Santé is probably the first word that comes to mind when you think of “health” in French. It’s certainly the most common! But just like in English, there are many other ways to talk about well-being, fitness, and how you’re feeling. Whether you're discussing someone's physical condition, wishing them good health, or simply asking how they are, a richer vocabulary can make all the difference. Get ready to explore 9 different ways to say "health" in French, covering a variety of contexts and expressions!

The standard 'health' – la santé

La santé is the most basic and widely used word for 'health' in French. It covers both physical and mental well-being.

As a feminine noun, la santé (the health) is almost exclusively used in its singular form. Unlike some other nouns, you won't typically encounter it in the plural (des santés).

One of the most frequent uses is when wishing someone well. You'll often hear Bonne santé ! (Good health!) during toasts or when saying goodbye to someone who is ill.

To describe someone's current physical condition, you use expressions like être en bonne santé (to be in good health) or être en mauvaise santé (to be in bad health). You can also ask Comment va la santé ? (How's your health?).

Verbs like prendre soin de (to take care of) are often associated with la santé. For example, Il prend soin de sa santé (He takes care of his health) implies a focus on well-being.

In French culture, la santé is highly valued. It's common for people to discuss health, diet, and exercise, reflecting a strong emphasis on maintaining a good quality of life.

💡 * Je te souhaite une excellente santé. (I wish you excellent health.)

Elle est en bonne santé. (She is in good health.)

Ma grand-mère a toujours eu une santé de fer. (My grandmother has always had iron health/been very robust.)

La santé publique est un sujet important. (Public health is an important topic.)

Il faut manger équilibré pour la santé. (You must eat a balanced diet for health.)

The 'state of health' – l'état de santé

When discussing someone's well-being or medical condition in French, you'll frequently encounter the phrase l'état de santé.

Literally, l'état de santé translates to 'the state of health,' and it refers to the general condition of a person's physical or mental health.

This term is often used in more formal, administrative, or medical contexts, such as doctor's reports, official documents, or news reports about public health.

While you might ask a friend 'Ça va?' (How are you?), l'état de santé implies a more precise and comprehensive assessment of one's health status, rather than a casual greeting.

You'll often see it in questions like 'Quel est son état de santé?' (What is their state of health?) or statements describing a condition, such as 'Son état de santé est stable.' (Their state of health is stable.)

It can also refer to the health status of a group or even a nation, as in 'l'état de santé de la population' (the health status of the population).

💡 * Quel est l'état de santé du patient? (What is the patient's state of health?)

Son état de santé s'est amélioré après l'opération. (His/Her state of health improved after the operation.)

Le médecin a donné des informations sur l'état de santé de l'athlète. (The doctor gave information about the athlete's state of health.)

L'état de santé public est une préoccupation majeure. (Public health status is a major concern.)

Malgré son âge avancé, son état de santé est excellent. (Despite his/her advanced age, his/her state of health is excellent.)

The 'well-being' – le bien-être

In French, the concept of 'well-being' is elegantly captured by the term le bien-être.

This masculine noun encompasses a holistic state of health and happiness, referring to a general sense of physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Le bien-être is a compound noun, formed from 'bien' (well) and 'être' (to be). It is always masculine and generally invariable in form, even when referring to multiple instances of well-being.

The idea of bien-être is deeply ingrained in French culture, often appearing in discussions about lifestyle, health, personal development, and even spa treatments or wellness products.

While le bien-être is the noun, you'll also hear related expressions like être bien (to be well/feel good) or se sentir bien (to feel good about oneself), which convey similar sentiments.

Understanding le bien-être is key to grasping a fundamental aspect of the French approach to a balanced and fulfilling life.

💡 * Le sport contribue à notre bien-être physique et mental. (Sport contributes to our physical and mental well-being.)

Elle a trouvé un emploi qui lui apporte beaucoup de bien-être. (She found a job that brings her a lot of well-being.)

Prendre soin de soi est essentiel pour le bien-être général. (Taking care of oneself is essential for general well-being.)

Les vacances sont importantes pour le bien-être de toute la famille. (Vacations are important for the well-being of the whole family.)

