A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I have a fever" in French
Say 'J'ai de la fièvre' to tell someone you have a fever in French.
J'ai de la fièvre.
zhay duh lah fyev-RUHRneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this when you feel unusually hot and unwell, perhaps to explain why you need to cancel plans or are seeking medical help. It's a direct way to communicate a key symptom.
Alternatives
- Je suis fiévreux/fiévreuse.Use this if you want to describe yourself as feverish (masculine/feminine).
- J'ai une température.This is a more general way to say you have a temperature, implying a fever.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'fièvre'
The 'v' is pronounced, and the 'r' at the end is soft, not a hard English 'r'.
Forgetting 'de la'
You need 'de la' before 'fièvre' to express having it, not just 'J'ai fièvre'.
A small cultural note
While 'J'ai de la fièvre' is standard, some might say 'J'ai une grosse fièvre' for a high fever.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say I feel hot and sick in French?
You can say 'J'ai de la fièvre' to specifically mention a fever. If you just feel generally unwell and hot, you might say 'Je ne me sens pas bien'.
What's the difference between fièvre and température?
'Fièvre' specifically means fever, an elevated body temperature. 'Température' can refer to body temperature in general, but in context, 'J'ai une température' often implies a fever.
When should I use 'fiévreux' vs 'fièvre'?
'J'ai de la fièvre' means 'I have a fever' (noun). 'Je suis fiévreux' (masculine) or 'Je suis fiévreuse' (feminine) means 'I am feverish' (adjective).
