This is high-stakes, low-frequency vocabulary. Worth twenty minutes now rather than improvising later.
Describing symptoms
The basic patterns:
- "I have a headache / a sore throat / a fever."
- "My back hurts."
- "I've got a pain in my chest."
- "I feel dizzy / nauseous / weak."
- "I think I've pulled a muscle."
Being precise about the pain
Doctors will ask, so it helps to have the words ready.
- sharp — sudden and stabbing
- dull — constant, low-level ache
- throbbing — pulsing
- burning
- "It comes and goes." / "It's constant."
What they will ask you
- "How long has this been going on?"
- "Are you taking any medication?"
- "Any allergies?"
- "Does it hurt when I press here?"
- "On a scale of one to ten?"
Making the appointment
- "I'd like to make an appointment, please."
- "Do you have anything today? It's fairly urgent."
- "Is there a walk-in clinic nearby?"
At the pharmacy
- "Do I need a prescription for this?"
- "Is there something for a blocked nose?"
- "How often should I take it?"
- "Are there any side effects?"
- "Can I take this with food?"
In an emergency
Keep it short and clear. Say the location first — that is what they need most.
"I need an ambulance. I'm at the Grand Hotel on Park Street. A man has collapsed and he's not breathing properly."
Write your allergies and current medication in English on a card or in your phone before you travel.
