At the Doctor in English: Phrases for Health and Advice
Do more with this exercise
These are useful phrases for a visit to the doctor. Say what is wrong, answer the doctor's questions and understand the advice. Read each phrase and its short dialogue, then do the exercises.
Saying what is wrong
I'd like to make an appointment.Say it when you call the doctor to ask for a time.
“I'd like to make an appointment, please.” “Is tomorrow at ten okay?”
I don't feel well.Say it when you are ill but you don't know why.
“What's the matter?” “I don't feel well.”
I have a headache.Say it when your head hurts.
“I have a headache and I feel tired.”
I have a sore throat.Say it when your throat hurts.
“I have a sore throat.” “Open your mouth, please.”
My stomach hurts.Say it when you have a pain in your stomach.
“My stomach hurts.” “Where exactly?”
I have a fever.Say it when your body is very hot.
“I have a fever.” “Let me check.”
I've got a cough.Say it when you cough a lot.
“I've got a cough at night.”
Giving more details
It started two days ago.Say it to tell when the problem began.
“When did it start?” “It started two days ago.”
It hurts when I walk.Say it to tell when you feel the pain.
“My foot is bad. It hurts when I walk.”
I can't sleep.Say it when you don't sleep well at night.
“I can't sleep, and I feel terrible.”
I feel tired all the time.Say it when you have no energy every day.
“I feel tired all the time, doctor.”
I'm allergic to penicillin.Say it when a medicine or food makes you ill.
“I'm allergic to penicillin.” “Thank you. I'll write it down.”
I'm taking some medicine.Say it when you use a medicine now.
“I'm taking some medicine for my cough.”
What the doctor asks
What's the matter?The doctor asks it at the start of the visit.
“Good morning. What's the matter?” “I have a headache.”
Where does it hurt?The doctor asks it to find the pain.
“Where does it hurt?” “Here, in my back.”
When did it start?The doctor asks it to know the day of the first pain.
“When did it start?” “Last night.”
Do you have a fever?The doctor asks it to know if you are very hot.
“Do you have a fever?” “I don't think so.”
Are you allergic to anything?The doctor asks it before he or she gives you medicine.
“Are you allergic to anything?” “No, nothing.”
Open your mouth, please.The doctor says it to look in your mouth and throat.
“Open your mouth, please. Say ah.”
Take a deep breath.The doctor says it to listen to your chest.
“Take a deep breath. Now breathe out.”
Advice and medicine
You should rest.The doctor gives advice: it is a good idea.
“You should rest for two days.”
You must drink a lot of water.The doctor says it is very important.
“You must drink a lot of water.” “Okay, doctor.”
You have to stay in bed.The doctor says there is no other choice.
“You have to stay in bed for three days.”
You shouldn't go to work.The doctor says it is not a good idea.
“You shouldn't go to work tomorrow.”
Take this medicine twice a day.The doctor says how often to take the medicine.
“Take this medicine twice a day, after food.”
Come back in a week.The doctor says it to ask for a second visit.
“Come back in a week if you still feel bad.”
Should I take it with food?Ask it when you don't know how to take a medicine.
“Should I take it with food?” “Yes, you should.”
Practice exercises
Match the Phrase and the Situation
Match each phrase with the situation.
Choose a word on the left, then its match on the right.
What Do You Say?
Choose the best phrase for each situation.
7.Your head hurts. What do you say to the doctor?
8.“When did it start?” “___”
9.“___ stay in bed.” (The doctor says it is the only choice.)
10.“You ___ go to work tomorrow.” (The doctor says it is a bad idea.)
11.“___” (You call the doctor. You want to see the doctor tomorrow.)
12.“Are you allergic to anything?” “___” (You are not allergic to anything.)
13.You don't know how to take a medicine. What do you ask?
Complete the Dialogue
Type the missing word.
How to talk to a doctor in English
At the doctor, the first step is to say what is wrong. Use short phrases: I don't feel well, I have a headache, I have a sore throat, My stomach hurts. To see the doctor, call and say I'd like to make an appointment.
