Ek het 'n dokter nodig.
I need a doctor.
Usage
Used in urgent situations when medical attention is needed
Grammar Note
"Het ... nodig" means "need". "Nodig" is a predicative adjective placed at the end
Waar is die naaste hospitaal?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Used to locate the nearest hospital in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Naaste" is the superlative of "naby" (near), formed with the suffix -ste
Ek is allergies vir penisillien.
I am allergic to penicillin.
Usage
Used to inform medical staff about a penicillin allergy
Grammar Note
"Vir" means "for/to" here, indicating what the allergy is directed towards
Ek het hoofpyn.
I have a headache.
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist about a headache
Grammar Note
"Het" in Afrikaans means "have", used the same way as in English for symptoms
Ek het my medisyne verloor.
I have lost my medication.
Usage
Used to inform a pharmacist or doctor that medication has been lost while travelling
Grammar Note
Afrikaans perfect tense: "het" + past participle. "Verloor" is irregular (same form)
Het u 'n resep nodig?
Do you need a prescription?
Usage
Used by a pharmacist to formally ask a patient if a prescription is required
Grammar Note
"U" is the formal/polite form of "jy" (you), used in professional or medical contexts
Ek voel naar.
I feel nauseous.
Usage
Used to describe nausea to a medical professional
Grammar Note
"Voel + adjective" expresses how one feels, mirroring "feel + adjective" in English
Ek het 'n versekering.
I have insurance.
Usage
Used to inform a hospital or clinic that you have travel insurance
Grammar Note
"Het 'n versekering" literally means "have an insurance" — a simple possession statement
Waar is die apteek?
Where is the pharmacy?
Usage
Used to find a pharmacy to buy medicine
Grammar Note
"Waar" (where) questions use simple inversion — verb before subject
Bel 'n ambulans!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Used in a medical emergency to call for an ambulance
Grammar Note
The imperative uses only the verb root; the exclamation mark signals urgency
Swanger
Pregnant
Usage
Show this first at a clinic or pharmacy — it changes what drugs or X-rays are allowed
Asma
Asthma
Usage
Declare it as a pre-existing condition; show it with your inhaler during an attack
Diabetes
Usage
Declare it as a pre-existing condition; colloquially also called "suikersiekte"
Hoë bloeddruk
High blood pressure
Usage
Declare it as a pre-existing condition; it affects which medicines can be prescribed
Hartsiekte
Heart disease
Usage
Declare it as a pre-existing condition; show it first in an emergency
Epilepsie
Epilepsy
Usage
Declare it as a pre-existing condition, or explain a seizure to bystanders
Mediese versekering
Medical insurance
Usage
At the reception desk, when showing your insurance card or travel policy
Beenbreuk
Bone fracture
Usage
Say you may have a fracture; the bare word "been" can mean both leg and bone, so avoid it
Ek sukkel om asem te haal
I am struggling to breathe
Usage
To report breathing difficulty; show the screen if you cannot speak
Duiseligheid
Dizziness
Usage
To report feeling faint or light-headed
Bloeding
Bleeding
Usage
To report bleeding; point at your own body to show where
Brandwond
Burn
Usage
When asking for burn treatment; sunburn is "sonbrand"
Wond
Wound
Usage
When asking for treatment of a cut or graze
Oor
Ear
Usage
Point at your own ear while showing this; "oor" also means "about" in other contexts
Nek
Neck
Usage
For neck pain; the inside of the throat is "keel"
Skouer
Shoulder
Usage
For shoulder pain
Knie
Knee
Usage
For knee pain
Vinger
Finger
Usage
For a finger; a toe is "toon"
Vel
Skin
Usage
To report a skin problem
Arm
Usage
For arm pain or injury
Neus
Nose
Usage
For a blocked nose, nosebleed, and similar complaints
Hoes
Cough
Usage
To report a cough, or to ask for cough medicine at a pharmacy
Jeuk
Itching
Usage
Show this while pointing at the itchy spot
Veluitslag
Skin rash
Usage
For a rash; the bare word "uitslag" can also mean a test result, so keep the "vel-" prefix
Hardlywigheid
Constipation
Usage
To report constipation; understood at pharmacies too
Menstruasie
Menstruation
Usage
To say you are menstruating; colloquially also "my periode"
Bloedgroep
Blood type
Usage
To give your blood type, or to ask for one
Mediese sertifikaat
Medical certificate
Usage
To ask for a certificate for your insurer or employer
Hospitalisasie
Hospital admission
Usage
To check whether you need to be admitted
Koue rillings
Chills
Usage
To report the shivering that comes with a fever; it is listed next to "koors" (fever)
Verkoue
Common cold
Usage
To say you have caught a cold
Roep 'n dokter!
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor for a sudden illness or injury
Grammar Note
Fills the "Roep + who to summon" frame ("Roep die polisie!") with "dokter" (doctor).
Dit is seer hier.
It hurts here
Usage
Point at the spot while telling medical staff where it hurts
Grammar Note
Uses the "Dit is seer + place" frame ("Dit is seer daar", "it is sore there"), swapping the distal "daar" (there) for the proximal "hier" (here).
Ek voel lusteloos.
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Tell medical staff about the whole-body heaviness that comes with a fever or infection
Grammar Note
Uses the same "Ek voel + adjective" frame as "Ek voel naar.".
Ek het 'n paar keer gebraak.
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tell medical staff how many times you have vomited
Grammar Note
Uses the same "Ek het + object + past participle" perfect frame as "Ek het my medisyne verloor.". "Gebraak" is the past participle of "braak" (to vomit).
Moet ek rus?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Check with the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
Afrikaans forms yes/no questions by fronting the auxiliary.
Diarree
Diarrhea
Usage
To report diarrhea; in everyday speech "buikloop" and "maagwerking" are also used
Urine
Pee
Usage
The neutral, medical-setting word for pee; use it to describe the colour or amount to a doctor. With children, "piepie" is said
Ontlasting
Poop
Usage
The neutral, medical-setting word for poop; use it to describe stool to a doctor. Do not use "poep": in Afrikaans it means "fart"
Ek het diarree
I have diarrhea
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
"Ek het" plus a symptom name means "I have …"; most symptoms are reported in this pattern
Ek het hardlywigheid
I'm constipated
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist you are constipated
Grammar Note
"Hardlywigheid" is "hard" + "body (lyf)" + the noun ending "-heid". It follows the "Ek het" plus symptom pattern
Ek wil piepie
I need to pee
Usage
To tell a companion or a child you need to pee. A casual, ordinary way to say it, not crude
Grammar Note
"Piepie" is the everyday word for pee (and to pee), especially common in children's speech. A formal alternative between adults is "Ek moet urineer"
Ek moet ontlas
I need to poop
Usage
To tell a companion you need to poop. A polite, neutral way to say it; in casual settings "Ek moet toilet toe" is also said
Grammar Note
"Ontlas" is the verb "to defecate", the base of the noun "ontlasting". Do not use "poep": it means "fart"
More Afrikaans phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
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