English Learning for Beginners: Medical English Basics

Dialogue

Alice: Oh, Bob, my head really hurts today. And I feel a bit dizzy.

Bob: Alice! What’s wrong? Are you sick? Maybe you have a serious illness!

Alice: Not serious, I hope! My throat is also a little sore. And I have a cough.

Bob: A cough? Oh no! Do you have a fever? Let me feel your forehead! (Reaches out)

Alice: Hey! No, I don’t think so. I just feel tired. Maybe I need to see a doctor.

Bob: A doctor? For a little cough? Maybe it’s just a common cold.

Alice: It feels worse than a common cold. My stomach also feels a bit upset.

Bob: Upset stomach? Oh, you definitely need medicine! Do you have any pain anywhere else?

Alice: Just a dull ache in my back. And my nose is running.

Bob: Running nose, headache, sore throat, cough, dizzy, upset stomach, back ache… Alice, you have ALL the symptoms!

Alice: Don’t exaggerate, Bob! It’s probably just the flu.

Bob: The flu? That can be serious! Did you get a flu shot?

Alice: No, I didn’t this year. Maybe I should have.

Bob: You should call the doctor’s office. Make an appointment.

Alice: Good idea. Thanks, Bob. I’ll call them right away. And maybe get some rest.

Bob: Get well soon, Alice! I hope it’s not the alien flu!

Alice: (Laughs) You’re crazy, Bob! Just a human flu!

Current Situation

In today’s globalized world, knowing basic medical English is incredibly useful, not just for healthcare professionals, but for anyone who travels, lives abroad, or simply interacts with people from different linguistic backgrounds. When you’re feeling unwell, being able to describe your symptoms accurately to a doctor, pharmacist, or even a friend can make a significant difference in getting the right help. This foundational knowledge can also help you understand simple medical advice or instructions, ensuring your safety and well-being in unfamiliar environments. It’s about being prepared for common health scenarios, from a simple cold to needing emergency assistance, and communicating effectively when it matters most.

Key Phrases

My head hurts.
Example: “My head hurts, and I can’t concentrate on my work.”
I feel dizzy.
Example: “After standing up too quickly, I sometimes feel dizzy.”
My throat is sore.
Example: “I can barely swallow because my throat is so sore.”
I have a cough.
Example: “This cold started with a runny nose, and now I have a cough.”
Do you have a fever?
Example: “The child feels warm; do you have a thermometer to check if he has a fever?”
I feel tired.
Example: “I’ve been working all day, so I feel very tired now.”
I need to see a doctor.
Example: “This pain won’t go away, I think I need to see a doctor.”
My stomach feels upset.
Example: “After eating too much spicy food, my stomach feels upset.”
I have a runny nose.
Example: “During allergy season, I always have a runny nose.”
Make an appointment.
Example: “You should make an appointment with the dentist for your toothache.”
Get well soon!
Example: “I heard you’re not feeling well, get well soon!”
What’s wrong?
Example: “You look sad. What’s wrong?”

Grammar Points

1. Using “to be” for describing conditions

We use the verb “to be” (am, is, are) to describe someone’s state or a specific condition.

Examples from dialogue: “Are you sick?”, “My throat is also a little sore.”
Structure: Subject + to be + adjective/noun.
More examples: “I am tired.” “The doctor is busy.” “My back is aching.”

2. Using “to have” for symptoms

We use the verb “to have” to talk about symptoms or illnesses.

Examples from dialogue: “Do you have a fever?”, “I have a cough.”
Structure: Subject + have (or has for he/she/it) + a symptom/illness.
More examples: “She has a headache.” “They have the flu.”

3. Using “to feel” for sensations

We use the verb “to feel” to describe physical sensations or emotional states.

Examples from dialogue: “I feel a bit dizzy.”, “My stomach also feels a bit upset.”
Structure: Subject + feel (or feels for he/she/it) + adjective.
More examples: “I feel cold.” “He feels happy.” “How do you feel?”

4. Giving Advice/Necessity with “should” and “need to”

Should: Used for giving advice or making a suggestion.
- Example from dialogue: “You should call the doctor’s office.”
- Structure: Subject + should + base form of verb.
- More examples: “You should rest.” “He should drink more water.”
Need to: Used for expressing necessity or something that is required.
- Example from dialogue: “Maybe I need to see a doctor.”
- Structure: Subject + need to + base form of verb.
- More examples: “I need to take this medicine.” “She needs to eat something.”

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the best word to complete each sentence. (hurt / dizzy / sore / cough / fever / tired / upset / runny)

My throat is very __________, it’s painful to swallow.
I feel a bit __________ after spinning around quickly.
She has a bad __________ and can’t stop sneezing.
My head __________ so much, I need an aspirin.
If your body temperature is high, you might have a __________.
My stomach feels __________ after that heavy meal.
After a long day, I usually feel very __________.
I have a __________ nose, so I’m using a lot of tissues.

Answers for Exercise 1:

sore
dizzy
cough
hurts
fever
upset
tired
runny

Exercise 2: Sentence Construction

Make a sentence using the given words and the correct grammar (have, feel, be).

I / a headache. (use ‘have’)
He / sick. (use ‘be’)
She / very sleepy. (use ‘feel’)
They / cough. (use ‘have’)
We / tired. (use ‘be’)

Answers for Exercise 2:

I have a headache.
He is sick.
She feels very sleepy.
They have a cough.
We are tired.

Exercise 3: Advice

Complete the advice using “should” or “need to”.

If you have a high fever, you __________ see a doctor.
My back hurts, I __________ rest.
She has a bad cough, she __________ drink warm tea.
He feels very tired, he __________ go to bed early.
You have a toothache, you __________ make an appointment with the dentist.

Answers for Exercise 3:

need to
should / need to
should
should
need to

Medical English basics