Symptoms and Illnesses
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| ill / sick | feeling unwell — I feel ill today. |
| healthy | in good health — She lives a healthy lifestyle. |
| headache | pain in the head — I have a terrible headache. |
| fever | high body temperature — He has a fever of 39°C. |
| cough | repeated clearing of the throat — She has a bad cough. |
| cold | common viral illness with runny nose — I've got a cold. |
| flu | influenza, a more severe illness — The flu kept him in bed for a week. |
| stomach ache | pain in the abdomen — I have a stomach ache. |
| sore throat | painful throat — It hurts when I swallow — I have a sore throat. |
| rash | red irritated skin — She developed a rash on her arm. |
| injury | physical damage to the body — He got an injury playing football. |
| symptom | sign of an illness — Fever is a common symptom of the flu. |
| pain | uncomfortable physical sensation — I have pain in my back. |
| temperature | body heat level — Take your temperature with a thermometer. |
| blood pressure | pressure of blood in the arteries — High blood pressure can be dangerous. |
Tip In British English people say "I feel ill" or "I am ill". In American English, "sick" is more common: "I feel sick." Both are correct and widely understood.
Medical People and Places
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| doctor | a medical professional — The doctor examined me. |
| nurse | healthcare worker who assists doctors — The nurse took my blood pressure. |
| hospital | large medical facility — She was taken to hospital by ambulance. |
| pharmacy | shop that sells medicines — You can buy paracetamol at the pharmacy. |
| medicine | a substance used to treat illness — Take this medicine twice a day. |
| tablet / pill | solid dose of medicine — Swallow the tablet with water. |
| appointment | a scheduled visit to a doctor — I have a doctor's appointment at 3 pm. |
| prescription | a doctor's written instruction for medicine — You need a prescription for antibiotics. |
Useful Health Phrases
| English | Meaning / Example |
|---|---|
| I feel ill. | general statement of feeling unwell |
| I have a temperature. | reporting a fever |
| I need to see a doctor. | requesting medical help |
| It hurts here. | pointing to the place of pain |
| I've been feeling like this since Monday. | describing how long symptoms have lasted |
Real world: At the doctor's surgery
"Good morning. I have an appointment with Dr Smith." "I've had a headache and a fever since yesterday — I think I have the flu." "The doctor gave me a prescription for some tablets and told me to rest for three days."
Practice Problems
What word describes a pain in your head?
Show answer
headache
What is the difference between 'cold' and 'flu'?
Show answer
A cold is a milder viral illness; flu (influenza) is more severe and often includes fever and body aches.
Where do you go to collect medicine with a prescription?
Show answer
pharmacy
Complete the sentence: 'I need ___ a doctor.'
Show answer
to see