The doctor asks questions and you give details. When did it start? It started two days ago. Where does it hurt? Here. Are you allergic to anything? Tell the doctor about allergies and about any medicine you take: I'm taking some medicine.
At the end, the doctor gives advice. You should rest is a good idea. You must drink a lot of water is very important. You have to stay in bed is necessary. You shouldn't go to work is a bad idea. Listen for how often to take the medicine, like twice a day, and ask if you don't know: Should I take it with food?
Here is a short model dialogue. Doctor: What's the matter? Patient: I have a sore throat and a cough. Doctor: When did it start? Patient: It started two days ago. Doctor: Open your mouth, please. You should rest and drink a lot of water. Take this medicine twice a day, and come back in a week.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between should, must and have to?
Should is advice: You should rest. Must and have to are stronger: You must drink water. You have to stay in bed. For a doctor's advice, should is the most common.
How do I say that something hurts?
You can say It hurts here, or name the part: My stomach hurts, my back hurts. For the head, throat and tooth, English often uses a special word with have: I have a headache, I have a sore throat, I have a toothache.
What does What's the matter? mean?
It means What is wrong? The doctor asks it at the start of the visit. Answer with the problem: I have a headache, or I don't feel well.
Do I say I have a fever or I have a temperature?
Both are correct. I have a fever is the common phrase. People also say I have a temperature, mostly in British English.
Answer key
1. I have a sore throat.
Answer: Your throat hurts.
A sore throat is a pain in your throat.
2. I have a fever.
Answer: Your body is very hot.
A fever is a very high body temperature.
3. Where does it hurt?
Answer: The doctor wants to find the pain.
The doctor asks where does it hurt? to find the place of the pain.
4. I'm allergic to penicillin.
Answer: A medicine makes you ill.
We say I'm allergic to… when a food or a medicine is bad for us.
5. You have to stay in bed.
Answer: The doctor says there is no other choice.
You have to… is a strong rule. The patient can't choose.
6. Take a deep breath.
Answer: The doctor listens to your chest.
The doctor asks for a deep breath to listen to your lungs.
7. Your head hurts. What do you say to the doctor?
Answer: I have a headache.
A headache is a pain in the head. A cough is not a pain, and the stomach is in your body, not in your head.
8. “When did it start?” “___”
Answer: It started two days ago.
When did it start? asks for the time, so you answer with a time: two days ago.
9. “___ stay in bed.” (The doctor says it is the only choice.)
Answer: You have to
You have to means it is necessary. You shouldn't means it is a bad idea, and you can means it is possible.
10. “You ___ go to work tomorrow.” (The doctor says it is a bad idea.)
Answer: shouldn't
Shouldn't is for advice not to do something. You have to go would mean it is necessary.
11. “___” (You call the doctor. You want to see the doctor tomorrow.)
Answer: I'd like to make an appointment.
An appointment is a time to see the doctor. The other two phrases are what the doctor says.
12. “Are you allergic to anything?” “___” (You are not allergic to anything.)
Answer: No, nothing.
No, nothing is a short, natural answer. The other answers are not complete or do not answer the question.
13. You don't know how to take a medicine. What do you ask?
Answer: Should I take it with food?
The patient asks should I…? to get advice. The other two questions are for the doctor to ask.
14. “What's the ___?” “I don't feel well.”
Answer: matter
The doctor's question is what's the matter? (What's the problem? also works.)
15. “I have a sore ___.” “Open your mouth, please.”
Answer: throat
A sore throat is a pain in the throat, and the doctor looks in your mouth.
16. “My stomach ___.” “Where exactly?”
Answer: hurts
Stomach is singular, so the verb is hurts.
17. “You ___ rest and drink a lot of water.” (It is a good idea.)
Answer: should
Should is for advice: it is a good idea to rest.
18. “Take this medicine ___ a day: in the morning and at night.”
Answer: twice
Twice a day means two times every day.
19. “Are you ___ to anything?” “No, nothing.”
Answer: allergic
We say allergic to when a food or a medicine makes us ill.