A guide to saying it like a local
How to Say "I have food poisoning" in French
Express that you have food poisoning in French with this essential emergency phrase.
J'ai une intoxication alimentaire.
zhay oon an-toh-ksee-kah-SYOHN ah-lee-mahn-TAIRneutral
French TTS · 0:01
Use this phrase if you've eaten something that has made you very sick, like vomiting or diarrhea. It's important for explaining your condition to a doctor or hotel staff.
Alternatives
- Je suis malade.A more general term for being sick, less specific than food poisoning.
- J'ai mal au ventre.Use this if the main symptom is stomach pain, but it doesn't necessarily mean food poisoning.
Ways to get it wrong
Pronouncing 'intoxication'
The 'x' is pronounced like a 'ks' sound, and the final 'ion' is a nasal sound, not 'see-ON'.
Forgetting 'une'
You need the article 'une' before 'intoxication alimentaire' to make it a noun phrase.
The same phrase in other languages
Frequently asked
How to say I ate bad food in French?
You can say 'J'ai mangé quelque chose de mauvais' which means 'I ate something bad'. However, 'J'ai une intoxication alimentaire' is more direct for food poisoning.
What to say if I need a doctor urgently in France?
Call 15 for SAMU (medical emergencies) or 112 for the European emergency number. State clearly 'J'ai une intoxication alimentaire' if that is the case.
Is there a casual way to say food poisoning?
While 'intoxication alimentaire' is standard, you might hear someone say 'J'ai chopé la crève' which is very informal and means 'I caught something nasty', but it's not specific to food.
