A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I feel sick to my stomach" in French
Expresses feeling nauseous or sick to your stomach in French.
J'ai la nausée.
zhay lah noh-ZAYneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you feel like you might vomit, or have a general feeling of sickness in your stomach. It's good for when you're on a boat trip, after eating something questionable, or if you're feeling unwell.
Alternatives
- Je me sens mal.More general for feeling unwell, not specifically stomach-related.
- J'ai mal au ventre.Specifically indicates stomach pain, not just nausea.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'nausée' with a hard 's'
The 's' in 'nausée' is pronounced like 'z', not 's'.
Confusing 'avoir' and 'être'
You 'have' nausea with 'avoir', so it's 'J'ai la nausée', not 'Je suis la nausée'.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
What's the difference between 'J'ai la nausée' and 'J'ai mal au ventre'?
'J'ai la nausée' means you feel sick to your stomach, like you might throw up. 'J'ai mal au ventre' means you have a stomach ache or pain.
How to say I feel sick in French for a doctor?
You can say 'J'ai la nausée' if you feel nauseous, or 'Je me sens mal' for a general feeling of being unwell.
Is 'J'ai la nausée' formal or informal?
It's a neutral phrase that works in most situations, so you can use it with friends, family, or medical professionals.
