The most common way to say 'doctor' in French is médecin. But what if you're talking about your family doctor, a surgeon, or even using a more informal term? Just like in English, French has several words for medical professionals. Whether you're preparing for a trip, watching a French hospital drama, or simply want to sound more like a native speaker, knowing the right term is key. Let's dive into nine different ways to say 'doctor' in French and when to use each one!

1. The standard 'doctor' – médecin

The most common and standard French word for 'doctor' is médecin. This is your all-purpose term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, much like 'doctor' in English.

Médecin refers to a medical doctor in a general sense. It can mean a general practitioner (médecin généraliste) or a specialist. If you say Je vais chez le médecin, it's universally understood that you're going to the doctor's office.

Grammatically, the word médecin is a masculine noun. This is an important point: you use masculine articles and adjectives with it even if the doctor is a woman. For example, you would say le médecin or un bon médecin regardless of the doctor's gender.

To specify a female doctor, you can say une femme médecin. While a feminized noun, une médecine, technically exists, it's rarely used for a person because it also means 'medicine' (the field of study), which can create confusion. Therefore, the standard and clearest way to refer to a female doctor is still le médecin or un médecin.

While médecin is a general term, many specialists also have their own distinct titles (e.g., un dentiste for a dentist, un cardiologue for a cardiologist). However, médecin remains the foundational term for the profession.

💡 * Je dois prendre rendez-vous chez le médecin.

Mon médecin traitant est une femme très compétente.

Y a-t-il un médecin dans la salle ?

Le médecin lui a conseillé de se reposer.

The formal 'doctor' or title 'Dr.' – docteur

The most formal and widely recognized term for a 'doctor' in French is docteur. This is the word you'll use in most official, medical, and respectful situations.

It serves as the direct equivalent of both the professional title 'doctor' and the honorific 'Dr.' used before a name. For example, 'Dr. Martin' becomes Docteur Martin.

When speaking directly to a physician, it's customary to use this title. You would say, Bonjour, docteur or Merci, docteur. This shows respect for their profession.

For a female doctor, while docteur is still sometimes used, the feminine form docteure is becoming increasingly standard and is officially recommended in many French-speaking regions. The term doctoresse is older and less common today.

While docteur is the title, the word for the profession itself is often médecin (physician). You might say Je vais chez le médecin (I'm going to the doctor's office), but you address the person as Docteur.

Just like in English, docteur isn't limited to medicine. It also refers to anyone holding a doctorate (Ph.D.). The context, such as being in a hospital versus a university, will clarify the meaning.

💡 * Je dois prendre rendez-vous avec le docteur Leroy.

Bonjour docteur, j'ai mal à la gorge.

Ma nouvelle médecin est une excellente docteure.

Il est docteur en philosophie, pas en médecine.

Le docteur a dit que je devais me reposer.

The 'General Practitioner' – Médecin Généraliste

The most direct and formal way to say “general practitioner” or “GP” in French is médecin généraliste.

A médecin généraliste is your primary care physician, the doctor you see for common illnesses, check-ups, and non-emergency health concerns. They are the first point of contact in the French healthcare system.

In everyday conversation, French speakers often shorten this. They might simply say le médecin (the doctor) or mon médecin (my doctor) if the context is clear. The term docteur is also frequently used, much like in English.

An important related term is médecin traitant (referring/treating doctor). In the French healthcare system, you typically declare a médecin traitant (who is usually your généraliste) to be fully reimbursed for specialist visits. This doctor coordinates your healthcare.

You use médecin généraliste when you need to be specific, for example, when looking for a new doctor. For a routine appointment, you would more likely say, “Je vais chez le docteur.” (I'm going to the doctor's.)

💡 * Je dois trouver un nouveau médecin généraliste dans mon quartier. (I need to find a new GP in my neighborhood.)

Mon médecin traitant est aussi mon médecin généraliste. (My referring doctor is also my general practitioner.)

Prenez rendez-vous avec votre médecin pour renouveler votre ordonnance. (Make an appointment with your doctor to renew your prescription.)

Le cabinet du médecin généraliste est fermé le samedi. (The GP's office is closed on Saturdays.)

The 'surgeon' – chirurgien/chirurgienne

The French word for 'surgeon' is chirurgien for the masculine form and chirurgienne for the feminine form. This distinction is important for referring to medical professionals correctly.

You use un chirurgien when referring to a male surgeon or when speaking about the profession in a general sense. For example, the path to becoming a surgeon is long and difficult: Le parcours pour devenir chirurgien est long.

When referring specifically to a female surgeon, the correct term is une chirurgienne. This follows a common grammatical pattern in French where professions ending in -ien become -ienne in the feminine form.

Always remember to match the article and any adjectives to the gender of the noun. For example, you would say le chirurgien compétent (the competent male surgeon) but la chirurgienne compétente (the competent female surgeon).

💡 * Le chirurgien a réussi une opération très délicate. (The surgeon succeeded in a very delicate operation.)

Ma sœur veut devenir chirurgienne orthopédiste. (My sister wants to become an orthopedic surgeon.)

C'est la meilleure chirurgienne de l'hôpital. (She is the best surgeon in the hospital.)

Un bon chirurgien doit avoir des mains stables. (A good surgeon must have steady hands.)

The 'family doctor' – médecin de famille

The 'family doctor' – médecin de famille

Médecin de famille is the direct French translation for 'family doctor.' It refers to a general practitioner who provides primary and long-term healthcare to an individual or a family.

This is a standard, formal term. Unlike slang, médecin de famille is appropriate in any context, from a casual conversation to filling out official medical paperwork.

In France, this concept is closely tied to the médecin traitant (attending physician). This is the family doctor you officially declare to the French social security system (Assurance Maladie) to coordinate your care and receive optimal reimbursement for medical costs.

