Learn English • Health & Clinic Talk

Health Vocabulary In English: 110+ Words And Phrases

Symptoms, medicine, clinic English, and calm-sounding phrases for when you feel anything except calm.

Yak Snark

Saying “I am dying” for a mild headache is dramatic. Also confusing. Let’s aim for accurate dramatic.

Tiny yak anecdote: once I stood at a pharmacy counter trying to explain, “my head feels weird.” The pharmacist blinked, handed me vitamins, and I walked out healthier… emotionally. Ever since, I teach the three-part clinic sentence you’ll learn below.

Speak Clearly Say what hurts, how long, and how bad—without fancy words.

110+ Terms A searchable word list you can skim fast (or binge-learn responsibly).

Clinic Toolkit Copy-paste phrases for appointments, pharmacies, and “help, I feel weird.”

What You’ll Get

The 10-second symptom script (where + how long + how bad).
Core clinic vocabulary (the words you’ll actually use).
Medicine & dosage language so you take things correctly.

A searchable 110+ word list with simple examples.
Food & fruit phrases for allergies, nausea, and recovery.
US vs UK variants so you understand both.

Friendly reminder: this is language help, not medical advice. If you think it’s an emergency, get local emergency help.

Quick Clinic Toolkit Quick Wins: Describe Symptoms Fast Language In Action Word-Building Cheat Codes Food, Fruit, And Allergy Talk The Full Health Word List (Searchable) US Vs UK Variants Common Mistakes FAQ

Quick Clinic Toolkit

If you learn nothing else today, learn these. They show up everywhere: pharmacies, clinics, gyms, and the “why is my body doing that?” moments.

Headache

Pain in your head. Simple. Annoying.

I have a headache, so I’m going to rest.

Fever

High body temperature when you’re sick.

He has a fever and feels very tired.

Cough

When you cough. Yes, English is lazy like that.

This cough gets worse at night.

Sore Throat

Pain or irritation in your throat.

I woke up with a sore throat.

Allergy

A reaction to something (food, pollen, medicine).

I have an allergy to peanuts.

Appointment

A scheduled time to see a doctor or dentist.

I have a doctor’s appointment at 3 p.m.

Prescription

An official order for medicine from a doctor.

The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics.

Hydration

Having enough water in your body.

Good hydration helps when you are sick.

Jump To The Full List

Quick Wins: Describe Symptoms Fast

Where

Point to the body part and name it.

Template “It hurts in my ___.”

Example: “It hurts in my lower back.”

How Long

Duration is gold at a clinic.

Template “I’ve had this for ___.”

Example: “I’ve had this for three days.”

How Bad

Use simple adjectives. Doctors love clarity.

Template “It’s mild / moderate / severe.”

Example: “It’s moderate, but getting worse.”

Copy-Paste Symptom Script

“My throat hurts. I’ve had it for three days. It’s getting worse at night.”

Ask The Smart Questions

“What are the side effects?”
“How long should I take this?”
“Should I take it with food?”
“When should I come back?”

Language In Action

Short phrases you can actually say under pressure. Tap “Hear” to practice pronunciation.

At The Clinic

“I don’t feel well.”

Simple and always correct.

“I’ve been feeling dizzy since yesterday.”

“I’ve been feeling…” = ongoing.

At The Pharmacy

“Do you have something for a sore throat?”

This politely asks for an over-the-counter option.

“Should I take this with food?”

Super common label instruction.

Word-Building Cheat Codes

You don’t need to memorize every “medical” word. But a few patterns help you guess meanings when you’re stuck.

-itis = Inflammation

Examples: bronchitis, tonsillitis

If you see -itis, think “swollen/inflamed.”

-algia = Pain

Examples: neuralgia, myalgia

If you see -algia, think “pain.”

Hyper-/Hypo-

hyper = too high, hypo = too low

Examples: hypertension, hypoglycemia

Quick Pronunciation Tip (No Drama)

If a word feels long, slow it down in chunks: in-fla-ma-tion, de-hy-dra-tion. Clarity beats speed.

