English Vocabulary – At the Hospital Part I

Today is International Nurses Day, so congratulations to all of you amazing people out there who spend your days helping save lives and making the sick feel better. You are incredible!

So, in honour of this day, today we will be learning all about vocabulary related to sickness, hospitals and being healthy. This lesson has two parts, so stay tuned until next week Monday to learn more!

Ready? Get a pencil and paper and let’s do this.

What do you have?

Here we will look at common reasons people go to the hospital:

I have a headache – an ache or pain in the head. The word “ache” means pain, so we can say we have toothache, backache, stomacache… see how easy?

I have a broken wrist (or ankle, etc) – separated into parts or pieces by being hit, damaged, etc.

I have a sprained wrist (or ankle, etc) – to injure (a joint) by twisting it in a sudden and painful way. A joint is a point where two bones meet in the body.

I have a twisted wrist (or ankle, etc) – to hurt (your ankle, knee, wrist, etc.) by turning it too far.

I have a flu – a common disease that is caused by a virus and that causes fever, weakness, body aches, and breathing problems.

I have a cold – a common illness that affects the nose, throat, and eyes and that usually causes coughing, sneezing, etc.

I have a runny nose – having a thin flow of liquid flowing out. This is what we say when we have mucous coming out of our noses.

I have a fever – this means you have a high temperature.

I have a sore throat -the throat is the tube inside the neck that leads to the stomach and lungs and when it feels sore, it is feeling or affected by pain.

I feel sick. I’m feeling nauseous  – feeling like you are about to vomit.

I have a bruise  – a dark and painful area on your skin that is caused by an injury.

I have a cut – to make a hole or wound in (a person’s skin).

I have a graze – an injury on your skin that is caused because it moves against something.

I have a wound – an injury that is caused when a knife, bullet, etc., cuts or breaks the skin.

What should you take?

If you have been to the doctor and they have recommended some medicine, it might be:

Eye drops – drops are liquid medicine that is measured in drops and put into your eyes, ears, or nose.

Cream – a very thick liquid or soft substance that is rubbed into the skin to make it softer or is used as a medicine for the skin.

Syringe – a device made of a hollow tube and a needle that is used to force fluids into or take fluids out of the body.

Bandage – a covering (such as a strip of cloth) that protects or supports part of the body that has been hurt.

Dose (of medicine) – the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time.

Drugs – a substance that is used as a medicine.

Shot (or injection) – the act or process of forcing a liquid medicine or drug into someone or something by using a special needle.

Medicine – a substance that is used in treating disease or relieving pain and that is usually in the form of a pill or a liquid.

Pain-killer – a drug that decreases or removes pain that you feel in your body.

Pill – a small, rounded object that you swallow and that contains medicine, vitamins, etc.

Plaster – a piece of material that is put on the skin over a small wound.

Tablet – a small usually round piece of medicine.

Tranquilizer – a drug that causes a person or animal to become very relaxed and calm.

What type of appointment do you need?

When you call the doctor’s office you can ask for…

Check-up – an examination of a person made by a doctor to make sure the person is healthy.

Diagnosis – the act of identifying a disease, illness, or problem by examining someone or something.

Operation – a process in which a doctor cuts into someone’s body in order to repair or remove a damaged or diseased part.

Surgery – medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone’s body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts.

Prescription – a written message from a doctor that officially tells someone to use a medicine, therapy, etc.

Well, that was a lot of vocabulary! We hope you are very healthy!

What vocabulary lesson would you like? Tell us and we will help you learn more.