English for a Doctor's Visit: Describing Symptoms

A medical appointment is a place where being vague can cost you, and it is also one of the most stressful situations to search for the right word in a second language. A small set of precise words and a few sentence patterns go a long way toward being understood the first time. This guide is language help and is not medical advice. In an emergency, do not look for words: use your country's emergency number and say where you are and what has happened, even in the simplest English you can manage.

Booking an appointment

You may book by phone, online or in person. Useful phrases: "I would like to make an appointment to see a doctor." "Is there an appointment available this week?" "It is not an emergency, but I would like to be seen soon." "Do I need to register first?" "Can I have an interpreter?"

Words you may hear include appointment, registration, referral (a letter from one doctor to another or to a specialist), GP (general practitioner, common in British English), primary care doctor (common in American English), specialist, walk-in clinic, urgent care, insurance and co-pay. Health systems differ by country, so the person on the phone is the best guide to how yours works. The NHS pages on GP services and MedlinePlus pages on talking with your doctor give plain-language examples of the process in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Saying what is wrong

A symptom is a sign of an illness or condition that you notice yourself, such as pain, fatigue or a fever. Cambridge Dictionary defines it that way. It is different from a diagnosis, which is the doctor's conclusion about what is causing the symptoms. At the appointment, describe symptoms and not conclusions: "I have a sore throat and a fever" is more useful than "I think I have the flu".

A simple pattern: "I have..." for a symptom you feel (a headache, a cough, a rash, a sore throat), "I feel..." for how you feel (dizzy, tired, sick, weak), and "My ... hurts" or "I have a pain in my ..." for a place (my back, my chest, my stomach).

Describing pain and discomfort

Doctors rely on detail, so it helps to know words for pain. Describe its type: sharp, dull, burning, stabbing, throbbing, aching, cramping. Describe its pattern: constant, comes and goes, worse at night, worse when I move. Describe its strength: mild, moderate, severe, or a number from one to ten if you are asked to rate it. And describe its place, pointing if the word will not come.

Other useful words for how you feel are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, swelling, numbness, tingling, itching, shortness of breath, a runny nose, blocked, a dry cough and a productive cough (one that brings up mucus).

Time words matter

Doctors often ask when something started and how it has changed. Useful patterns: "It started three days ago." "It has been getting worse." "It comes and goes." "It happens every morning." "It began after I ate." Learn since (a starting point, "since Monday"), for (a length, "for two weeks"), ago, gradually, suddenly, constantly and occasionally.

Questions you may be asked

Common questions include "What brings you in today?", "How long have you had this?", "Does anything make it better or worse?", "Are you taking any medication?", "Do you have any allergies?", "Do you have any medical conditions?", "Is there any history of this in your family?" and "Do you smoke or drink alcohol?" Prepare short answers, for example: "I am allergic to penicillin." "I take medication for high blood pressure." "My mother had diabetes."

Know the names of your medicines, or bring the packaging or a list. Also know your date of birth and, where relevant, your insurance or registration details, and be ready to spell your name.

Understanding what the doctor says

Doctors may use words you do not know. It is always acceptable to ask: "Could you explain that in simpler words?" "How do you spell that?" "Could you write that down?" "What does that mean?" Words you may hear include examine, blood test, scan, X-ray, prescription (a written instruction for a medicine, defined by Cambridge Dictionary), dose, side effects, course of treatment, follow-up, referral, rest, fluids, as needed, twice a day, with food and on an empty stomach.

Instructions about medicine often follow a pattern: how much (one tablet), how often (twice a day), when (in the morning, before meals) and for how long (for seven days). Repeat them back to check: "So I take one tablet twice a day with food for a week?"

Checking that you understood

The most useful habit is to check understanding, not only to nod. Phrases that help: "Just to check, you are saying that..." "What should I do if it gets worse?" "When should I come back?" "Is there anything I should avoid?" "Who do I call if I have a question?" MedlinePlus suggests preparing questions in advance and taking notes, and both help, especially in a second language. Write your questions on paper before you go, and write the answers down.

If you need help with language

You can ask for an interpreter. MedlinePlus advises calling the office ahead of time to request one if your provider does not speak your language, so ask when you book. You can also bring a trusted friend or relative, though an interpreter is often better for medical detail. If neither is possible, speak slowly, use short sentences, point to where it hurts and use a translation app for single words, while being careful with it for anything complicated.

Practicing before you need it

It is far easier to learn these words when you are well. Make a short list of twenty from this guide, such as symptom, sharp, dull, dizzy, prescription, dose and allergic, and learn them across a week or two, saying a few of the sentences aloud. How spaced repetition works explains why spreading practice helps. The moving abroad guide covers the wider set of practical words for settling into a new country.

How Wordabulary fits in

Wordabulary can help you build the general vocabulary around this topic. Words are tagged by level, practice shows definitions and example sentences, and every word can be heard in British or American English. It is not medical advice, and it works best alongside real guidance from a doctor, a clinic or a qualified interpreter.