To say a part of you hurts, French uses avoir mal à plus the body part, and à contracts as usual: au ventre, à la tête, à l'oreille, aux dents. The body part takes the definite article, never a possessive.
Examples
- J'ai mal à la tête depuis ce matin.
- I have had a headache since this morning.
- Il a mal au ventre et de la fièvre.
- He has a stomach ache and a fever.
- Elle a mal aux dents.
- She has toothache.
The mistake to avoid
Use the article, not the possessive: j'ai mal à la tête, never "à ma tête".
Where this fits in
Body, health & feelings, French A2: Talk about your body, common illnesses, and how you feel. Visit a doctor or pharmacy and describe symptoms.