Health & Hospital

54 phrases · Catalan with romanization, English and audio

  1. Necessito un metge

    ne-se-SI-to un MED-zhe

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    Basic phrase to seek help when feeling ill

    Grammar Note

    "metge" is Catalan for doctor; equivalent to Spanish "médico"

  2. Truqueu a una ambulància!

    tru-KEU a U-na am-bu-LAN-sya

    Call an ambulance!

    Usage

    Request an ambulance in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "Truqueu" is the plural imperative of "trucar" (to call). Emergency number: 112

  3. Em fa mal el cap

    em fa mal el kap

    My head hurts

    Usage

    Express a headache to a pharmacist or doctor

    Grammar Note

    "em fa mal" literally "it makes pain to me"; the body part is the grammatical subject

  4. Sóc al·lèrgic (-a) a la penicil·lina

    sok a-LER-zhik a la pe-ni-si-LI-na

    I am allergic to penicillin

    Usage

    Inform a doctor or pharmacist about an allergy

    Grammar Note

    Adjectives agree in gender with the speaker; feminine form ends in "-a"

  5. On és l'hospital més proper?

    on es los-pi-TAL mes pro-PER

    Where is the nearest hospital?

    Usage

    Use in emergencies or when searching for a hospital

    Grammar Note

    "l'hospital" elides "el hospital"; Catalan elides the article before vowels

  6. Tinc diabetis

    tink di-a-BE-tis

    I have diabetes

    Usage

    Inform medical staff about a pre-existing condition

    Grammar Note

    "Tinc" is the first-person singular present of "tenir" (to have); an irregular verb

  7. Vull analgèsics, si us plau

    vul a-nal-DZHE-siks si us PLOW

    Painkillers, please

    Usage

    Ask for painkillers at a pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    "Vull" is the first-person singular present of "voler" (to want); irregular

  8. Puc tenir un rebut per a l'assegurança?

    puk te-NIR un re-BUT per a la-se-gu-RAN-sa

    Can I have a receipt for insurance?

    Usage

    Request documentation needed for travel insurance reimbursement

    Grammar Note

    "l'assegurança" elides "la assegurança". "per a" expresses purpose ("for")

  9. Tinc nàusees

    tink NAU-ze-es

    I feel nauseous

    Usage

    Express feeling nauseous

    Grammar Note

    "nàusees" is plural of "nàusea"; in Catalan, nausea is often referred to in the plural

  10. Estic vacunat (-da) contra...

    es-TIK va-ku-NAT KON-tra

    I am vaccinated against...

    Usage

    Inform medical staff about vaccination status

    Grammar Note

    "Estic" is "estar" (state-of-being); the participle agrees in gender with the speaker

  11. Estic embarassada

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Show this first at a clinic or pharmacy — it changes which medicines and X-rays are safe

  12. l'asma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Names asthma as a pre-existing condition; show it with your inhaler during an attack

  13. la diabetis

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Word card for diabetes as a condition; the starting point for explaining diet limits or low blood sugar

  14. la hipertensió

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Names high blood pressure as a condition; everyday speech also says "la pressió alta"

  15. una malaltia del cor

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Names a heart condition; the clinical term is "una cardiopatia"

  16. l'epilèpsia

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Names epilepsy; also useful when explaining a companion who has collapsed

  17. l'assegurança mèdica

    Medical insurance

    Usage

    Use at reception when presenting an insurance card or travel policy

  18. una fractura

    Fracture

    Usage

    Says you may have a broken bone; point at the painful spot while showing it

  19. Em costa respirar

    I have trouble breathing

    Usage

    Reports difficulty breathing — show the screen when you cannot speak

  20. Estic marejat (-da)

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    Reports dizziness or light-headedness. "Marejat" also covers motion sickness, so pair it with a gesture (sitting down, holding your head) to pin the meaning

  21. Estic sagnant

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Reports bleeding; point at the site while showing it

  22. una cremada

    Burn (injury)

    Usage

    Names a burn injury; sunburn is "una cremada del sol"

  23. una ferida

    Wound

    Usage

    Names an open wound such as a cut or graze

  24. l'orella

    Ear

    Usage

    The visible outer ear; pain deep inside the ear is "mal d'oïda" (the hearing organ)

  25. el coll

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck. Note "mal de coll" means a sore throat, so point at your neck to make clear you mean the neck itself (throat = "la gola")

