radiographie
/ʁa.djɔ.ɡʁa.fi/feminine
X-ray in French, meaning a photograph made with X-rays, is radiographie.
radiographie refers to the X-ray image or the exam. In everyday spoken French people often shorten it to une radio.
Meaning: photograph made with X-rays (noun)
Which one should you use?
radiographie is the image itself, while rayon X is the radiation used to make it. La radiographie médicale makes clear it is a medical X-ray. L'examen radiologique covers a wider range of radiology exams.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
radiographie is feminine and its plural is radiographies. The verb to X-ray is radiographier.
How do you pronounce it?
radiographie is pronounced /ʁa.djɔ.ɡʁa.fi/, in four syllables, with the French r at the start.
Did you know?
- The word radiographie is actually a shortened version of the older term radiophotographie.
- If you ask for une radio in a music store instead of a hospital, you will be looking for a radio receiver rather than an X-ray.
- French uses the verb radiographier to describe the act of taking an X-ray, whereas English usually relies on the phrase 'to take an X-ray'.
Examples in context
- Après votre fracture, le médecin vous a prescrit une radiographie du bras.After your fracture, the doctor prescribed an X-ray of your arm.
- J'ai passé une radio du genou hier.I had an X-ray of my knee yesterday.
- La radiographie montre une fracture.The x-ray shows a fracture.
- Il faut faire une radiographie du thorax.A chest x-ray must be done.
- Je vais chercher la radiographie du bras.I am going to get the x-ray of the arm.
Example conversation
Emma and Hugo are at the doctor's office.
- EmmaEst-ce que la radiographie est prête ?Is the x-ray ready?
- HugoOui, le médecin l'examine déjà.Yes, the doctor is already examining it.
- EmmaHugo, est-ce que c'est grave ?Hugo, is it serious?
- HugoNe t'inquiète pas, Emma.Don't worry, Emma.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “x-ray” translations and entries radiographie, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries radiographie, CC BY-SA 4.0.
