Health

English for Doctor Appointments

"Where does it hurt?" Essential vocabulary for your next check-up.

EM
EnglishMeet Team
Nov 24, 2025 ยท 4 min read

Seeing a doctor in a foreign country can be scary. Knowing how to describe your pain accurately is crucial for getting the right help.

1. Describing Symptoms

2. Describing Pain

Types of Pain:

  • Sharp: Sudden and intense (like a knife).
  • Dull: Not intense, but constant (like a bruise).
  • Throbbing: Beating pain (often in the head).
  • Stinging: Like a bee sting.

3. The Doctor's Questions

What they might ask you.

4. Diagnosis & Treatment

  • Prescription: A note for medicine you buy at the pharmacy.
  • Blood test: Taking a sample of blood for analysis.
  • X-ray: A picture of your bones.
  • Referral: Sending you to a specialist doctor.

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