Mal Au Coeur?

Krishna S.B2Kwiziq community member

Mal Au Coeur?

Why is it «mal au coeur» instead of «je me sens nauséeuse»? Doesn't «mal au coeur» mean heartache?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Krishna, 

The expression -

avoir mal au cœur 

means, to feel sick, le chagrin (d'amour) is heartache.

Hope this helps!

Maluchukwu N.C1Kwiziq community member

Does "Je me sens nauséeux" work too? Would that be correct also?

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Maluchukwu, 

No, but you could say -

J'ai la nausée

Fiona L.C1Kwiziq community member

The funny thing is that when we say "I feel nauseous" in English, it doesn't mean that we feel sick.  It actually means that we make OTHER people feel sick ! 

The correct expression in English when we want to say "I feel sick is "I feel nauseated".  This might help to explain why "Je me sens nauséeux/euse" is not correct in French. 

"J'ai la nausée" makes much more sense : "I have nausea"

Mal Au Coeur?

Why is it «mal au coeur» instead of «je me sens nauséeuse»? Doesn't «mal au coeur» mean heartache?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Getting that for you now...