vocabularyVOCABULARY


Vocabulary - Health and Health Care


This is a list of vocabulary items related to health and health care

How to say you are ill

  • I'm ill.
  • I feel really rough.
  • I'm shattered (meaning tired out or exhausted)
  • I'm on my last legs (to be very tired, especially after a lot of physical activity or work. It also means to be going to die soon - 'the old man is on his last leg').
  • I feel / look poorly / peaky / rough / bloody awful.
  • I feel / look like death warmed up (very ill or appearing very sickly - Poor thing! She looks like death warmed up)

How to say you are feeling OK

  • I am alive and kicking (to continue to be well, healthy or successful - Don't worry about your grandfather; he is alive and kicking)
  • I feel good (used to talk about emotional state)
  • I feel great / well
  • He is a picture of (good) health (to be in a very healthy condition - The doctor told him that he is a picture of good health)
  • She is hale and hearty (to be in a good health - In spite of her old age, she looks hale and hearty)

Health problems

  • I have a headache / toothache / backache / stomachache / earache...
  • I have a pain in my back / tooth / head...
  • I have a broken / sprained / twist an ankle / wrist.
  • I have a flu / cold / runny nose / fever / high temperature / sore throat
  • I feel sick. I'm feeling nauseous.
  • I have a bruise / cut / graze / wound.

Health advice:

  • Exercise regularly.
  • Eat healthy food.
  • Brush your teeth regularly.
  • Sleep early (= don't stay up late!)
  • Have regular medical check up.
  • Relax.
  • Go on a diet.

Medicines

  • eye drops
  • cream
  • syringe
  • syrup
  • bandage
  • dose (of medicine)
  • drugs
  • shot / injection (give some an injection)
  • medicine (take medicine)
  • pain-killer
  • pill
  • plaster
  • tablet
  • tranquilizer

Treatment

  • check-up
  • diagnosis
  • operation / surgery
  • prescription

People

  • ophthalmologist
  • dentist
  • doctor / physician
  • general practitioner (GP)
  • midwife
  • nurse
  • patient
  • specialist
  • surgeon

Places

  • doctor's
  • pharmacy / drugstore /chemist's
  • hospital
  • operating theater
  • surgery (medical operation)
  • waiting room
  • ward (a geriatric/maternity/psychiatric ward)

Related materials:

Factors of good health
Health tips
Vocabulary related to health
Quotes about health
Jokes about doctors