Learn English Illness Vocabulary: Talking About Feeling Unwell

Why is English Illness Vocabulary Important?
Learning vocabulary related to illness is incredibly useful, and it’s a key part of everyday English. Whether you’re traveling, living abroad, or simply talking to English speakers, knowing how to describe how you feel when you’re unwell is essential. This lesson will help you learn common English illness vocabulary so you can confidently talk about your health and understand others when they discuss theirs. Improving your health vocabulary English will not only help you in practical situations like visiting a doctor but also in everyday conversations.
Imagine you’re in an English-speaking country and you start to feel sick. Being able to clearly explain your symptoms is crucial for getting the help you need. Or perhaps a friend tells you they are “under the weather.” Understanding this common idiom and other common illnesses in English phrases will improve your overall comprehension and fluency.

Common English Illness Vocabulary You Need to Know

Let’s start by learning some of the most common words and phrases related to being ill. We’ll break it down into categories to make it easier to remember.

Basic Illness Nouns

These are the names of common illnesses:

Cold: A common viral infection that usually affects your nose and throat. Example: “I think I have a cold. I have a runny nose and I’m sneezing a lot.”
Flu (Influenza): A more serious viral infection than a cold, with symptoms like fever, body aches, and fatigue. Example: “She’s got the flu and is staying home from work.”
Fever: A high body temperature, often a symptom of illness. Example: “He has a fever of 39 degrees Celsius.”
Cough: An action to clear your throat or airways. Example: “I have a bad cough that keeps me awake at night.”
Sore throat: Pain or irritation in the throat. Example: “My sore throat makes it painful to swallow.”
Headache: Pain in your head. Example: “I’ve had a terrible headache all day.”
Stomachache: Pain in your stomach. Example: “Eating too much cake gave me a stomachache.”
Toothache: Pain in your tooth or teeth. Example: “I need to see a dentist; I have a terrible toothache.”
Earache: Pain in your ear. Example: “The child is crying because of an earache.”
Backache: Pain in your back. Example: “Lifting heavy boxes caused a backache.”
Injury: Damage to your body, often from an accident. Example: “He suffered a leg injury playing football.”
Cut: An opening made by something sharp. Example: “Be careful, you might get a cut with that knife.”
Burn: Damage to skin caused by heat, fire, or chemicals. Example: “She got a burn from touching the hot oven.”
Rash: Red spots on the skin, often itchy. Example: “He developed a rash after eating strawberries.”
Allergy: A reaction to something that is normally harmless, like pollen or food. Example: “I have an allergy to peanuts.”

Verbs Related to Illness

These verbs are commonly used when talking about sickness:

To catch (a cold/flu): To become ill with a contagious disease. Example: “I think I’m catching a cold. I’m starting to sneeze.”
To get (sick/ill): To become unwell. Example: “She got sick after eating bad seafood.”
To have (a fever/cough/headache etc.): To experience symptoms. Example: “I have a terrible headache.”
To feel (sick/unwell/dizzy etc.): To experience a sensation. Example: “I feel dizzy and nauseous.”
To hurt: To feel pain. Example: “My back hurts after sitting all day.”
To ache: To have a continuous dull pain. Example: “My muscles ache after my workout.”
To sneeze: To suddenly expel air from your nose and mouth. Example: “I sneeze whenever I’m around cats.”
To cough: To expel air from your lungs with a sharp sound. Example: “He’s been coughing all night.”
To vomit (throw up): To eject stomach contents through the mouth. Example: “She vomited after the roller coaster ride.” (Throw up is more informal)

Adjectives to Describe How You Feel

Use these adjectives to describe your state of health when you’re feeling unwell in English:

Sick: Generally unwell, often nauseous or wanting to vomit. Example: “I feel sick to my stomach.”
Ill: Another word for sick, often used more formally. Example: “She is seriously ill and needs to go to the hospital.”
Unwell: Not in good health. Example: “He’s been feeling unwell for a few days.”
Healthy: In good health, not sick. Example: “She eats well and exercises to stay healthy.”
Better: Improved in health. Example: “I’m feeling much better today than yesterday.”
Worse: More unwell than before. Example: “My cough is getting worse.”
Dizzy: Feeling unsteady and like you might fall. Example: “I felt dizzy when I stood up too quickly.”
Nauseous: Feeling like you are going to vomit. Example: “The smell of the food made me feel nauseous.”
Tired/Fatigued: Feeling very sleepy and lacking energy. Example: “I feel so tired, I just want to sleep.” (Fatigued is stronger and more formal)
Weak: Lacking physical strength. Example: “I feel very weak after being sick for a week.”

Talking About Symptoms in English

When you’re describing how you feel, it’s useful to talk about your symptoms. Here are some common ways to do that:

“I have a…” + symptom (noun): “I have a headache.” “I have a sore throat.” “I have a fever.”
“I feel…” + adjective: “I feel sick.” “I feel dizzy.” “I feel tired.” “I feel unwell.”
“My… hurts/aches.” + body part: “My head hurts.” “My stomach aches.” “My back hurts.”
“I’ve been…” + verb-ing + “for…” + time: “I’ve been coughing for three days.” “I’ve been feeling tired all week.”

For example, if you have a cold, you might say:
“I have a runny nose and a cough. I also have a bit of a headache. I feel quite tired and unwell. My throat hurts when I swallow. I think I’m catching a cold.”

Going to the Doctor: Useful Phrases

If you need to see a doctor, knowing a few key phrases is very helpful. This is important Doctor visit English to learn:

“I need to see a doctor, please.” (Polite way to request an appointment)
“I’m not feeling well.” (General way to say you are ill)
“I think I have [illness].” “I think I have the flu.” “I think I have a cold.”
“I’ve been feeling [symptom] for [time].” “I’ve been feeling sick for two days.” “I’ve been coughing for a week.”
“What do you recommend?” (Asking for the doctor’s advice)
“Is there anything I should avoid?” (Asking about things to avoid, like certain foods or activities)
“Thank you for your help.” (Polite closing)

The doctor might ask you questions like:

“What are your symptoms?”
“How long have you been feeling unwell?”
“Do you have any allergies?”
“Are you taking any medication?”

Being prepared with the vocabulary we’ve learned will make your doctor’s visit much smoother.

Let’s Practice! Illness Vocabulary Exercises

Now it’s time to practice what you’ve learned! Try these exercises to solidify your English illness vocabulary.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct word from the box to complete each sentence.
Words: cough, fever, headache, sore throat, stomachache, cold

I can’t stop __________. I think I need some medicine for my chest.
She has a high __________. We should take her temperature again.
He’s complaining of a terrible __________. Maybe he needs to rest in a dark room.
My __________ is so bad I can barely swallow.
After eating that spicy curry, I got a terrible __________.
I think I’m getting a __________. I feel a bit blocked up and I keep sneezing.

Answer Key for Exercise 1

cough
fever
headache
sore throat
stomachache
cold

Exercise 2: Matching Symptoms to Illnesses

Match the symptom on the left with the most likely illness on the right. Write the letter in the blank.

_____ Runny nose, sneezing, mild cough
_____ High fever, body aches, fatigue
_____ Red, itchy spots on the skin
_____ Pain in the teeth
_____ Pain in the ear

Illnesses:
A. Flu
B. Cold
C. Toothache
D. Earache
E. Rash

Answer Key for Exercise 2

Congratulations! You’ve now learned some essential English illness vocabulary. Practice using these words when you talk about feeling unwell in English. The more you use them, the more confident you’ll become in talking about sickness and your health vocabulary English will improve significantly.

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