mal de tête
/mal də tɛt/masculine
The English phrase 'headache' is translated into French as mal de tête.
The term mal de tête is used to describe a pain or ache in the head. While mal de tête is a standard noun, it is also very common to use the verbal construction avoir mal à la tête to express having a headache.
Meaning: pain or ache in the head (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mal de tête literally means 'pain of head', consisting of mal (pain/ache), de (of) and tête (head).
How does it change in a sentence?
When referring to multiple headaches, the phrase uses the irregular plural form maux de tête instead of mal de tête.
How do you pronounce it?
/mal də tɛt/
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Il a un mal de tête.He has a headache.Tatoeba #1085382 by sacredceltic, translation #1079070 by keira_n
- J’ai un mal de tête.I have a headache.Tatoeba #10642533 by AutoBot, translation #1712 by CK
- J'ai eu un mal de tête.I had a headache.Tatoeba #2428606 by sacredceltic, translation #2331592 by CK
- J'ai une migraine terribleI have a terrible migraine
- J'ai mal à la têteI have a headache
- J'ai un mal de tête terriblement fortI have a terribly strong headache
- As-tu mal à la tête ?Do you have a headache?
- 55 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Manon and Hugo are at work in an office.
- ManonTu veux un café, Hugo ?Do you want a coffee, Hugo?
- HugoNon merci, j'ai un gros mal de tête.No thanks, I have a bad headache.
- ManonTu devrais prendre un médicament.You should take some medicine.
- HugoC'est une bonne idée, Manon.That's a good idea, Manon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “headache” translations and entries mal de tête, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries de, mal, tête, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
