A doctor may go beyond the test values to explain what the results show, give a diagnosis, say how certain it is, and describe how the condition is expected to develop.
Some medical terms also have meanings that are easy to misinterpret from everyday English.
Diagnosis and result terms
When doctors move from test findings to an explanation, recurring terms identify a result, a diagnosis, or the expected course of a condition:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| un diagnostic | a diagnosis |
| un résultat | a result |
| les résultats | the results |
| une anomalie | an abnormality |
| un résultat normal | a normal result |
| un résultat anormal | an abnormal result |
| positif / positive | positive |
| négatif / négative | negative |
| confirmer un diagnostic | to confirm a diagnosis |
| écarter un diagnostic | to rule out a diagnosis |
| le pronostic | the prognosis |
| l'évolution | the course / progression |
| stable | stable |
| s'améliorer | to improve |
| s'aggraver | to get worse |
| surveiller | to monitor |
For many tests, positif means that the test detected what it was looking for, while négatif means that it did not.
Doctors may introduce their interpretation of the results with several common sentence patterns:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Les résultats sont normaux. | The results are normal. |
| Les résultats ne montrent rien d'anormal. | The results don't show anything abnormal. |
| Les résultats montrent une inflammation. | The results show inflammation. |
| Le test est positif. | The test is positive. |
| Le test est négatif. | The test is negative. |
| Le diagnostic est confirmé. | The diagnosis is confirmed. |
| On ne peut pas encore confirmer le diagnostic. | We can't confirm the diagnosis yet. |
| Il s'agit probablement d'une infection virale. | It is probably a viral infection. |
Il s'agit de is common when a healthcare professional identifies or explains a condition. Words such as probablement show that the explanation is likely rather than certain.
Ask for a clearer explanation
These questions ask the healthcare professional to explain the meaning, seriousness, or practical consequences more clearly:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Qu'est-ce que ce diagnostic veut dire exactement ? | What exactly does this diagnosis mean? |
| Pouvez-vous me l'expliquer plus simplement ? | Can you explain it to me more simply? |
| Qu'est-ce que cela signifie pour moi ? | What does that mean for me? |
| Est-ce que c'est grave ? | Is it serious? |
| Est-ce que c'est une maladie chronique ? | Is it a chronic condition? |
| Est-ce que ça se soigne ? | Can it be treated? |
| Est-ce que vous êtes sûr du diagnostic ? | Are you sure about the diagnosis? |
| Faut-il faire d'autres examens pour confirmer ? | Are more tests needed to confirm it? |
Qu'est-ce que cela signifie pour moi ? shifts the discussion from the medical term itself to its practical meaning for your health. Pouvez-vous me l'expliquer plus simplement ? is useful when the explanation contains terminology you do not understand.
Prognosis and developments
A prognosis is how a condition is expected to develop. These expressions describe whether it should improve, stay stable, or be watched:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| L'évolution devrait être favorable. | The condition is expected to improve. |
| Votre état est stable. | Your condition is stable. |
| Ça devrait s'améliorer progressivement. | It should improve gradually. |
| Il faut surveiller l'évolution. | We need to monitor how it develops. |
| Il est trop tôt pour savoir comment ça va évoluer. | It is too early to know how it will develop. |
| On verra comment la situation évolue. | We'll see how the condition develops. |
In conversation, a doctor may talk about l'évolution rather than the more technical word pronostic. A prognosis is not always certain. Devrait, probablement, and il est trop tôt pour savoir signal different degrees of uncertainty.
Ask directly about the expected course when the doctor has not explained it clearly:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| À quoi dois-je m'attendre ? | What should I expect? |
| Est-ce que ça va s'améliorer ? | Is it going to improve? |
| Combien de temps cela peut-il durer ? | How long can this last? |
| Quels changements dois-je surveiller ? | What changes should I watch for? |
Next steps after the results
Results may lead to treatment, more testing, monitoring, or another appointment. These questions help clarify what happens after the diagnosis or explanation:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Quelle est la prochaine étape ? | What is the next step? |
| Que dois-je faire maintenant ? | What should I do now? |
| Est-ce que j'ai besoin d'un traitement ? | Do I need treatment? |
| Est-ce que je dois faire d'autres examens ? | Do I need more tests? |
| Quand dois-je revenir ? | When should I come back? |
| Est-ce qu'on va refaire le test ? | Are we going to repeat the test? |
| Qui va me contacter pour la suite ? | Who will contact me about what happens next? |
La suite refers to what happens next rather than one specific procedure. A doctor may also use suivi when discussing ongoing monitoring or future appointments.
From learning to practice
When a doctor explains results, listen for whether the conclusion is confirmed or still uncertain.