Language of the Day: How to Say You’re Feeling Off Like a Pro 🩺

Not feeling well? Let’s learn how to say it in English!

Being able to talk about your health in English is an essential life skill. Whether you are speaking to a friend, a teacher, or a doctor, clear communication helps you get the support you need.

This guide will give you useful ideas on how to effectively communicate when you’re not feeling well.

💥Symptoms Vocabulary

You can express how you are feeling with these common phrases:

  • I have a headache / stomachache. 🤕

  • I have a sore throat.

  • I have a cough.

  • I have a fever. 🌡️

  • I feel tired.

  • I feel dizzy.

  • I feel nauseous.

  • My nose is runny. 🤧

  • I have chills.

💥Talking About Pain

Use these two key patterns:

  • I have pain in my…

  • My … hurts.

👉 Examples:

  • I have pain in my back.

  • My stomach hurts.

  • My leg hurts when I walk.

Instead of just saying “It hurts”, you can use more descriptive language:

  • Sharp pain: sudden and intense

  • Dull pain: constant but not very strong

  • Throbbing pain: rhythmic (like a heartbeat)

  • Burning sensation: a type of pain that feels hot, like your body is on fire

  • Aching pain: a continuous, dull pain that is uncomfortable and doesn’t go away easily

👉 Examples:

  • I have a sharp pain in my back.

  • It’s a dull ache that doesn’t go away

💥Talking About Changes

It comes and goes.

  • It started suddenly.

  • It’s been getting worse.

  • It’s been persistent.

👉 Example:

  • The pain comes and goes during the day.

💥Describing How Strong the Pain Is

  • It’s mild.

  • It hurts a little.

  • It hurts a lot.

  • It’s very painful.

  • It’s unbearable.

👉 Example:

  • I have a headache. It’s mild.



💥Talking About Duration of the symptom

You can explain how long you have had the symptom:

  • Since yesterday

  • For two days

  • This morning

  • Last night

👉 Examples:

  • I’ve had a fever since last night.

  • My throat has hurt for two days.


💥Describing Severity and Concern

You can use phrases like:

  • It’s manageable.

  • It’s quite severe.

  • I’m concerned about it.

  • It’s affecting my daily life.

👉 Example:

  • The pain is severe and is affecting my sleep.

At the Doctor’s Office

Here are some common phrases you may hear:

Patient:

  • I don’t feel well.

  • I’ve been experiencing…

  • I’ve noticed that…

  • It hurts when…

👉 Example:

  • I’ve been experiencing a sharp pain when I breathe deeply.

Doctor:

  • Where does it hurt?

  • How long have you felt like this?

  • Does anything make it better or worse?

  • On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?

🎯 Final Tips

To speak clearly about your health, try to include:

  • Where it hurts

  • How long it lasts

  • How strong it is

👉 Example:

I’ve had a sharp pain in my chest for two days, and it’s getting worse.

Maria G.