The 'fitness' or 'good shape' – la forme

In French, la forme literally translates to 'the form' or 'the shape.' However, in common usage, it widely refers to 'fitness,' 'good shape,' or 'being in good health.'

It's frequently used in expressions like être en forme (to be in good shape/fit) or garder la forme (to stay in shape/keep fit), emphasizing physical and mental well-being.

You'll often hear it in questions like Comment vas-tu ? Tu es en forme ? (How are you? Are you in good shape/feeling well?), making it a polite and common way to inquire about someone's health.

La forme is a feminine noun, always preceded by the feminine article la when referring to fitness or shape in this context.

💡 * Je suis en pleine forme aujourd'hui ! (I'm in great shape today!)* Il faut faire du sport pour garder la forme. (You have to do sports to stay in shape.)* Comment tu vas ? Tu es en forme ? (How are you? Are you feeling well/in shape?)* Après les vacances, je me sens vraiment en forme. (After the holidays, I feel really in shape.)* Elle a une super forme pour son âge. (She's in great shape for her age.)

The phrase 'to be in good health' – être en bonne santé

The French phrase for 'to be in good health' is être en bonne santé.

This common expression literally translates to 'to be in good health.' It's used to describe someone's state of well-being, whether physical or general.

The verb être (to be) must be conjugated according to the subject. For example, 'I am in good health' is Je suis en bonne santé, and 'He is in good health' is Il est en bonne santé.

Bonne is the feminine form of bon (good), agreeing with santé (health), which is a feminine noun. Therefore, it is always bonne santé, regardless of the gender of the person being described.

You can use this phrase to talk about your own health, inquire about someone else's, or describe a general state of well-being. It's appropriate for both formal and informal conversations.

A closely related expression is être en pleine forme (to be in great shape/full form), which suggests a higher level of vitality and energy beyond just good health.

💡 * Je suis en bonne santé, merci. (I am in good health, thank you.)

Est-ce que tu es en bonne santé ? (Are you in good health?)

Mes parents sont en bonne santé pour leur âge. (My parents are in good health for their age.)

Il est important de manger sainement pour être en bonne santé. (It is important to eat healthily to be in good health.)

Après sa maladie, elle est enfin en bonne santé. (After her illness, she is finally in good health.)

The phrase 'to take care of one's health' – prendre soin de sa santé

The common French phrase for 'to take care of one's health' is prendre soin de sa santé. This literally translates to 'to take care of one's health,' making it quite straightforward for English speakers.

This phrase is widely used in everyday conversation, medical contexts, and public health campaigns. It's a natural and idiomatic way to express the act of maintaining or improving one's well-being, whether through diet, exercise, or rest.

Let's break down the phrase: prendre means 'to take,' soin means 'care,' and sa santé means 'one's health' (literally 'her health' or 'his health,' as santé is feminine). Together, prendre soin de means 'to take care of'.

You might also hear prendre soin de soi, which means 'to take care of oneself' and can be used in a broader sense beyond just physical health, encompassing mental and emotional well-being. The structure prendre soin de can also be applied to other things, like prendre soin de ses enfants (to take care of one's children).

Emphasizing the importance of health is a universal concept, and this phrase serves as a foundational way to discuss proactive health management in French. It encourages listeners to be mindful of their well-being.

💡 *Il est important de prendre soin de sa santé pour vivre longtemps. (It is important to take care of one's health to live long.)
*Je prends soin de ma santé en mangeant équilibré et en faisant du sport. (I take care of my health by eating balanced and exercising.)
*Elle devrait prendre soin de sa santé après cette période stressante. (She should take care of her health after this stressful period.)
*N'oubliez pas de prendre soin de votre santé mentale aussi. (Don't forget to take care of your mental health too.)

The 'healthy lifestyle' – une bonne hygiène de vie

The French phrase une bonne hygiène de vie directly translates to 'a good hygiene of life,' but it's universally understood as 'a healthy lifestyle.' It refers to the set of habits and practices that contribute to overall physical and mental well-being.

This comprehensive term encompasses various aspects of daily living, including balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, sufficient sleep, hydration, and stress management. It's about maintaining a consistent routine that supports health.

