Χρειάζομαι γιατρό
chri-A-zo-me gia-TRO
I need a doctor
Usage
Basic phrase to seek help when feeling ill
Grammar Note
"Χρειάζομαι" is a medio-passive verb taking a direct object in the accusative
Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο!
ka-LE-ste a-sthe-no-FO-ro
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Request an ambulance in an emergency
Grammar Note
"ασθενοφόρο" combines "ασθενής" (patient) + "φέρω" (to carry)
Με πονάει το κεφάλι μου
me po-NA-i to ke-FA-li mu
My head hurts
Usage
Express a headache to a pharmacist or doctor
Grammar Note
"με πονάει" means "[it] hurts me"; the body part is the grammatical subject
Είμαι αλλεργικός (-ή) στην πενικιλίνη
I-me a-ler-gi-KOS (-i) stin pe-ni-ki-LI-ni
I am allergic to penicillin
Usage
Inform a doctor or pharmacist about an allergy
Grammar Note
Adjectives agree in gender with the speaker. "στην" contracts "σε" + "την"
Πού είναι το πλησιέστερο νοσοκομείο;
pu I-ne to pli-si-E-ste-ro no-so-ko-MI-o
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Use in emergencies or when searching for a hospital
Grammar Note
"νοσοκομείο" compounds "νόσος" (disease) + "κομίζω" (to carry/transport)
Έχω διαβήτη
E-cho di-a-VI-ti
I have diabetes
Usage
Inform medical staff about a pre-existing condition
Grammar Note
"διαβήτη" is the accusative of "διαβήτης" (masculine noun)
Θέλω παυσίπονα, παρακαλώ
THE-lo paf-SI-po-na pa-ra-ka-LO
Painkillers, please
Usage
Ask for painkillers at a pharmacy
Grammar Note
"παυσίπονα" is plural of "παυσίπονο": "παύω" (to stop) + "πόνος" (pain)
Μπορώ να πάρω απόδειξη για την ασφάλεια;
bo-RO na PA-ro a-PO-di-xi gia tin a-SFA-li-a
Can I get a receipt for insurance?
Usage
Request documentation needed for travel insurance reimbursement
Grammar Note
"Μπορώ να πάρω...?" is a polite request meaning "can I get/take...?"
Νιώθω ναυτία
ni-O-tho naf-TI-a
I feel nauseous
Usage
Express feeling nauseous
Grammar Note
"ναυτία" shares roots with "ναύτης" (sailor); originally referred to sea-sickness
Είμαι εμβολιασμένος (-η) κατά...
I-me em-vo-li-a-SME-nos (-i) ka-TA
I am vaccinated against...
Usage
Inform medical staff about vaccination status
Grammar Note
"εμβολιασμένος" is a passive participle; changes to feminine "-η" based on speaker's gender
Έγκυος
EN-gi-os
Pregnant
Usage
Show this first to a doctor or pharmacist — it decides what medicine or X-ray is allowed
Άσθμα
A-sthma
Asthma
Usage
Point to declare asthma as a pre-existing condition
Διαβήτης
di-a-VI-tis
Diabetes
Usage
Declare diabetes; the same word also means a drawing compass, so use it in a medical setting
Υπέρταση
i-PER-ta-si
High blood pressure
Usage
Point to declare hypertension
Καρδιοπάθεια
kar-di-o-PA-thi-a
Heart disease
Usage
Point to declare a heart condition
Επιληψία
e-pi-li-PSI-a
Epilepsy
Usage
Warn staff in advance that you may have a seizure
Ταξιδιωτική ασφάλιση
ta-xi-di-o-ti-KI a-SFA-li-si
Travel insurance
Usage
Say you are insured when checking in at a clinic; the bare word "ασφάλεια" also means safety or a fuse, so the fuller form is used
Κάταγμα
KA-tag-ma
Fracture
Usage
Point to report a suspected broken bone
Δύσπνοια
DI-spni-a
Difficulty breathing
Usage
The medical word for shortness of breath — for when you cannot speak
Ζάλη
ZA-li
Dizziness
Usage
Point to report feeling dizzy
Αιμορραγία
e-mo-ra-GI-a
Bleeding
Usage
Point to report that you are bleeding
Έγκαυμα
EN-gav-ma
Burn
Usage
Point to report a burn; sunburn is "ηλιακό έγκαυμα"
Πληγή
pli-GI
Wound
Usage
Point to show a cut or open wound
Αυτί
af-TI
Ear
Usage
Point to indicate a problem with your ear
Αυχένας
af-CHE-nas
Neck (back of)
Usage
The nape and cervical area; "πόνος στον αυχένα" is neck pain. The throat side is "λαιμός"
Ώμος
O-mos
Shoulder
Usage
Point to indicate a problem with your shoulder
Γόνατο
GO-na-to
Knee
Usage
Point to indicate a problem with your knee
Δάχτυλο
DA-chti-lo
Finger / toe
Usage
Greek uses one word for fingers and toes; a toe is "δάχτυλο του ποδιού". Point at the actual digit
Δέρμα
DER-ma
Skin
Usage
Point to indicate a skin problem
Μύτη
MI-ti
Nose
Usage
Point to indicate a nose problem; the same word also means the tip of a shoe or pen, so point at your nose