Essentially, your médecin traitant is your officially registered médecin de famille. While you can see any doctor, having a declared médecin traitant is a key part of navigating the French healthcare system effectively.

💡 * J'ai rendez-vous chez mon médecin de famille cet après-midi.

Notre médecin de famille prend sa retraite l'année prochaine.

Avez-vous déclaré un médecin traitant à la Sécurité Sociale ?

C'est le médecin de famille qui m'a orienté vers un cardiologue.

The 'specialist' – spécialiste

In French, the word for "specialist" is a direct cognate: spécialiste. It refers to an expert or someone with in-depth knowledge and skills in a particular field, whether it's medicine, technology, or any other area.

A key grammatical point for learners is that the noun spécialiste is epicene, meaning its spelling is the same for both masculine and feminine forms. The gender is determined solely by the article used: un spécialiste for a male and une spécialiste for a female.

To specify the area of expertise, spécialiste is typically followed by the prepositions en or de (and its contractions du, des). For example, you would say un spécialiste en informatique (an IT specialist) or un spécialiste du marketing (a marketing specialist).

Like its English counterpart, spécialiste isn't limited to professional titles. It can be used more informally to describe someone who is particularly good at something. For instance, you could jokingly say someone is un spécialiste des excuses (a specialist in making excuses).

💡 * Le médecin m'a orienté vers un spécialiste du dos. (The doctor referred me to a back specialist.)

Ma sœur est une spécialiste en histoire de l'art. (My sister is a specialist in art history.)

Il est le spécialiste qu'il nous faut pour ce projet complexe. (He is the specialist we need for this complex project.)

Nous cherchons une spécialiste de la communication pour notre équipe. (We are looking for a communications specialist for our team.)

The slang 'doc' – toubib

In French slang, a doctor is often called a toubib. This is an informal and very common way to refer to a medical doctor, similar to saying 'doc' in English.

The word toubib comes from the Arabic word ṭabīb (طبيب), which means 'doctor.' It entered the French language through military slang and is primarily used in casual, everyday conversations. You should avoid using it in formal settings.

Toubib is always a masculine noun (un toubib), regardless of the doctor's gender. For example, one would say, 'Je vais voir le toubib' even if the doctor is a woman.

💡 * Je dois aller chez le toubib, je crois que j'ai la grippe. (I have to go to the doc's, I think I have the flu.)

Appelle le toubib, vite ! (Call the doc, quickly!)

Mon toubib m'a prescrit des antibiotiques. (My doc prescribed me antibiotics.)

The 'practitioner' – praticien/praticienne

The 'practitioner' – un praticien / une praticienne

Praticien (masculine) or praticienne (feminine) translates to 'practitioner.' It's a professional term for someone who actively practices a particular art, science, or profession that requires specialized skills, most notably in the medical field.

You will most commonly encounter this word in a medical or healthcare context. It's a formal and general way to refer to a doctor, physician, or therapist. For example, a médecin généraliste (general practitioner) is a specific type of praticien.

Beyond medicine, the term can apply to practitioners in other fields, such as un praticien du droit (a legal practitioner) or une praticienne en PNL (an NLP practitioner), though this is less common in everyday language.

💡 * Le jeune praticien vient d'ouvrir son cabinet en centre-ville. (The young practitioner just opened his office in the city center.)

Elle est une praticienne hospitalière très respectée par ses collègues. (She is a hospital practitioner who is highly respected by her colleagues.)

Avant de commencer le traitement, il faut trouver un bon praticien. (Before starting the treatment, you need to find a good practitioner.)

1. The 'On-Call Doctor': Médecin de Garde

The French term for an 'on-call doctor' or 'doctor on duty' is médecin de garde. This is a critical vocabulary term for anyone needing medical assistance outside of standard business hours in a French-speaking country.

A médecin de garde is specifically a doctor assigned to be available during nights, weekends, or public holidays. The system ensures continuous medical coverage. The phrase literally translates to 'doctor of watch,' similar to a guard being on duty.

To state that someone is 'on call,' you use the expression être de garde. This is a versatile phrase that applies not only to doctors but also to other professions that require on-call staff, like pharmacists or nurses.

The pattern de garde is used for other emergency services too. For example, an 'on-call pharmacy' is a pharmacie de garde. Recognizing this pattern can help you quickly find essential services when needed.

💡 * Si vous êtes malade la nuit, il faut appeler le médecin de garde.

Mon médecin traitant n'est pas disponible, mais son collègue est de garde ce week-end.

Je ne peux pas sortir ce soir, je suis de garde à l'hôpital.

Nous avons dû trouver la pharmacie de garde pour obtenir les antibiotiques.

Are there other ways to say 'doctor' in French?

Our guide has covered the most essential and common terms like médecin and docteur. However, French, like any language, has a variety of other terms, including informal slang, specific medical specializations, and even historical titles.

For more specific vocabulary, you can search online for terms like 'vocabulaire médical français' or look into how medical professionals are addressed in different French-speaking regions.

You might discover some interesting synonyms or specialized titles. Always remember to verify a word's precise meaning and context, especially in a professional setting, before using it yourself.

As you immerse yourself in French media—watching medical dramas, reading news articles, or listening to podcasts—pay close attention to how doctors and patients interact. You'll pick up on the nuances of these different terms.

If you need to find the term for a specific type of specialist, a great starting point is the WordReference page for médecin, which often lists related terms and specializations.

We hope this guide has been a healthy dose of knowledge for you. To conclude, here’s a fitting quote from the French writer and physician, François Rabelais: Science sans conscience n'est que ruine de l'âme. (Science without conscience is but the ruin of the soul.)

'9 ways to say "doctor" in French'