh-MAHN. Here, sip it slowly.

Je suis aussi un peu fatigué.

zhuh SWEE oh-SEE uh(n) puh fa-tee-GAY. I feel a little tired too.

Tu peux t'allonger dans cette pièce calme.

tew puh tah-lohn-ZHAY dah(n) SET pyess KAHLM. You can lie down in this quiet room.

J'espère aller mieux bientôt.

zhess-PAIR ah-LAY MYUH byeh(n)-TOH. I hope I feel better soon.

Reste ici et appelle-moi si tu as besoin de quelque chose.

rest ee-SEE ay ah-PELL-mwah see tew ah buh-ZWAN duh kel-kuh SHOZ. Stay here, and call me if you need anything.

Word by Word

J'ai “J'ai” means “I have” here and introduces the speaker’s condition in “J'ai un léger mal de tête.” It is also used before a noun for something someone has, as in “J'ai un livre” in a new example.

un “Un” means “a” in “un léger mal de tête,” introducing one headache. It is used before a singular masculine noun, as in “un problème” in a new example.

léger “Léger” means “slight” or “mild” here and describes the headache in “un léger mal de tête.” It is placed before the noun in this expression.

mal “Mal” refers to pain or an ache in “mal de tête.” It is part of the common expression “mal de tête,” which means headache; do not read “mal” alone as the whole expression.

de “De” connects “mal” and “tête” in the expression “mal de tête,” which means headache. In this dialogue, it helps form the name of the type of pain rather than meaning a separate possession.

tête “Tête” means “head” in “mal de tête.” It is used with “mal de” to identify where the pain is in this expression.

Assieds-toi “Assieds-toi” tells one person to sit down, as in “Assieds-toi un moment.” The form is used for a direct informal instruction to the person being addressed.

moment “Moment” means a short while in “un moment.” The pattern “un moment” can be used for a brief period, as in “Attends un moment” in a new example.

et “Et” means “and” and connects the two instructions “Assieds-toi” and “ferme les yeux.” It commonly links words, phrases, or actions.

ferme “Ferme” tells the person to close something, here the eyes in “ferme les yeux.” It is used as a direct informal instruction.

les “Les” means “the” before the plural noun “yeux” in “les yeux.” It is used to introduce a specific plural noun.

yeux “Yeux” means “eyes” in “ferme les yeux.” It is the plural form used for the body part addressed in this instruction.

Tu “Tu” means “you” and addresses one person informally in “Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?” It is used as the subject before the verb in this question.

peux “Peux” expresses ability or permission in “Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?” It is followed here by an infinitive action, “m'apporter”; the pattern “Tu peux…” can introduce a request in a new example.

m'apporter “M'apporter” means “bring me” in “Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?” The form combines “m'” for the person receiving the item with “apporter,” and it follows “peux” as the requested action.

l'eau “L'eau” means “the water,” referring here to some water requested by the speaker. The apostrophe joins “l'” to “eau” before the vowel sound; “un verre d'eau” is a new example with the same noun.

Tiens “Tiens” means “here” or “take this” when handing something to someone, as in “Tiens, bois-la lentement.” It is useful when offering or handing over an object in an informal interaction.

bois-la “Bois-la” means “drink it,” referring to the water already mentioned. The form gives an informal instruction and places the object pronoun “la” after the verb in this command.

lentement “Lentement” means “slowly” and describes how the person should drink in “bois-la lentement.” It can be placed after an action to describe its manner, as in “Marche lentement” in a new example.

Je “Je” means “I” and is the subject of “Je suis aussi un peu fatigué.” It normally appears before the verb when the speaker describes their own state or action.

suis “Suis” expresses the speaker’s current state in “Je suis aussi un peu fatigué.” With “Je,” it is used to say what state the speaker is in, as in “Je suis prêt” in a new example.

aussi “Aussi” means “also” or “too” in “Je suis aussi un peu fatigué,” adding tiredness to the headache already mentioned. It commonly indicates that the speaker shares or adds information.

peu “Peu” contributes the meaning “a little” in “un peu fatigué.” The pattern “un peu de” can also introduce a small amount before a noun, as in “un peu de temps” in a new example.

fatigué “Fatigué” means “tired” in “Je suis aussi un peu fatigué.” It describes the speaker’s current state after “Je suis.”

t'allonger “T'allonger” means “to lie down” in “Tu peux t'allonger dans cette pièce calme.” It follows “peux” as an infinitive action and includes “t'” for the person who will lie down.

dans “Dans” means “in” and places the action inside “cette pièce calme.” It is used before a place or container, as in “dans la maison” in a new example.

cette “Cette” means “this” before “pièce” in “cette pièce calme.” It points to one specific feminine noun in the immediate situation.

pièce “Pièce” means “room” in “cette pièce calme.” It can be used after a determiner to identify a room, as in “une pièce” in a new example.

calme “Calme” means “quiet” or “calm” and describes the room in “cette pièce calme.” It follows the noun here and identifies the room as a quiet place for resting.

