zona
/zo.na/masculine
The French word for shingles is zona.
zona is a masculine noun used to refer to the medical condition herpes zoster.
Meaning: herpes zoster (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
zona is a masculine noun.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has two syllables and is pronounced /zo.na/.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use the term 'shingles' to evoke the image of wooden roof tiles, French speakers use a term that refers to a circular shape.
- The word zona derives from the Ancient Greek word for a 'belt' or 'girdle'.
- The word zona shares a root with the English word 'zone', as both describe a specific area or belt.
Examples in context
- J'ai attrapé la zona la semaine dernière. C'est très douloureux.I got shingles last week. It's very painful.
- Il a un zona très douloureux.He has a very painful case of shingles.
- Le zona peut causer des cicatrices.Shingles can cause scars.
- Elle souffre d'un zona depuis hier.She has been suffering from shingles since yesterday.
Example conversation
Lucas tells Emma why he is missing work.
- LucasJe ne peux pas venir, j'ai le zona.I can't come, I have shingles.
- EmmaOh non, Lucas ! C'est grave ?Oh no, Lucas! Is it serious?
- LucasC'est surtout très irritant sur la peau.It is mostly very irritating on the skin.
- EmmaRepose-toi bien et guéris vite.Get some good rest and heal quickly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “shingles” translations and entries zona, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries zona, CC BY-SA 4.0.
