Doctor meanings in French

médecin

Example:

The doctor gave me a prescription.

Le médecin m'a donné une ordonnance.

I need to see the doctor about my back pain.

Je dois voir le médecin à propos de ma douleur au dos.

Usage: formalContext: Used in a medical or healthcare setting to refer to a qualified health professional.

Note: In French, 'médecin' is commonly used for any medical doctor, while 'docteur' can also refer to someone with a doctoral degree in a non-medical field.

docteur

Example:

Doctor Smith is my family physician.

Le docteur Smith est mon médecin de famille.

Dr. Jones specializes in pediatrics.

Le docteur Jones se spécialise en pédiatrie.

Usage: formal/informalContext: Used as a title prefixed to the name of someone who has earned a doctorate, especially in medicine.

Note: 'Docteur' can also be used in a more general sense for anyone with a doctorate, not limited to medical professionals.

docteur (informal)

Example:

Hey doc, can you check this out?

Hé, doc, peux-tu regarder ça ?

I called the doc for advice.

J'ai appelé le doc pour des conseils.

Usage: informalContext: Casual conversations, often among friends or in familiar settings.

Note: The informal use of 'doc' is common in English and is sometimes mirrored in French conversations among friends.

docteur en (field of study)

Example:

She is a doctor in sociology.

Elle est docteur en sociologie.

He received his doctorate in chemistry.

Il a obtenu son doctorat en chimie.

Usage: formalContext: Used in academic or professional contexts to refer to someone with a PhD or equivalent in a specific field.

Note: When referring to a field of study, 'docteur en' is used, followed by the subject area.

physician

A physician is a medical doctor who diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries.

Example: The physician prescribed medication for the patient's illness.

Note: Physician is a more formal term than doctor and is often used in medical contexts.

surgeon

A surgeon is a doctor who specializes in performing surgical procedures.

Example: The surgeon performed a successful operation on the patient's heart.

Note: A surgeon focuses specifically on surgical interventions, while a doctor may have a broader medical practice.

practitioner

A practitioner is a person who practices a profession or art, often used to refer to healthcare providers.

Example: The holistic practitioner recommended acupuncture for pain relief.

Note: Practitioner is a more general term that can encompass various healthcare professions beyond medical doctors.

clinician

A clinician is a healthcare professional who works directly with patients to assess, diagnose, and treat medical conditions.

Example: The clinician conducted a thorough assessment of the patient's mental health.

Note: Clinician often refers to healthcare professionals who provide direct patient care and may include doctors as well as other specialized healthcare providers.

A pill-pusher

This phrase is informal and slightly derogatory, referring to a doctor who excessively prescribes medication without considering other options or the patient's needs.

Example: I'm tired of going to doctors who are just pill-pushers and don't listen to my concerns.

Note: The term 'pill-pusher' is more colloquial and has a negative connotation compared to 'doctor'.

Doctor's orders

This phrase implies that the doctor has given specific instructions or recommendations that must be followed.

Example: I have to rest for a week, it's doctor's orders after my surgery.

Note: It emphasizes the authoritative nature of the medical advice given by a doctor.

A quack

A quack is a person who pretends to be a doctor or who promotes ineffective or fake medical treatments.

Example: Be careful with that new 'miracle' treatment, it might be a scam from a quack.

Note: This term is pejorative and implies deceit or incompetence, unlike the neutral term 'doctor'.

House call

A house call is when a doctor visits a patient at their home for medical treatment or consultation.

Example: My doctor made a house call when I was too sick to go to the clinic.

Note: This phrase refers to a specific type of medical service, different from a regular visit to the doctor's office.

A bedside manner

Bedside manner refers to a doctor's approach and demeanor in interacting with patients, showing empathy, compassion, and good communication skills.

Example: She is a great doctor with a wonderful bedside manner, always making patients feel comfortable.

Note: It focuses on the interpersonal skills and emotional support provided by a doctor, distinct from their medical expertise.

Play doctor

To 'play doctor' means to role-play medical scenarios, often in a childlike or innocent manner.

Example: As children, we used to play doctor and pretend to give each other check-ups.

Note: This phrase is playful and imaginative, contrasting with the serious and professional role of a real doctor.

Call in sick

To 'call in sick' means to inform one's employer that you are too unwell to come to work due to illness.

Example: I had to call in sick today because of my flu symptoms.

Note: While a doctor can give a sick note, this phrase is about notifying an employer rather than seeking medical treatment.

Doc

A common abbreviation for 'doctor'. It is informal and commonly used in casual conversations.

Example: I'm feeling really sick, I should go see the doc.

Note: Less formal and shorter than 'doctor'.

Medico

A slang term derived from 'medical professional' or 'medic'. It is used informally to refer to a doctor.

Example: The medico said I need to rest for a few days.

Note: Slang term that sounds more casual and friendly compared to 'doctor'.

Shrink

A colloquial term for a psychiatrist or psychologist. It is often used informally to refer to a mental health professional.

Example: I've been seeing a shrink to work through some issues.

Note: Specifically used to refer to mental health professionals, unlike 'doctor' which is a more general term.

Sawbones

An old-fashioned slang term for a doctor, especially a surgeon.

Example: The sawbones fixed up my broken arm in no time.

Note: An outdated and informal term for 'doctor', not commonly used in modern language.

Quack

A derogatory term used to describe a fake or incompetent doctor, often someone practicing alternative medicine without proper qualifications.

Example: I wouldn't trust that quack with my health; they seem unreliable.

Note: Negative connotation implying deceit or lack of skill, unlike 'doctor' which is a neutral term.

The doctor prescribed me some medication for my cold.

Le médecin m'a prescrit des médicaments pour mon rhume.

My sister wants to become a doctor when she grows up.

Ma sœur veut devenir médecin quand elle sera grande.

The doctor examined the patient thoroughly before making a diagnosis.

Le médecin a examiné le patient en profondeur avant de poser un diagnostic.

Doctor - Noun (Noun) / Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass)

Lemma: doctor

Conjugations

Noun, plural (Noun, plural): doctors

Noun, singular or mass (Noun, singular or mass): doctor

Verb, past tense (Verb, past tense): doctored

Verb, gerund or present participle (Verb, gerund or present participle): doctoring

Verb, 3rd person singular present (Verb, 3rd person singular present): doctors

Verb, base form (Verb, base form): doctor

Verb, non-3rd person singular present (Verb, non-3rd person singular present): doctor

Syllables, Separation and Stress

doctor Contains 2 syllables: doc • tor

Phonetic transcription: ˈdäk-tər

doc tor , ˈdäk tər (The red syllable is stressed)

The word frequency and importance index indicates how often a word appears in a given language. The smaller the number, the more frequently the word is used. The most frequently used words typically range from about 1 to 4000.

doctor: 700 - 800 (Extremely common).

This importance index helps you focus on the most useful words during your language learning process.

Doctor