Health and symptoms in English, with pictures
This page teaches common words for talking about illnesses, body pains, and medical care. Practice using these words when you explain how you feel to a doctor.
allergy
/ˈælərdʒi/
A bad reaction by your body to certain foods, animals, or plants.
“He cannot eat nuts because of a serious peanut allergy.”
bandage
/ˈbændɪdʒ/
A long piece of cloth used to cover and protect an injured body part.
“The nurse wrapped a clean bandage around my hurt arm.”
bruise
/bruːz/
A dark mark on your skin that appears after you get hit.
“She got a purple bruise on her knee after falling.”
cough
/kɔːf/
To push air out of your throat suddenly with a loud sound.
“I cough a lot at night when I have a cold.”
dizziness
/ˈdɪz.i.nəs/
A feeling that everything is turning around and you might fall.
“Standing up too fast gave him a moment of dizziness.”
/ˈhɛdˌeɪk/
A continuous pain inside your head.
“I need to rest because I have a bad headache.”
/ɪnˈfɛk.ʃən/
A disease caused by germs or bacteria entering your body.
“Clean the cut carefully so you do not get an infection.”
/ˈɪndʒəri/
Physical harm or damage done to a person's body.
“The soccer player missed the game because of a leg injury.”
/ˈmɛd.ɪ.sən/
A pill or liquid you take to treat an illness or pain.
“Take this medicine twice a day after your meals.”
/prɪˈskrɪpʃən/
A paper from a doctor saying what medicine you need to buy.
“The doctor wrote a prescription for some strong painkillers.”
rash
/ræʃ/
An area of red spots that appears on your skin.
“New soap caused an itchy red rash on my hands.”
/skɑːr/
A permanent line or mark left on your skin after a cut heals.
“He has a small scar above his left eye.”
/sniːz/
To suddenly blow air loudly out through your nose and mouth.
“Cold dust always makes me sneeze several times.”
stomachache
/ˈstʌməkˌeɪk/
A pain in your belly.
“Eating too much sweet food gave the boy a stomachache.”
/ˈswɛlɪŋ/
A part of your body that has become bigger because of an injury.
“Put ice on your ankle to reduce the painful swelling.”
thermometer
/θərˈmɑːmɪtər/
A small tool used to measure how hot your body is.
“Check your temperature under your tongue with the thermometer.”
toothache
/ˈtuːθ.eɪk/
A sharp or continuous pain in one of your teeth.
“I visited the dentist yesterday to treat a terrible toothache.”