J'espère “J'espère” means “I hope” and introduces the speaker’s wish in “J'espère aller mieux bientôt.” It can be followed by an infinitive action or state, as in “J'espère réussir” in a new example.

aller “Aller” means “to go,” but in “aller mieux” it contributes to the expression for feeling better. After “J'espère,” it remains in the infinitive form because it introduces the hoped-for state.

mieux “Mieux” means “better” in the expression “aller mieux,” referring to an improvement in how the speaker feels. The pattern “aller mieux” is used when someone’s condition improves.

bientôt “Bientôt” means “soon” and indicates that the hoped-for improvement should happen in the near future. It can be placed after the main expression, as in “À bientôt” in a new example.

Reste “Reste” tells one person to stay in the current place, as in “Reste ici.” It is used as a direct informal instruction.

ici “Ici” means “here” and identifies the place where the person should stay in “Reste ici.” It can follow a movement or position instruction to specify the location.

appelle-moi “Appelle-moi” means “call me” in “appelle-moi si tu as besoin de quelque chose.” It is an informal instruction with “moi” identifying the person to call.

si “Si” means “if” and introduces the condition “si tu as besoin de quelque chose.” It connects a possible situation with the action to take in response.

as “As” means “have” in “tu as besoin de quelque chose,” the expression used for needing something. The pattern “tu as besoin de…” is followed by the thing that is needed.

besoin “Besoin” means “need” inside the expression “avoir besoin de,” represented here by “as besoin de.” This expression is followed by the person, thing, or action that is needed.

quelque “Quelque” contributes the meaning “some” in “quelque chose,” referring to an unspecified thing. It is used together with “chose” in this expression, not as the complete meaning by itself.

chose “Chose” means “thing” in “quelque chose,” meaning something or anything in this conditional sentence. The two-word expression “quelque chose” refers to an unspecified thing.

Grammar Points

Impératif + pronom complément attaché

Assieds-toi. Bois-la lentement. Appelle-moi.

ah-SYAY-twah. bwah-lah lah(n)-tuh-MAHN. ah-PELL-mwah.

Sit down. Drink it slowly. Call me.

In affirmative commands, object or reflexive pronouns attach to the verb with a hyphen.

avoir besoin de + nom ou pronom

Tu as besoin de quelque chose ?

tew ah buh-ZWAN duh kel-kuh SHOZ?

Do you need something?

The fixed expression avoir besoin de means “to need” and is followed by de plus a noun or pronoun.

French Vocabulary

apporter verb

ah-por-TAY to bring m'apporter

Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?

boire verb

BWAHR to drink bois-la

Tiens, bois-la lentement.

eau noun

OH water l'eau

Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?

fermer verb

fehr-MAY to close ferme

Assieds-toi un moment et ferme les yeux.

léger adj

lay-ZHAY slight

J'ai un léger mal de tête.

lentement adv

lah(n)-tuh-MAHN slowly

Tiens, bois-la lentement.

mal de tête phrase

mahl duh TET headache

J'ai un léger mal de tête.

œil noun

uhy eye yeux

Assieds-toi un moment et ferme les yeux.

pouvoir verb

poo-VWAHR can; to be able to peux

Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?

s'asseoir verb

sah-SWAHR to sit down Assieds-toi

Assieds-toi un moment et ferme les yeux.

tenir intj

tuh-NEER here; take this Tiens

Tiens, bois-la lentement.

un moment phrase

uh(n) moh-MAHN for a moment

Assieds-toi un moment et ferme les yeux.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I have a slight headache.

Show Answer

J'ai un léger mal de tête.

Could you bring me some water?

Show Answer

Tu peux m'apporter de l'eau ?

Here, sip it slowly.

Show Answer

Tiens, bois-la lentement.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

can; to be able to

Show Answer

peux

slight

Show Answer

léger

eye

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yeux

to close

Show Answer

ferme