exercer la médecine
The English phrase 'practice medicine' is translated into French as exercer la médecine.
To express the act of practicing medicine, you can use exercer la médecine. In formal or administrative contexts, French speakers often use the more descriptive exercer la profession de médecin (to practice the profession of doctor). You may also use exercer en tant que médecin to emphasize the role of a physician while expressing 'practice medicine'.
What does it mean word for word?
The verb exercer literally means 'to exercise' or 'to wield' a profession or a right.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, which uses the noun 'medicine' as an object of 'practice', French uses the definite article la before médecine in this phrase.
Did you know?
- French distinguishes between la médecine as the science of healing and le médicament as the physical drug. An English speaker might accidentally use médecine to refer to a pill.
- In a medical office, a French person would say they are 'at the cabinet' (au cabinet) rather than 'at the office'.
- If you want to say you are 'a doctor' in a general sense, you say je suis médecin, omitting the indefinite article un.
Examples in context
- Il a décidé de pratiquer la médecine en France.He has decided to practice medicine in France.
- Il est autorisé à exercer la médecine au Canada.He is authorized to practice medicine in Canada.
- Elle a toujours voulu faire de la médecine.She has always wanted to practice medicine.
- Il souhaite exercer la médecine dans ce pays.He wishes to practice medicine in this country.
- Elle veut exercer la médecine en milieu rural.She wants to practice medicine in a rural area.
Example conversation
Léa and Hugo are discussing their career paths over coffee.
- LéaEst-ce que tu veux exercer la médecine un jour ?Do you want to practice medicine one day?
- HugoNon, je préfère être ingénieur.No, I prefer to be an engineer.
- LéaMoi, j'aimerais beaucoup exercer la médecine.As for me, I would really like to practice medicine.
- HugoTu serais une excellente médecin, Léa.You would be an excellent doctor, Léa.