Βήχας
VI-chas
Cough
Usage
Point to report a cough
Φαγούρα
fa-GU-ra
Itching
Usage
Point to report itching
Εξάνθημα
e-XAN-thi-ma
Rash
Usage
Point to show a rash, including an allergic reaction
Δυσκοιλιότητα
di-ski-li-O-ti-ta
Constipation
Usage
Point to report constipation without having to say it out loud
Περίοδος
pe-RI-o-dos
Period (menstruation)
Usage
The everyday Greek word for menstruation ("έχω περίοδο"); it also means a period of time, so use it in a medical or pharmacy setting
Ομάδα αίματος
o-MA-da E-ma-tos
Blood type
Usage
Show this to state or ask a blood type where a transfusion may be needed (η ομάδα, feminine, with the genitive of "αίμα"); the groups are A, B, AB and 0 ("μηδέν")
Ιατρική γνωμάτευση
i-a-tri-KI gno-MA-tef-si
Medical certificate
Usage
Show this to ask a doctor for a written statement for an insurance claim or your employer (η γνωμάτευση, feminine). "Ιατρική βεβαίωση" is nearly synonymous
Νοσηλεία
no-si-LI-a
Hospital admission
Usage
Show this to check whether you need to be admitted (η νοσηλεία, feminine); "is hospitalised" is "νοσηλεύεται", and "admission to hospital" is "νοσηλεία σε νοσοκομείο"
Ρίγη
RI-gi
Chills
Usage
Names shivering and feeling cold when you are not cold (the plural of το ρίγος, neuter); as a symptom accompanying fever it is said in this plural form
Κρυολόγημα
kri-o-LO-gi-ma
Common cold
Usage
Show this for an ordinary cold — sore throat, runny nose, cough (το κρυολόγημα, neuter); "I caught a cold" is "κρυολόγησα", and influenza is a different word, "γρίπη"
Καλέστε έναν γιατρό!
ka-LE-ste E-nan gia-TRO
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone has been taken ill
Grammar Note
Any doctor will do here, so the indefinite article "έναν" is used rather than the definite article. "γιατρός" is masculine, accusative "γιατρό"
Νιώθω αδυναμία
ni-O-tho a-di-na-MI-a
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Show this to a doctor to describe the heavy, strengthless feeling that comes with fever or illness
Grammar Note
The "Νιώθω + symptom noun" pattern. "αδυναμία" means "έλλειψη σωματικής δύναμης· εξάντληση, ατονία" (lack of bodily strength; exhaustion, listlessness)
Έχω κάνει εμετό πολλές φορές
E-cho KA-ni e-me-TO po-LES fo-RES
I have vomited several times
Usage
Show this to a doctor to report that you have been vomiting repeatedly
Grammar Note
"Κάνω εμετό" is a set phrase built on "εμετός". The perfect is formed with "έχω" plus the invariant "απαρέμφατο" ("κάνει"). The plural of "φορά" is "φορές"
Χρειάζομαι ξεκούραση;
chri-A-zo-me xe-KU-ra-si
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Show this after an examination to ask the doctor whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
The word order does not change: the final ";" alone makes it a question. "ξεκούραση" is a feminine noun for release from tiredness
Διάρροια
di-A-ri-a
Diarrhea
Usage
Point to it to name diarrhea as your symptom at a pharmacy or clinic
Κακά
ka-KA
Poop
Usage
The everyday word parents use with children, not vulgar (τα κακά, neuter plural; "to poop" is κάνω κακά). It is childish and euphemistic; with an adult doctor a symptom name such as Έχω διάρροια is more polite
Τσίσα
TSI-sa
Pee
Usage
The everyday word parents use with children, not vulgar (τα τσίσα, neuter plural; "to pee" is κάνω τσίσα). It is childish, with τσίσια as the full form. The synonym πιπί also has another meaning
Έχω διάρροια
E-cho di-A-ri-a
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The "έχω" (to have) + symptom name frame
Έχω δυσκοιλιότητα
E-cho di-ski-li-O-ti-ta
I'm constipated
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
δυσκοιλιότητα is the opposite of διάρροια
Θέλω να κάνω τσίσα
THE-lo na KA-no TSI-sa
I need to pee
Usage
With a companion or a child: says you need the toilet, neither stiff nor crude
Grammar Note
"θέλω να + subjunctive" means "I want to …"
Θέλω να κάνω κακά
THE-lo na KA-no ka-KA
I need to poop
Usage
With a companion or a child: says you need the toilet, neither stiff nor crude
Grammar Note
The "θέλω να κάνω + word" frame. κάνω κακά is childish and euphemistic ("to poop")
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