Food, Fruit, And Allergy Talk

Health English isn’t just clinics. Sometimes the conversation is: “I ate something… and now my stomach is plotting revenge.” This section gives you useful food and fruit vocabulary for nausea, allergies, and recovery.

When Food Is The Problem

“I feel nauseous after eating ___.”

Example: “I feel nauseous after eating mango.”

“I can’t keep food down.”

Meaning: you vomit when you eat/drink.

Recovery Food Talk

Useful “gentle” foods people mention when sick:

banana, apple, orange, berries, yogurt, soup, tea

“I’m trying to stay hydrated.”

Extra helpful if you have a fever or diarrhea.

Mini Lesson: How To Say “I’m Allergic To…” Safely

“I’m allergic to peanuts.” (Say this early. Say it clearly.)

“Is this made with nuts?” (Restaurants, snacks, everything.)

“I need an antihistamine.” (If that’s what you usually take—pharmacists will understand.)

The Full Health Word List (Searchable)

Type to filter. The words stay on the page (good for learning, and easier for search engines to read).

Showing all terms

Tip: Tap the speaker to hear the term in English.
Term	Plain Meaning	Example Sentence
Symptom	A sign you might be sick.	My first symptom was a sore throat.
Fatigue	Extreme tiredness.	The worst part is the fatigue.
Dizziness	Lightheaded feeling.	I sat down because of dizziness.
Nausea	Feeling like you might vomit.	The medicine caused nausea.
Vomiting	Throwing up.	He had vomiting last night.
Diarrhea	Frequent loose stools.	Spicy food sometimes gives me diarrhea.
Constipation	Trouble passing stool.	Travel can cause constipation.
Stomachache	Pain in your stomach.	I have a stomachache after that meal.
Abdominal Pain	A more medical way to say stomach pain.	I came in because of abdominal pain.
Heartburn	Burning feeling in your chest.	Pizza gives me heartburn.
Bloating	Swollen belly feeling.	I get bloating after eating too fast.
Chills	Feeling cold and shivery.	I had chills even under a blanket.
Runny Nose	Your nose “runs” (has mucus).	I have a runny nose all day.
Stuffy Nose	Blocked nose.	My stuffy nose makes it hard to sleep.
Congestion	Blocked nose or chest.	I still have congestion in my chest.
Hoarse	Rough, weak voice.	My voice is hoarse today.
Shortness Of Breath	Hard to breathe.	I get shortness of breath on stairs.
Wheezing	Whistling sound when you breathe.	I hear wheezing when I breathe out.
Chest Pain	Pain in your chest.	I went to the clinic for chest pain.
Sneezing	Repeated sneezes.	Pollen makes my sneezing worse.
Itchy Eyes	Eyes feel itchy (often allergies).	I get itchy eyes in spring.
Rash	Red irritated skin.	I developed a rash on my arm.
Itching	Skin feels itchy.	The bite caused itching.
Swelling	An area gets bigger/puffy.	There is swelling around my ankle.
Inflammation	Redness/swelling inside the body.	The doctor said it is inflammation.
Pain	General pain.	The pain is sharp, not dull.
Ache	Longer, dull pain.	I have a back ache after sitting all day.
Back Pain	Pain in your back.	My back pain gets worse after work.
Joint Pain	Pain in joints like knees or elbows.	I have joint pain in my knees.
Stiffness	Hard to move.	I feel stiffness in the morning.
Numbness	Loss of feeling.	I have numbness in my fingers.
Tingling	Pins-and-needles feeling.	I get tingling when my arm falls asleep.
Cramps	Muscle pain/spasms.	I stretched because of leg cramps.
Bruise	Blue-purple mark after a hit.	I have a bruise on my leg.
Cut	Small wound.	I cleaned the cut with antiseptic.
Wound	Injury to the skin.	The wound is healing well.
Burn	Heat injury.	I got a small burn from hot soup.
Sprain	Ligament injury.	I think I have a sprain in my ankle.
Strain	Muscle injury.	I pulled a muscle and now I have a strain.
Fracture	Broken bone.	The X-ray showed a small fracture.
Cold	Common viral illness.	I think I caught a cold.
Flu	Influenza (often worse than a cold).	The flu hit me hard this week.
Infection	When germs grow in your body.	The doctor checked for an infection.
Asthma	A condition that affects breathing.	Cold air triggers my asthma.
Diabetes	A condition related to blood sugar.	He manages his diabetes carefully.
Hypertension	High blood pressure (medical term).	She takes medicine for hypertension.
High Blood Pressure	Everyday way to say hypertension.	My father has high blood pressure.
High Cholesterol	High levels of blood fats.	I’m working on my high cholesterol.
Anxiety	Worry that feels intense.	My anxiety gets worse when I don’t sleep.
Stress	Pressure/tension.	Work stress is affecting my sleep.
Depression	A mental health condition.	He is getting help for depression.
Insomnia	Trouble sleeping.	I had insomnia all week.
Temperature	How hot your body is.	My temperature is 38 degrees.
