CEFR A2

    Health and Sickness

    Learn essential vocabulary for common illnesses, symptoms, and health advice including headache, fever, doctor, and medicine.

    Learning Objectives

    Learn essential vocabulary for common illnesses, symptoms, and health conditions at the elementary level.
    Master how to describe how you feel, visit a doctor, and explain health problems clearly.
    Practice essential phrases for giving health advice, understanding prescriptions, and discussing treatments.
    Build confidence communicating about health issues and understanding medical advice in English!

    Health and Sickness

    Learning vocabulary for health and sickness is crucial for communicating when you don't feel well, understanding medical advice, and taking care of yourself. This vocabulary helps you describe symptoms, visit a doctor, get medication, and give or receive health advice. Mastering this vocabulary will enable you to navigate healthcare situations, explain your health problems, and understand treatment instructions with confidence.

    📖 A Visit to the Doctor

    On Monday morning, Sarah woke up with a terrible headache and a sore throat.

    She called the clinic and made an appointment to see a doctor that afternoon.

    The doctor checked her temperature and said she had a fever and the flu.

    He gave her a prescription for medicine and told her to rest and drink plenty of water.

    By learning health and sickness vocabulary, you can describe how you feel, visit a doctor, and understand medical advice in English!

    Common Illnesses

    Cold and Flu

    Common viral infections with symptoms like runny nose, cough, and fever.

    • I've got a bad cold this week.
    • Everyone in my family has the flu.

    Headache and Toothache

    Pain in the head or teeth that can be mild or severe.

    • I have a terrible headache today.
    • She needs to see a dentist for her toothache.

    Stomach Problems

    Issues with the stomach like pain, upset stomach, or food poisoning.

    • My stomach hurts after eating that food.
    • He's got an upset stomach.

    Fever and Sore Throat

    High body temperature and pain in the throat, often signs of infection.

    • She has a high fever and can't go to school.
    • My throat is very sore.

    Want to try a Health and Sickness quiz?

    Practice with multiple choice questions

    Symptoms and How You Feel

    Physical Symptoms

    Words to describe what's wrong with your body.

    • I feel dizzy and need to sit down.
    • My whole body aches and I'm very tired.

    Respiratory Symptoms

    Problems with breathing, nose, and throat.

    • I can't stop coughing and sneezing.
    • My nose is blocked and I can't breathe well.

    General Feelings

    How you feel overall when you're sick.

    • I feel weak and don't have any energy.
    • I feel really sick and want to stay in bed.

    Ready to test your Health and Sickness knowledge?

    Challenge yourself with fill-in-the-blank exercises

    At the Doctor's Office

    Making an Appointment

    Phrases for booking and visiting the doctor.

    • I need to see a doctor as soon as possible.
    • Can I make an appointment for tomorrow?

    Describing Symptoms

    How to explain your health problems to medical staff.

    • My head hurts and I feel very hot.
    • I've had this pain for three days now.

    Understanding Instructions

    Common medical advice and treatment instructions.

    • The doctor says I should rest and drink lots of fluids.
    • I need to take this medicine twice a day.

    Medicine and Treatment

    Types of Medicine

    Common medications and medical supplies.

    • Take these pills with water after meals.
    • You can buy aspirin at the pharmacy without a prescription.

    Dosage and Instructions

    Understanding how to take medicine properly.

    • Take one tablet three times a day.
    • This medicine should be taken on an empty stomach.

    Home Remedies

    Simple treatments you can do at home.

    • Drink hot tea with honey for your sore throat.
    • Put ice on the swelling to reduce pain.

    Giving Health Advice

    Using 'Should'

    Giving advice about what's best to do.

    • You should stay in bed and get plenty of rest.
    • You shouldn't go to work when you have a fever.

    Prevention and Care

    How to prevent illness and take care of yourself.

    • Wash your hands regularly to avoid getting sick.
    • Get enough sleep and eat healthy food to stay well.

    When to Seek Help

    Knowing when to get medical attention.

    • If the pain gets worse, you should see a doctor.
    • Call an ambulance if it's an emergency.

    Master Health and Sickness sentence building!

    Drag and drop words to form correct sentences

    Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ Wrong: I have a headache on my head.

    ✓ Correct: I have a headache. (don't add 'on my head' - it's obvious)

    ❌ Wrong: I'm very pain.

    ✓ Correct: I'm in pain. / It hurts a lot. (use 'in pain', not 'very pain')

    ❌ Wrong: I must to see a doctor.

    ✓ Correct: I must see a doctor. / I need to see a doctor. (no 'to' after 'must')

    ❌ Wrong: She feels herself sick.

    ✓ Correct: She feels sick. (don't use reflexive pronoun with 'feel')

    ❌ Wrong: Take the medicine after you eat food.

    ✓ Correct: Take the medicine after meals. / after eating. (more natural)

    Learning Tips

    Learn body parts vocabulary first - it helps you describe where pain or symptoms are
    Practice role-playing doctor-patient conversations with a study partner
    Keep a simple health vocabulary list in your wallet or phone for emergencies
    Watch medical TV shows or hospital scenes in English to learn health vocabulary in context
    Create flashcards with common symptoms and illnesses in both your language and English
    Learn the difference between 'ache' (long-lasting) and 'pain' (sharp or sudden)
    Practice giving health advice using 'should' and 'shouldn't' with different situations
    Familiarize yourself with common medical abbreviations like 'mg' (milligram) and dosage terms

    Speaking Practice

    To practice your pronunciation, listen to the native speaker audio first. Then 'Record' yourself repeating what you heard, then use the 'Playback' button to compare your pronunciation with the native speaker. If you want to record yourself again, simply click 'Delete'!

    ✓ I have a terrible headache and feel dizzy.

    ✓ She's got a bad cold and can't stop coughing.

    ✓ You should rest and drink plenty of water when you're sick.

    ✓ I need to see a doctor because my stomach hurts.

    ✓ Take this medicine three times a day after meals.

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