Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| santé | /sɑ̃.te/ | feminine |
| forme | /fɔʁm/ | feminine |
santé refers to the state of being free of physical or psychological disease, illness or malfunction. For more formal contexts, such as discussing a medical condition, you can use the phrase L'état de santé. If you are referring to a medical check-up, the formal term is Un bilan de santé.
Which one should you use?
While santé refers to general health, forme is used to describe being in good physical shape or feeling energetic.
How does it change in a sentence?
To say that someone is 'in good health', use the prepositional phrase en bonne santé. Both santé and forme are feminine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
The word santé has two syllables and is pronounced /sɑ̃.te/.
When do people say it?
When making a toast while drinking, you can say À votre santé ! to mean 'Cheers!' If you are speaking with friends or family in an informal setting, you should use the version À ta santé !
Did you know?
- In France, it is considered bad luck to toast without looking the other person in the eyes while saying À votre santé ! Doing so is sometimes jokingly said to bring seven years of bad luck in the bedroom.
- The word 'santé' comes from the Latin 'sānitātem', which shares an ancient root with the English word 'sane'.
- In a professional or financial context, the word bilan refers to a 'balance sheet', yet it is the standard word used when discussing a medical check-up or 'bilan de santé'.
Examples in context
- À votre santé !Here's to your health!This example shows how to use santé in a toast.Tatoeba #11581 by Lulantis, translation #54474 by CM
- Sa santé a décliné.His health has declined.This example illustrates how to describe a decline in santé.Tatoeba #11172020 by lbdx, translation #7822320 by 100nosewiggles
- Il néglige sa santé.He is neglecting his health.This example shows someone neglecting their santé.Tatoeba #10602093 by Dr_herr, translation #3163259 by Hybrid
- La santé est notre bien le plus précieuxHealth is our most precious asset
- Le bien-être passe par une alimentation équilibrée et une activité physique régulièreWell-being is achieved through a balanced diet and regular physical activity
- Son état de santé s'est amélioré après le traitement médicalHis health has improved after medical treatment
- Il est recommandé de faire un bilan de santé chaque annéeIt is recommended to have a health check-up every year
- Je suis en pleine forme !I am in great shape!
- Il fait du sport régulièrement, c'est pourquoi il est toujours en bonne santéHe exercises regularly, that's why he's always in good health
- Elle fait beaucoup d'exercice et elle est toujours en pleine formeShe exercises a lot, and she's always in great shape
- 380 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Léa and Gabriel are talking about their new exercise habits.
- LéaJe fais du sport pour ma santé.I exercise for my health.
- GabrielC'est une très bonne idée, Léa.That is a very good idea, Léa.
- LéaLa santé est le plus important.Health is the most important thing.
- GabrielJe suis d'accord avec toi.I agree with you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “health” translations and entries santé, forme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries forme, santé, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