Unlike just 'health' (la santé), une bonne hygiène de vie emphasizes the proactive choices and habits one adopts to maintain and improve their health over time. It's about a holistic approach rather than just the absence of illness.

💡 * Pour rester en forme, il faut adopter une bonne hygiène de vie. (To stay in shape, one must adopt a healthy lifestyle.)

Les médecins recommandent une bonne hygiène de vie pour prévenir les maladies. (Doctors recommend a healthy lifestyle to prevent diseases.)

Elle a décidé de changer ses habitudes et d'avoir une bonne hygiène de vie. (She decided to change her habits and have a healthy lifestyle.)

Une bonne hygiène de vie est essentielle pour le bien-être mental et physique. (A healthy lifestyle is essential for mental and physical well-being.)

The 'vitality' – la vitalité

The “vitality” – la vitalité

As a noun, la vitalité means “vitality” or “vigor.” It refers to the state of being strong and active, full of energy and life.

This term is commonly used to describe the physical and mental energy of a person, an animal, or even the dynamism of a project or an economy. It carries a positive connotation, emphasizing health, strength, and resilience.

You'll often hear it in phrases like retrouver sa vitalité (to regain one's vitality) or déborder de vitalité (to overflow with vitality).

💡 * Elle déborde de vitalité malgré son âge. (She overflows with vitality despite her age.)

Le sport est essentiel pour maintenir sa vitalité. (Sport is essential to maintain one's vitality.)

L'économie du pays a retrouvé sa vitalité. (The country's economy has regained its vitality.)

Sa vitalité est contagieuse. (His/Her vitality is contagious.)

The 'balanced diet' (a key to health) – le régime alimentaire équilibré

The most common and accurate way to say 'balanced diet' in French is le régime alimentaire équilibré. This phrase directly translates to 'the balanced food regimen' or 'the balanced dietary plan'.

Régime alimentaire refers to the overall eating habits or dietary plan of a person or animal. While 'régime' alone can sometimes imply a restrictive diet (like 'going on a diet'), when paired with 'alimentaire', it means a general way of eating. It encompasses everything you consume regularly.

The adjective équilibré means 'balanced'. When applied to 'régime alimentaire', it emphasizes the importance of consuming a variety of nutrients in appropriate proportions to maintain health and well-being. A régime alimentaire équilibré is crucial for preventing deficiencies and promoting a healthy lifestyle.

You might also hear simply une alimentation équilibrée, which means 'a balanced nutrition' or 'a balanced food intake'. This is a slightly more general term but conveys the same idea of healthy eating. Both phrases are widely used to discuss healthy dietary practices and are often interchangeable in context.

💡 * Adopter un régime alimentaire équilibré est essentiel pour une bonne santé. (Adopting a balanced diet is essential for good health.)

Les médecins recommandent un régime alimentaire équilibré pour prévenir les maladies. (Doctors recommend a balanced diet to prevent illnesses.)

Elle suit un régime alimentaire équilibré avec beaucoup de fruits et légumes. (She follows a balanced diet with a lot of fruits and vegetables.)

Une alimentation équilibrée apporte tous les nutriments nécessaires à notre corps. (A balanced nutrition provides all the necessary nutrients to our body.)

Pour rester en forme, il faut manger sainement et avoir un régime alimentaire équilibré. (To stay in shape, one must eat healthily and have a balanced diet.)

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

Are there other ways to say “health” in French?

Our list features the most common ways to talk about “health” in French. But there are other terms, from more formal medical terms, to regional expressions, to slang that this middle-aged author might not even be aware of!

You can also do an online search for “comment dire santé en ___” followed by a specific Francophone country or region.

You might find some interesting nuances or related terms for santé if you explore further. Of course, make sure to check a word’s definition and try to see it used in context before you use it.

Pay attention as you read, watch, and listen to things in French — you may discover different ways to talk about health and well-being.

And if you’re looking for ways to talk about different aspects of health, or related vocabulary in French, the WordReference entry for santé is a great place to start!

I hope you found this article helpful. Here’s what I think is the perfect quote to finish it with, courtesy of Arthur Schopenhauer: La santé n'est pas tout, mais sans la santé, tout n'est rien. (Health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing.)

9 ways to say "health" in French