Visiting the Doctor

Going to the doctor can be stressful in your own language. In English, it can feel even more overwhelming. But here is the thing -- doctor visits follow a very predictable pattern. The receptionist asks the same questions, the doctor asks the same questions, and the phrases you need are quite limited.

In this lesson, I will give you all the vocabulary and phrases you need to describe how you feel, understand the doctor, and leave with clear instructions. Let us start!

Body Parts Vocabulary

Before you can describe symptoms, you need to know the words for your body. Here are the most important ones for a doctor visit:

Head area: head, forehead, eye, ear, nose, mouth, throat, neck, jaw, cheek

Upper body: shoulder, chest, back, arm, elbow, wrist, hand, finger, thumb

Lower body: stomach (tummy), hip, leg, knee, ankle, foot, toe

Internal: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, brain, bones, muscles, joints

Describing Symptoms

How to Say What Hurts

The simplest way to tell the doctor what is wrong:

• "I have a headache." (My head hurts.)
• "I have a stomachache." (My stomach hurts.)
• "I have a sore throat." (My throat hurts.)
• "I have a backache." (My back hurts.)
• "My knee hurts."
• "I have a pain in my chest."

Types of Pain

Common Symptoms

• "I have a fever." (My body temperature is high.)
• "I have a cough."
• "I have a runny nose." (Liquid comes from my nose.)
• "I have a blocked nose." / "My nose is stuffy."
• "I feel dizzy." (The room is spinning.)
• "I feel nauseous." / "I feel sick to my stomach."
• "I have been vomiting." / "I have been throwing up."
• "I have diarrhea."
• "I feel weak." / "I have no energy."
• "I cannot sleep." / "I have insomnia."
• "I have a rash." (Red spots on my skin.)
• "I am sneezing a lot."

How Long and How Bad

The doctor will want to know how long you have had the problem and how bad it is:

Duration:

• "It started yesterday."
• "I have had this pain for three days."
• "It has been getting worse since Monday."
• "It comes and goes."

Severity:

• "It is not too bad." / "It is mild."
• "It is quite painful."
• "It is really bad." / "It is severe."
• "On a scale of 1 to 10, it is about a 7."

Making an Appointment

Calling the Doctor's Office

Receptionist: Good morning, City Medical Center. How can I help you? You: Hello, I would like to make an appointment, please. Receptionist: Of course. Have you been here before? You: No, this is my first time. / Yes, I am a patient here. Receptionist: What is the reason for your visit? You: I have had a bad cough for about a week. Receptionist: I can fit you in tomorrow at 2:30. Does that work? You: Yes, that is fine. Thank you. Receptionist: Can I have your name and date of birth? You: My name is Maria Petrova. My date of birth is March 15, 1990. Receptionist: Great. We will see you tomorrow at 2:30. Please arrive 10 minutes early to fill out some forms.

Useful Phrases for the Receptionist

• "I would like to see a doctor, please."
• "Is there an appointment available today?"
• "It is quite urgent."
• "I do not have insurance." / "Here is my insurance card."
• "Do I need to bring anything?"

At the Doctor's Office

What the Doctor Will Say

• "What brings you in today?" / "What seems to be the problem?"
• "Where does it hurt?"
• "Can you describe the pain?"
• "How long have you had this?"
• "Is it getting better or worse?"
• "Are you taking any medication?"
• "Do you have any allergies?"
• "Have you had this before?"
• "Let me take a look." / "Let me examine you."
• "Take a deep breath."
• "Open your mouth and say 'Ah.'"
• "I am going to check your blood pressure."

What You Can Say

• "I have been feeling unwell for about a week."
• "The pain is here." (Point to the area.)
• "It hurts when I move my arm."
• "I have been taking ibuprofen, but it is not helping."
• "I am allergic to penicillin."
• "I take blood pressure medication."
• "My mother had diabetes." (Family medical history.)

Understanding the Doctor's Instructions

Common Diagnoses (What the Doctor Might Say)

• "You have the flu." (Influenza)
• "It looks like a cold."
• "You have an ear infection."
• "I think it is a sprained ankle."
• "Your blood pressure is a little high."
• "I want to run some tests." (= I want to do blood work or other tests.)
• "I am going to refer you to a specialist." (= Another doctor for a specific problem.)

Prescriptions and Medication

• "I am going to prescribe some antibiotics."
• "Take this medicine twice a day." (= Two times per day.)
• "Take one tablet in the morning and one at night."
• "Take it with food." / "Take it on an empty stomach."
• "Finish the whole course." (= Take all the medicine, even if you feel better.)
• "You can get this at the pharmacy." (= The drugstore.)

Medication Vocabulary

Practice Dialogue: At the Doctor

Doctor: Good afternoon. What brings you in today? You: I have had a really bad headache for the last three days. And I feel dizzy sometimes. Doctor: I see. Where exactly is the pain? You: Here, in the front of my head. Above my eyes. Doctor: Is it a sharp pain or a dull pain? You: It is more like a dull, throbbing pain. Doctor: Okay. Are you taking any medication for it? You: I have been taking ibuprofen, but it does not help much. Doctor: Are you sleeping well? You: Not really. I have been very stressed at work. Doctor: That could be a factor. Let me check your blood pressure... It is a little high. I think the headaches are related to stress and tension. I am going to prescribe something for the pain, and I want you to try to rest more. If it does not improve in a week, come back and we will run some tests. You: Thank you, Doctor. Should I take the medicine with food? Doctor: Yes, take one tablet twice a day with meals. And drink plenty of water.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: "I am sick on my stomach."

• Correct: "I feel sick to my stomach." or "My stomach hurts."

Mistake 2: "I have pain." (too general)

• Better: "I have a pain in my back." or "My back hurts."

Mistake 3: Confusing "recipe" and "prescription"

• A recipe is for cooking.
• A prescription is from a doctor for medicine.

Mistake 4: "I am ill since Monday."

• Correct: "I have been ill since Monday." (Use present perfect with "since.")

Practice Tips

1. Learn 5 body parts every day until you know them all. Point to each part and say the word.
2. Practice describing pain. Think about the last time you felt sick and describe it in English using the vocabulary from this lesson.
3. Role-play a doctor visit with a friend or study partner. One person is the doctor, one is the patient.
4. Write down your medical information in English: allergies, medications, family history. You will need this when you visit a doctor abroad.

Key Takeaways

• Learn body parts and types of pain so you can describe your symptoms clearly.
• Use "I have..." and "I feel..." to describe how you feel: "I have a headache," "I feel dizzy."
• Tell the doctor how long and how bad the problem is.
• Understand common instructions: "Take one tablet twice a day with food."
• Know the difference between prescription medicine and over-the-counter medicine.