Language/Swedish/Vocabulary/At-the-doctor's

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Swedish → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → At the doctor's

Introduction

When it comes to living in or visiting a new country, knowing how to communicate effectively in medical situations is crucial. The importance of understanding the vocabulary related to health cannot be overstated, particularly in a language like Swedish, where clear communication can help you navigate the healthcare system with confidence. In this lesson, we’ll explore essential vocabulary and phrases that will help you feel more at ease when visiting a doctor in Sweden.

This lesson is designed for complete beginners, so don’t worry if you’re just starting out. We’ll take it step-by-step, ensuring you grasp the essentials. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped to understand and communicate basic medical information in Swedish, which is a valuable skill whether you’re living in Sweden or just visiting.

Here’s a brief overview of what we’ll cover:

• Key vocabulary related to health and body parts

• Common symptoms and illnesses

• Useful phrases for a doctor's visit

• Practice exercises to reinforce your learning

Key Vocabulary

To get started, let’s dive into some crucial vocabulary that you will find useful when at the doctor's. We’ll categorize the vocabulary into three main sections: body parts, symptoms, and general phrases.

Body Parts

Understanding the names of body parts is essential when discussing health concerns. Here are some important terms:

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
huvud	ˈhʉːvʉd	head
arm	aːrm	arm
ben	beːn	leg
mage	ˈmɑːɡe	stomach
öga	ˈøːɡa	eye
öron	ˈøːrɔn	ear
näsa	ˈnɛːsa	nose
mun	mʉn	mouth
hals	hals	throat
rygg	rʏɡ	back

Symptoms

Next, let’s look at vocabulary related to symptoms you might experience or need to describe to a doctor.

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
ont	ʊnt	pain
feber	ˈfeːbɛr	fever
hosta	ˈhʊsta	cough
snuva	ˈsnyːva	runny nose
huvudvärk	ˈhʉːvʊdˌværk	headache
illamående	ɪlːamoˈɛnːde	nausea
diarré	dɪaˈreː	diarrhea
förkylning	fœrˈçʏːlːɪŋ	cold (illness)
trötthet	ˈtrʏtˌheːt	fatigue
svullnad	ˈsvʊlːnad	swelling

Useful Phrases

Now that we have some basic vocabulary down, let’s look at some key phrases that will help you communicate effectively at the doctor's.

Swedish	Pronunciation	English
Jag har ont i...	jɑːɡ hɑːr ʊnt i...	I have pain in...
Jag känner mig sjuk.	jɑːɡ ˈɕɛnːer mɛɪ ʃʉːk	I feel sick.
Kan jag få hjälp?	kɑːn jɑːɡ fɔː jɛlp?	Can I get help?
Jag behöver en läkare.	jɑːɡ bəˈhœːver ɛn ˈlɛːkɑːrɛ	I need a doctor.
Jag har feber.	jɑːɡ hɑːr ˈfeːbɛr	I have a fever.
Jag har hosta.	jɑːɡ hɑːr ˈhʊsta	I have a cough.
Hur länge har du haft det?	hʉːr ˈlɛŋɡe hɑːr dʉː hɑːft dɛ?	How long have you had it?
När ska jag komma tillbaka?	nɛːr skɑː jɑːɡ ˈkɔmːa tɪˈbɑːkɑ?	When should I come back?
Finns det några biverkningar?	fɪns dɛː ˈnʊːrɑ ˈbiːvɛrknɪŋɑːr?	Are there any side effects?
Jag förstår inte.	jɑːɡ fœrˈʃtɔːr ˈɪntɛ	I don’t understand.

Practice Exercises

Now that we’ve covered essential vocabulary and phrases, let’s practice! Here are some exercises to help you reinforce what you’ve learned.

Exercise 1: Matching Vocabulary

Match the Swedish words with their English meanings.

