Health & Hospital

53 phrases · Czech with romanization, English and audio

  1. Bolí mě hlava

    BO-lee mnye HLA-va

    I have a headache

    Usage

    Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    "Bolí mě + body part" is the standard pain expression. E.g. "Bolí mě žaludek" (stomachache)

  2. Potřebuji lékaře

    PO-trzhe-bu-yi LE-ka-rzhe

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    Used in emergencies or when feeling ill to request medical assistance

    Grammar Note

    "lékaře" is the accusative of "lékař" (doctor). In emergencies: "Zavolejte záchranku!" (Call an ambulance!)

  3. Mám alergii na penicilín

    mahm A-ler-gi-yi na PE-ni-tsi-leen

    I am allergic to penicillin

    Usage

    Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about a drug or food allergy

    Grammar Note

    "Mám alergii na + substance" expresses allergies. E.g. "na ořechy" (nuts), "na lepek" (gluten)

  4. Kde je nejbližší lékárna?

    kde ye NEY-blizh-shee LE-kahr-na

    Where is the nearest pharmacy?

    Usage

    Used to ask for the location of the nearest pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    "nejbližší" is the superlative of "blízký" (near/close). In Prague, pharmacies display a green cross sign

  5. Mám horečku

    mahm HO-rech-ku

    I have a fever

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or others that you have a fever

    Grammar Note

    Adding temperature helps: "Mám teplotu 38 stupňů" (I have a temperature of 38 degrees)

  6. Je mi špatně

    ye mi SHPAT-nye

    I feel sick / unwell

    Usage

    Used to express nausea or general feeling of being unwell

    Grammar Note

    Czech idiom for feeling unwell. Literally "it is bad for me". For nausea: "Je mi na zvracení"

  7. Mám cukrovku

    mahm TSUK-rov-ku

    I have diabetes

    Usage

    Used to inform medical staff about a pre-existing diabetic condition

    Grammar Note

    For chronic conditions use "Mám + illness (accusative)". Heart disease: "Mám srdeční chorobu"

  8. Zavolejte záchranku, prosím

    ZA-vo-ley-te ZAH-khran-ku PRO-seem

    Please call an ambulance

    Usage

    Critical phrase used in emergencies to request an ambulance

    Grammar Note

    Czech emergency number is 155 (ambulance) or unified 112. English assistance is available in Prague

  9. Potřebuji recept

    PO-trzhe-bu-yi RE-tsept

    I need a prescription

    Usage

    Used at a pharmacy or after a consultation to request a prescription

    Grammar Note

    In Czech, a prescription is called "recept". Present it at a lékárna (pharmacy) to purchase medication

  10. Mám cestovní pojištění

    mahm TSES-tov-nyee PO-yish-tye-nyee

    I have travel insurance

    Usage

    Used by foreign visitors when registering at a medical facility to inform them of travel insurance

    Grammar Note

    Major Prague hospitals accept travel insurance. Carry your policy document and emergency contact number

  11. Jsem těhotná

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Say this first at a clinic or pharmacy: it changes what medication, X-rays, or anaesthesia are safe

    Grammar Note

    "těhotná" is the feminine adjective form; give the week as "ve 12. týdnu" (in week 12)

  12. Zdravotní pojištění

    Health insurance

    Usage

    Point to this when reception asks about insurance; travel insurance is "cestovní pojištění"

  13. Astma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Point to this to tell a doctor or pharmacist about a chronic condition; an inhaler is "inhalátor"

  14. Cukrovka

    Diabetes

    Usage

    The everyday word for diabetes. The same word also names the sugar beet plant, so outside a medical context it can be misread; medical paperwork uses "diabetes"

  15. Vysoký krevní tlak

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Point to this to report the condition; low blood pressure is "nízký krevní tlak"

  16. Srdeční onemocnění

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Point to this to report a heart condition; a pacemaker is "kardiostimulátor"

  17. Epilepsie

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Point to this to report a history of seizures; a seizure itself is "záchvat"

  18. Zlomenina

    Bone fracture

    Usage

    Point to this when you suspect a broken bone; "I broke my..." is "Zlomil jsem si..."