Blood Pressure	Pressure of blood in your body.	The nurse checked my blood pressure.
Pulse	Your heartbeat rate.	My pulse was high after running.
Heart Rate	Beats per minute.	My heart rate went up quickly.
X-ray	An imaging test.	The doctor ordered an X-ray.
Blood Test	Lab test using your blood.	I need a blood test next week.
Swab Test	Sample from nose/throat.	They did a swab test for infection.
Diagnosis	What the doctor says it is.	The diagnosis was a mild infection.
Doctor	Medical professional.	I saw the doctor this morning.
Nurse	Helps care for patients.	The nurse checked my temperature.
Pharmacist	Medicine expert at the pharmacy.	The pharmacist explained how to take it.
Dentist	Teeth doctor.	I have a dentist appointment tomorrow.
Therapist	Mental or physical therapy professional.	I talk to a therapist once a week.
Clinic	Small medical center.	There is a clinic near my office.
Hospital	Large medical center.	They took him to the hospital.
Emergency	Immediate danger.	Call for help if it is an emergency.
Ambulance	Emergency vehicle.	Someone called an ambulance.
Medicine	General term for treatment.	This medicine helps with pain.
Refill	More of the same prescription.	Can I get a refill for this medicine?
Dose	Amount you take once.	Take one dose after dinner.
Dosage	How much + how often.	The dosage is two tablets daily.
Side Effect	Unwanted extra effect from medicine.	Drowsiness is a possible side effect.
Antibiotic	Medicine for bacterial infections.	The doctor prescribed an antibiotic.
Painkiller	Medicine for pain relief.	I took a painkiller for my back pain.
Antihistamine	Helps allergy symptoms.	An antihistamine helps my sneezing.
Cough Syrup	Liquid medicine for coughing.	I took cough syrup before bed.
Lozenge	Throat “candy” medicine.	A lozenge helps my sore throat.
Ointment	Medicinal cream.	I used ointment on the rash.
Bandage	Cover for a wound.	I put a bandage on the cut.
Antiseptic	Kills germs on skin.	Clean the area with antiseptic.
Thermometer	Measures temperature.	I used a thermometer to check my fever.
Inhaler	Device for asthma medicine.	I always carry my inhaler.
Vaccine	Prevents disease.	I got a vaccine at the clinic.
Booster	Extra dose later.	I got a booster shot last month.
Checkup	Routine exam.	I go for a yearly checkup.
Follow-up	Next visit later.	I have a follow-up in two weeks.
Physical Therapy	Rehab exercises.	She started physical therapy for her knee.
Surgery	An operation.	He needs surgery for the injury.
Recovery	Getting better.	Sleep is important for recovery.
Treat	Help a condition.	This cream can treat the rash.
Diagnose	Identify an illness.	The doctor will diagnose the problem.
Prescribe	Officially give medicine.	The doctor prescribed antibiotics.
Heal	Recover.	The cut will heal in a few days.
Healthy	Good for your body.	I want to make more healthy choices.
Balanced Diet	Mix of nutrients.	A balanced diet helps my energy.
Nutrition	Food and health.	Good nutrition matters during recovery.
Exercise	Physical activity.	I try to exercise three times a week.
Workout	An exercise session.	That workout was harder than I expected.
Stretching	Loosens muscles.	Stretching helps my stiffness.
Sleep	Rest.	I need more sleep to recover.
Immune System	Your body’s defense system.	Sleep supports your immune system.
Hygiene	Clean habits.	Good hygiene helps prevent infection.
Hand Sanitizer	Quick hand cleaning gel.	I keep hand sanitizer in my bag.
I Do Not Feel Well	Simple and clear.	I do not feel well, so I want to see a doctor.
I’ve Had This For Three Days	Shows duration.	I’ve had this for three days and it is not improving.
It Comes And Goes	Not constant.	The dizziness comes and goes.
It’s Getting Worse	Important clinic phrase.	My cough is getting worse at night.
I’m Allergic To…	Safety phrase.	I’m allergic to penicillin.
Over The Counter	No prescription needed.	Is there an over-the-counter option for allergies?
Take With Food	Instruction on a label.	The label says take with food.
As Needed	Only when necessary.	Use it as needed for pain.
Make An Appointment	Schedule a visit.	I want to make an appointment for a checkup.
Walk-in	No appointment required.	Can I walk in, or do I need an appointment?
Second Opinion	Another doctor’s check.	I want a second opinion about the treatment.
Dehydration	Not enough water in your body.	Headaches can come from dehydration.
Appetite	Desire to eat.	I don’t have much appetite today.
Drowsiness	Feeling sleepy.	This medicine causes drowsiness for me.
Urgent	Needs quick attention.	They said the issue is urgent.
Waiting Room	Where you wait at a clinic.	Please wait in the waiting room.
Pharmacy	Where you get medicine.	I will stop by the pharmacy after work.