1. huvud

2. feber

3. illamående

4. arm

5. mun

Answers:

1. a) stomach

2. b) fever

3. c) pain

4. d) arm

5. e) mouth

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct Swedish word from the vocabulary list.

1. Jag har ont i min ______. (head)

2. Jag känner mig ______. (sick)

3. Jag har ______. (fever)

Answers:

1. huvud

2. sjuk

3. feber

Exercise 3: Translate the Phrases

Translate the following phrases into Swedish.

1. I have a headache.

2. Can I get help?

3. I feel tired.

Answers:

1. Jag har huvudvärk.

2. Kan jag få hjälp?

3. Jag känner mig trött.

Exercise 4: Create Sentences

Using the vocabulary provided, create sentences about how you feel.

Example: "Jag har ont i min arm." (I have pain in my arm.)

Sample Answers:

• "Jag har feber." (I have a fever.)

• "Jag känner mig sjuk." (I feel sick.)

Exercise 5: Role-Play Scenario

Imagine you are at the doctor's office. Write a short dialogue using at least five vocabulary words or phrases from this lesson.

Sample Dialogue:

• Patient: "Hej, jag har ont i min mage."

• Doctor: "Hur länge har du haft det?"

• Patient: "Jag har haft ont i en vecka."

Exercise 6: Listening Comprehension

Listen to a recording of a doctor’s appointment in Swedish (this would be a practical exercise in a real class setting) and answer the questions:

1. What symptoms does the patient describe?

2. What advice does the doctor give?

Answers will depend on the recording used.

Exercise 7: Vocabulary Quiz

Create a quiz with five questions based on the vocabulary learned. For example:

1. What is the Swedish word for "eye"?

2. How do you say "I feel sick" in Swedish?

Sample Answers:

1. öga

2. Jag känner mig sjuk.

Exercise 8: Matching Symptoms

Match the symptom to its Swedish word.

1. Cough

2. Fever

3. Nausea

Answers:

1. Hosta

2. Feber

3. Illamående

Exercise 9: Writing Practice

Write a short paragraph about a time you felt unwell, using at least three vocabulary words from this lesson.

Sample Answers will vary based on students' experiences.

Exercise 10: Group Discussion

In small groups, discuss the following questions:

• What do you do when you feel sick?

• How do you communicate your symptoms to a doctor in your language?

This lesson on visiting the doctor in Swedish is just the beginning of your journey to feeling comfortable in medical situations. Remember, practice makes perfect! Keep revisiting these phrases and vocabulary until they become second nature.

Table of Contents - Swedish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Swedish

• Greeting people
• Saying goodbye
• Asking for directions
• Going to a restaurant

  ---

Swedish Pronouns

• Personal pronouns
• Reflexive pronouns
• Demonstrative pronouns
• Possessive pronouns

  ---

Colors and Numbers

• Colors
• Numbers 0-20
• Numbers 20-100
• Numbers above 100

  ---

Swedish Culture

• Swedish customs
• Swedish food
• Swedish holidays
• Swedish geography

  ---

Swedish Verbs

• Present tense
• Past tense
• Future tense
• Verbs with prepositions

  ---

Body parts and health

• Body parts
• Symptoms and illnesses
• At the doctor's

  ---

Swedish Nouns

• Gender of nouns
• Definite and indefinite nouns
• Plural nouns

  ---

Travel and directions

• Means of transportation
• Booking a trip
• Giving directions

  ---

Sweden's history

• Vikings and Middle Ages
• Modern Sweden
• Swedish politics and society

  ---

Swedish Adjectives

• Basic adjectives
• Comparison of adjectives
• Compound adjectives

  ---

Jobs and professions

• Types of jobs
• Job applications and interviews
• Workplace Swedish

Sources

• Anatomy vocabulary in Swedish
• Swedish Dictionary & Abbreviations, Part 1

Other Lessons

• Family
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• House
• Months of the Year
• Types of jobs
• Dinner Table
• Symptoms and illnesses
• Camping
• Numbers 0 20

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