  19. Dušnost

    Shortness of breath

    Usage

    The medical term for laboured breathing; if you can still speak, say "Špatně se mi dýchá" (I have trouble breathing)

  20. Závrať

    Dizziness

    Usage

    Point to this to report dizziness; "I feel dizzy" is "Mám závrať"

  21. Krvácení

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Point to this to report bleeding; "I am bleeding" is "Krvácím"

  22. Popálenina

    Burn

    Usage

    A burn injury; sunburn is a separate phrase, "spálení od slunce"

  23. Otevřená rána

    Open wound

    Usage

    Points at a wound. "Rána" on its own can also mean a blow or bang, so "otevřená" (open) is added to pin it to an injury

  24. Ucho

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at the part that hurts; both ears is the irregular plural "uši"

  25. Krk

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck — but Czech also says "Bolí mě v krku" for a sore throat, so point to show whether you mean the outside of the neck or the throat; the throat itself is "hrdlo"

  26. Rameno

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at the part that hurts; both shoulders is "ramena"

  27. Koleno

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at the part that hurts; both knees is "kolena"

  28. Prst

    Finger

    Usage

    Czech "prst" covers both fingers and toes; say "prst na noze" for a toe, or point to make it clear

  29. Kůže

    Skin

    Usage

    Point to this to report a skin problem. The same word also means leather, so in a shop it will be read as the material

  30. Paže

    Arm

    Usage

    The arm; in everyday speech Czechs often use "ruka" for both the hand and the whole arm, so point at the exact spot

  31. Nos

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at the part that hurts; a blocked nose is "ucpaný nos" and a nosebleed "krvácení z nosu"

  32. Kašel

    Cough

    Usage

    Point to this to report a cough; "I have a cough" is "Mám kašel"

  33. Svědění

    Itching

    Usage

    Point to this to report itching; "it itches" is "Svědí mě to"

  34. Vyrážka

    Rash

    Usage

    A rash on the skin; allergic hives are "kopřivka"

  35. Zácpa

    Constipation

    Usage

    Used at a pharmacy or clinic. The same word also means a traffic jam ("dopravní zácpa"), so outside a medical setting it reads differently; diarrhoea is "průjem"

  36. Menstruace

    Menstruation (period)

    Usage

    The neutral word used at a clinic or pharmacy; in casual speech "perioda" is common, and "Mám menstruaci" means "I have my period"

  37. Krevní skupina

    Blood type

    Usage

    You will be asked this before a transfusion or an operation; show it together with a note of your own blood type

  38. Lékařská zpráva

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The written report the examining doctor gives you, needed for insurance claims

  39. Hospitalizace

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    For checking whether you need to be admitted to hospital

  40. Zimnice

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering chill that comes with a high fever; with a modifier ("žlutá zimnice") it names yellow fever, so use it on its own

  41. Nachlazení

    Common cold

    Usage

    The common cold; influenza is a different word, "chřipka"

  42. Zavolejte lékaře

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Asks someone present to call a doctor for a person taken ill

    Grammar Note

    The noun "lékaře" is animate masculine, so its accusative is identical to the genitive.

  43. Bolí mě tady

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Said while pointing at the spot that hurts

    Grammar Note

    The subject is the aching part ("tady" = here). The person in pain stands in the accusative "mě".

  44. Mám slabost

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that your body feels weak and heavy

    Grammar Note

    "Mám + symptom" frame. "slabost" is feminine and its accusative is spelled like the nominative.

  45. Několikrát jsem zvracel

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that you have vomited more than once

    Grammar Note

    Built with "jsem + past participle" in the active past; a woman says "Několikrát jsem zvracela". Repetition calls for the imperfective "zvracet".

  46. Potřebuji klid na lůžku?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Asks the doctor after an examination whether you must stay in bed

    Grammar Note

    "klid" means calm or rest; the medical term "klid na lůžku" means bed rest. The question keeps the word order and is marked by rising intonation.

  47. Průjem

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Used at a pharmacy or clinic to name diarrhea. Constipation is "zácpa"; "lék na průjem" is anti-diarrhea medicine

  48. Stolice

    Poop

    Usage

    The neutral word doctors use for stool, so it is the safe choice at a clinic; outside medicine it reads as "chair" or "capital city". The childish verb for a child is "kakat"

  49. Moč

    Pee

    Usage

    The neutral word for urine, which is the safe choice at a clinic; the everyday colloquial verb is "čůrat". A urine test is "vyšetření moči"

  50. Mám průjem

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    "Mám + symptom" frame. "průjem" is an inanimate masculine noun, so its accusative equals the nominative and the form does not change.

  51. Mám zácpu

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated; outside a medical setting it can also sound like "there is a traffic jam"

    Grammar Note

    "Mám + symptom" frame. "zácpa" is feminine, so in the accusative the ending becomes "-u" (zácpa → zácpu).

  52. Potřebuji čůrat

    I need to pee

    Usage

    A colloquial way to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee; the more polite choice is "Potřebuji na toaletu"

    Grammar Note

    "Potřebuji + object" frame, but followed by the infinitive "čůrat" instead of a noun. "čůrat" is colloquial; the neutral verb is "močit".

  53. Potřebuji kakat

    I need to poop

    Usage

    A childish-leaning way to tell a child or a close companion that you need to poop; with other adults "Potřebuji na toaletu" is safer

    Grammar Note

    "Potřebuji + infinitive" frame. "kakat" is childish; the neutral register is the medical noun "stolice".

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