flegme
/flɛɡm/
The French word for phlegm is flegme.
The term refers to the mucus secreted in the bronchial passages.
Meaning: mucus secreted in the bronchial passages (noun)
Which one should you use?
While flegme is the standard term, you may encounter different variations depending on the level of formality you wish to use.
How do you pronounce it?
/flɛɡm/
Did you know?
- In French, having flegme can be a compliment, describing someone with an incredible, unshakable calm under pressure.
- The word flegme is a doublet of the common French word flemme, which means 'laziness' or 'lack of energy'.
- In the ancient theory of the four humors, flegme was one of the four bodily fluids that determined a person's health and temperament. An excess of this fluid was thought to make a person sluggish or indifferent.
Examples in context
- Il a un flegme très britannique.He's got some very British phlegm.Tatoeba #873414 by U2FS, translation #873412 by U2FS
- J'ai du mal à expulser le mucus de ma gorge.I'm having trouble expelling the phlegm from my throat.
- Les expectorations jaunes sont souvent liées à une infection.Yellow sputum is often associated with an infection.
- Je tousse beaucoup et j'ai des glaires qui me dérangent.I cough a lot, and the phlegm bothers me.
Example conversation
Léa and Lucas are talking about a cold.
- LéaEst-ce que tu tousses encore, Lucas ?Are you still coughing, Lucas?
- LucasOui, j'ai encore du flegme dans la gorge.Yes, I still have phlegm in my throat.
- LéaTu devrais boire beaucoup d'eau.You should drink plenty of water.
- LucasTu as raison, je vais le faire.You are right, I will do that.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry flegme, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries flegme, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
