Describing People’s Health, Fitness, and Illnesses in English

Welcome to Your A2 English Vocabulary Lesson!

In this lesson, we’re going to learn how to talk about health, fitness, and illnesses in English. This is super useful for everyday conversations, whether you’re chatting with friends, talking to a doctor, or just describing how you feel. Knowing these words will help you understand and express yourself clearly. Let’s get started and improve your English vocabulary!

Describing General Health

Let’s begin with words to describe someone’s general health. These are common adjectives you can use every day.

Basic Health Vocabulary

Healthy: When someone is generally well and not sick.
Example: “She eats lots of vegetables and fruits, so she is very healthy.”
Unhealthy: The opposite of healthy; not good for your health.
Example: “Eating too much fast food is unhealthy.”
Fit: In good physical condition, strong and able to do exercise easily. This is related to fitness.
Example: “He goes to the gym three times a week to stay fit.”
Unfit: Not in good physical condition; not fit.
Example: “After not exercising for a year, I feel very unfit.”
Well: In good health, not sick. Often used as a response to “How are you?”.
Example: “I feel well today, thank you for asking.”
Unwell: Slightly sick, not feeling completely healthy.
Example: “She stayed home from work because she felt a bit unwell.”
Sick: Feeling ill, needing to see a doctor or rest.
Example: “He was sick yesterday and couldn’t go to school.”
Ill: Another word for sick, often used for more serious conditions.
Example: “The doctor said she was seriously ill and needed to stay in the hospital.”
Tired: Feeling like you need to rest or sleep.
Example: “After a long day at work, I am always tired.”
Energetic: Having lots of energy, feeling lively and active.
Example: “Children are usually very energetic and love to play.”

Describing Fitness Levels

Now, let’s look at words that specifically describe someone’s fitness level. These words help you talk about how active someone is.

Fitness Vocabulary

Active: Regularly doing physical activity or exercise.
Example: “She is a very active person; she runs every morning and plays tennis.”
Inactive: Not doing much physical activity or exercise.
Example: “Spending too much time watching TV makes you inactive.”
Exercise: Physical activity done to improve health and fitness.
Example: “Exercise is very important for a healthy lifestyle.”
Diet: The food someone usually eats. A healthy diet is important for fitness.
Example: “He is on a special diet to lose weight.”
Strong: Having physical power or strength.
Example: “He is very strong and can lift heavy boxes.”
Weak: Not physically strong.
Example: “After being sick, she felt very weak.”
Flexible: Able to bend and move easily. Important for some types of exercise like yoga.
Example: “Yoga helps you become more flexible.”

Describing Illnesses

Sometimes we feel unwell. Let’s learn some vocabulary to describe common illnesses and symptoms.

Common Illnesses

Cold: A common illness that causes a runny nose, cough, and sore throat.
Example: “I have a cold and I keep sneezing.”
Flu (Influenza): A more serious illness than a cold, with fever, body aches, and tiredness.
Example: “She has the flu and feels very weak.”
Headache: Pain in your head.
Example: “I have a terrible headache; I need to take some medicine.”
Stomachache: Pain in your stomach.
Example: “Eating too much candy gave him a stomachache.”
Fever: A high body temperature, often a sign of illness.
Example: “He has a fever, so he needs to stay in bed.”
Cough: To force air out of your throat with a short, sharp sound. Often a symptom of a cold or flu.
Example: “She has a bad cough and can’t sleep well.”
Sore throat: Pain in your throat, making it difficult to swallow.
Example: “A sore throat can make it painful to eat and drink.”

Describing Symptoms

When you are ill, you might experience different symptoms. Here are some words to describe them.

Pain: A feeling of hurt in your body.
Example: “I have a sharp pain in my leg.”
Ache: A continuous, dull pain.
Example: “My muscles ache after the workout.”
Tired (as a symptom): Feeling unusually tired, more than usual.
Example: “One of the symptoms of the flu is feeling very tired.”
Dizzy: Feeling like you might fall, losing balance.
Example: “She felt dizzy and had to sit down.”
Nauseous: Feeling like you are going to vomit (throw up).
Example: “The smell of the food made him feel nauseous.”

Asking About Health

It’s important to know how to ask someone about their health. Here are some common questions and phrases:

Questions and Phrases for Checking on Someone’s Health

“How are you?” – A general way to ask about someone’s well-being, including their health.
Example: “Hi John, how are you today?” Possible answer: “I’m well, thank you.” or “I’m not feeling so good today.”
“Are you feeling well?” – A more direct question about someone’s health.
Example: “You look a bit pale, are you feeling well?” Possible answer: “Yes, I’m fine.” or “No, I have a headache.”
“What’s the matter?” or “What’s wrong?” – Used when you notice someone doesn’t look well.
Example: “You seem sad, what’s the matter?” or “You’re coughing a lot, what’s wrong?” Possible answer: “I have a cold.” or “Nothing, I’m just tired.”
“Do you feel alright?” – Another way to ask if someone is feeling healthy.
Example: “You haven’t eaten anything, do you feel alright?” Possible answer: “Yes, I’m just not very hungry.” or “No, I have a stomachache.”

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to practice what you’ve learned! Fill in the blanks with the correct word from the lesson.

After running a marathon, he felt very ________. (tired/energetic)
Eating fruits and vegetables helps you stay ________. (unhealthy/healthy)
She couldn’t go to work because she was ________. (well/sick)
Regular ________ is important for your health. (diet/exercise)
He felt ________ after eating too much. (dizzy/nauseous)
“How are you?” “I’m ________, thank you.” (unwell/well)
She has a ________ and keeps coughing. (sore throat/fever)
If you don’t exercise, you become ________. (active/inactive)
He went to the doctor because of a terrible ________. (stomachache/cough)
Yoga makes your body more ________. (weak/flexible)

Answers to Practice Section

After running a marathon, he felt very tired.
Eating fruits and vegetables helps you stay healthy.
She couldn’t go to work because she was sick.
Regular exercise is important for your health.
He felt nauseous after eating too much.
“How are you?” “I’m well, thank you.”
She has a cough and keeps coughing. (Note: ‘sore throat’ could also fit grammatically but ‘cough’ is more directly related to coughing)
If you don’t exercise, you become inactive.
He went to the doctor because of a terrible stomachache.
Yoga makes your body more flexible.

Improve Your English Speaking about Health and Fitness with Lingofrnd!

Want to practice speaking about health and fitness? Lingofrnd.com is your AI spoken English teacher! You can practice using these new words in conversations and get instant feedback. It’s a fantastic way to improve your spoken English and build confidence in talking about everyday topics like health.

Ready to start practicing? Visit Lingofrnd.com today and take your English speaking to the next level. You can also Download App and practice on the go!

Keep learning and stay healthy!