Five ways to say you have a cold in French

Autumn has arrived in France and as temperatures begin to drop, cold and flu cases are on the rise.

You might notice an increase in the amount of people sniffling (renifler), sneezing (éternuer) and coughing (tousser) when out in public.

Preventive measures including handwashing, good ventilation and mask-wearing when symptomatic can help to keep you protected, and remember to say à tes souhaits (bless you) as a polite response when someone sneezes.

We look at five French ways to describe catching a cold.

1. Etre grippé/enrhumé

This saying literally translates as: to be flu-ridden, or to be ridden with the cold. 

La grippe refers to the flu, un rhume refers to a cold, and un rhume des foins can refer to hayfever.

Use the verb être (to be) to describe experiencing cold or flu symptoms:

• Je suis tout enrhumé. Tu aurais un paquet de mouchoirs ? - I am ridden with the cold. You wouldn’t happen to have a packet of tissues?

Do not forget to add an extra ‘e’ at the end of each word if referring to a woman. This only affects spelling - and does not impact pronunciation. 

You might also hear people use the verb avoir (to have) to say they have a cold:

• J'ai un rhume, ne t'approche pas trop de moi. - I have a cold, don't come too near me.

2. Attraper la grippe/un rhume

These sayings literally translate as: to catch the flu/a cold. 

These standard phrases are probably the most common ways that you will hear people talking about catching the flu or a cold in France.

For example, if you need to cancel plans as a result of falling ill you could say:

• Je ne pourrai pas venir à ta soirée parce que j'ai attrapé la grippe. - I cannot come to your party because I caught the flu. 

The idea of ‘catching’ stems from the image of illnesses being spread from one person to another when coming into contact with cold or flu germs. 

3. Choper la crève

This casual saying literally translates as: to catch death. 

Choper is an informal verb meaning to catch or come down with something. 

You will also hear people swap choper for the more neutral term attraper (see above).

Crèver is a verb that means to puncture or burst - but over the years it has also developed into an informal way of saying: to die.

It is used as a noun (la crève) to refer to a cold.

Today it is uncommon for people to die from catching the common cold, however the expression moreso stems from the way in which people suffering from a cold can describe themselves as feeling ‘like death’.

4. Prendre un coup de froid

This saying literally translates as: to take a hit of cold.

It is used to describe the onset of cold symptoms, for example getting a sore throat (mal de gorge) or the chills.

Usually it is used to express a mild illness that can be associated with a drop in temperature.

We have similar imagery in English, such as ‘to catch a chill’, an expression associated with the idea of getting ill as a result of being cold.

You may also hear someone simply refer to prendre froid (to take cold). 

Note that this saying is more commonly used in the opposite sense: prendre un coup de chaud/soleil (to have heatstroke). 

5. Avoir une fièvre de cheval 

This saying literally translates as: to have the fever of a horse.

It draws on the symbolic strength and size of a horse to describe a really intense fever - a common symptom when you are unwell.

Horses are seen as strong, powerful animals with great stamina. If even such a robust animal could be overwhelmed by a fever, it must be exceptionally severe.

It is thought to date back to the 19th Century when a sick horse could seem extreme compared to smaller animals due to their value, and as they were vital to daily life with the labour they helped with.

If you would like us to explain a particular word or expression, or if you have any other Learning French suggestions, let us know at: feedback@connexionfrance.com