mal de gorge (maux de gorge pl)
masculine
The English phrase "sore throat" is translated into French as mal de gorge (maux de gorge pl). Wiktionary also lists angine.
Meaning: symptom (noun)
Ways to say it
| French | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| mal de gorge (maux de gorge pl) | masculine | |
| angine | /ɑ̃.ʒin/ | feminine |
The term mal de gorge is a general way to describe any pain or ache in the throat. To express the symptom of having a sore throat, French speakers use the verbal construction avoir mal à la gorge.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase mal de gorge is composed of mal (pain or ache), de (of) and gorge (throat).
Which one should you use?
While mal de gorge is a general term for any throat pain, angine is more specific and refers to tonsillitis or a more severe inflammation.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular form is mal de gorge and the plural form is maux de gorge. Mal de gorge is a masculine noun.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- Excusez-moi, mais j'ai un mal de gorge terrible aujourd'hui. Serait-il possible de reporter notre réunion ?Excuse me, but I have a terrible sore throat today. Would it be possible to postpone our meeting?
- Ça va pas trop ce matin, j'ai mal à la gorge et je tousse beaucoup.I'm not feeling great this morning, I have a sore throat and I'm coughing a lot.
- J'ai une terrible douleur à la gorgeI have a terrible pain in my throat
Sources
- Wiktionary, “sore throat” translations and entries angine, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries angine, de, gorge, mal, CC BY-SA 4.0.