Note: If your browser blocks audio, the page still works—everything is readable without the “Hear” buttons.

US Vs UK Variants

Same idea, different words. Handy if you watch British shows or travel.

US	UK	Example
Emergency Room (ER)	A&E (Accident & Emergency)	He went to the emergency room. In the UK, people often say A&E.
Pharmacy	Chemist	I picked up my prescription at the pharmacy. In the UK, you may hear chemist.
Flu Shot	Flu Jab	I got a flu shot today. In the UK, people often say flu jab.
Doctor’s Note	Sick Note	My manager asked for a doctor’s note. In the UK, it’s often called a sick note.

Yak Snark (Helpful Edition)

You do not need fancy words to sound fluent at a clinic. Clear beats impressive.

Common Mistakes

1) Saying “I Am Fever” Or “I Am Headache”

In English, you usually say “I have…” for symptoms.
✅ I have a fever. / I have a headache.
❌ I am fever. / I am headache.

2) Being Too Vague: “I Feel Weird”

“Weird” is understandable, but it’s not helpful. Try the 3-part script:
Where + How long + How bad.

3) Mixing Up “Dizzy” And “Sleepy”

Dizzy = lightheaded/spinning.
Sleepy = tired and want to sleep.

4) Over-Using “Very”

Swap “very” for a clearer scale:
mild / moderate / severe.

FAQ

What’s The Easiest Way To Explain A Symptom In English?

Use: Where + How long + How bad. Example: “My stomach hurts. I’ve had it for two days. It’s getting worse after meals.”

How Do I Ask For Medicine At A Pharmacy?

Try: “Do you have something for ___?” or “Is there an over-the-counter option?” Then ask: “How should I take it?”

How Do I Talk About Side Effects?

Say: “I’m having side effects.” Then name them: “nausea,” “drowsiness,” “rash,” etc.

What’s A Polite Way To Say I Need Help Understanding?

“Could you explain that in simple terms?” or “Can you repeat that, please?”

How Do I Mention Food Or Fruit If It’s Related?

Use: “I feel nauseous after eating ___.” or “I’m allergic to ___.” Example: “I feel nauseous after eating mango.”

Health Vocabulary In English: 110+ Words And Phrases

What You’ll Get

Table Of Contents

Quick Clinic Toolkit