  26. l'espatlla

    Shoulder

    Usage

    The shoulder; point at the affected side while showing it

  27. el genoll

    Knee

    Usage

    The knee; used when explaining a fall or a sprain

  28. el dit

    Finger

    Usage

    A finger; a toe is specifically "el dit del peu"

  29. la pell

    Skin

    Usage

    The starting word for skin problems — irritation, sunburn, rashes

  30. el braç

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm; also used for blood draws and fracture reports

  31. el nas

    Nose

    Usage

    The nose; a nosebleed is "sang del nas"

  32. la tos

    Cough

    Usage

    Names a cough as a symptom; also used to ask a pharmacy for cough medicine

  33. Em pica

    It itches

    Usage

    Reports itching. "Picar" can also mean to sting or to be bitten, so point at the itchy spot while showing it

  34. una erupció cutània

    Rash

    Usage

    Names a skin rash; "cutània" (of the skin) is kept to rule out other senses of "erupció"

  35. el restrenyiment

    Constipation

    Usage

    Names constipation; show it at a pharmacy when asking for a laxative

  36. la menstruació

    Period (menstruation)

    Usage

    The word to use at a clinic or pharmacy. Everyday Catalan says "la regla" ("tenir la regla"), but "regla" also means rule or ruler, so this card uses the unambiguous "menstruació"

  37. la farmàcia

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Names a pharmacy — marked by a green cross. The after-hours duty pharmacy is a "farmàcia de guàrdia"

  38. la recepta mèdica

    Prescription

    Usage

    Names a medical prescription. "Recepta" on its own also means a cooking recipe, so always show it with "mèdica"

  39. el grup sanguini

    Blood type

    Usage

    Show this when asked about transfusions; Rh positive is "Rh positiu", negative "Rh negatiu"

  40. el certificat mèdic

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    Ask for the document an insurer or airline needs; "certificat" alone can also mean "registered (mail)", so keep "mèdic"

  41. l'hospitalització

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Use when asking whether you must be admitted; "l'ingrés hospitalari" is another way to say it

  42. els calfreds

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering that comes with a fever; the symptom is normally named in the plural

  43. el refredat

    Common cold

    Usage

    Show this at a pharmacy to ask for cold medicine; also called "constipat". Influenza is a different word, "la grip"

  44. Truqueu a un metge, si us plau

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask whoever is present to call a doctor

  45. Em sento feble

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Describe an all-over lack of strength to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The "Em sento + adjective" frame. "Feble" means deficient in physical strength (e.g. "Tenir les cames febles"); it is a different complaint from the tiredness of "Estic cansat / cansada"

  46. He vomitat unes quantes vegades

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tell a doctor how often you have vomited — it guides the check for dehydration

    Grammar Note

    The "haver + past participle" perfect. "Vomitar" means to forcefully bring the stomach contents out through the mouth

  47. Necessito repòs?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Ask the doctor after an examination whether you must rest

    Grammar Note

    The "Necessito + noun" frame, turned into a question by rising intonation. "Repòs" means the cessation of activity, agitation or unrest

  48. la diarrea

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Names diarrhea; show it to a doctor or pharmacist to describe the symptom

  49. la caca

    Poop

    Usage

    The everyday child-friendly word, not vulgar. It also works at a clinic to describe stool. Among adults in formal settings, "excrements" is used instead

  50. el pipí

    Pee

    Usage

    The everyday child-friendly word, not vulgar. It also works at a clinic when talking about urine. In formal settings "orina" (urine) is used instead

  51. Tinc diarrea

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    The "Tinc + bare noun" frame (e.g. "Tinc febre"): no article is used when naming a symptom. The form is the same for any speaker's gender

  52. Tinc restrenyiment

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    Puts the noun restrenyiment into the "Tinc + bare noun" frame. The adjective restrenyit/restrenyida changes with gender, but this wording works for any speaker

  53. Tinc ganes de fer pipí

    I need to pee

    Usage

    The ordinary way to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee; neither overly polite nor crude

    Grammar Note

    "Tenir ganes de + infinitive" means "to feel like doing", and is commonly used for urgent bodily needs. "Fer pipí" is "to pee". The form is the same for any gender

  54. Tinc ganes de fer caca

    I need to poop

    Usage

    The ordinary way to tell a companion or a child that you need to poop; neither overly polite nor crude

    Grammar Note

    The "tenir ganes de + infinitive" frame. "Fer caca" is an everyday child-style word that is not vulgar. The form is the same for any gender

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