Health & Hospital

1. Fáj a fejem

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Basic phrase to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist

   Grammar Note

   The pattern for pain is "fáj a + body part (possessive)". E.g. "fáj a hasam" (stomachache), "fáj a fogam" (toothache)

2. Kérem, hívjon mentőt!

   Please call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Emergency phrase to request an ambulance

   Grammar Note

   Hungary's emergency number is 112. "Mentő" comes from "menteni" (to save/rescue). Paramedics are called "mentős"

3. Van erre gyógyszer nélküli megoldás?

   Is there a non-medication solution for this?

   Usage

   Asking a doctor or pharmacist about non-pharmaceutical alternatives

   Grammar Note

   "Nélkül" means "without"; "nélküli" is its adjectival form. Hungarian pharmacies (gyógyszertár) are marked by a green cross

4. Allergiás vagyok a penicillinre

   I am allergic to penicillin

   Usage

   Informing a doctor or pharmacist about a drug allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Allergiás" + sublative (-re/-ra) means "allergic to". Works for food too (e.g., "a diófélékre" = to nuts)

5. Lázam van

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Telling a doctor or nurse that you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Lázam" uses the possessive suffix -am. "38 fokos lázam van" (I have a 38°C fever) is more specific

6. Hol van a legközelebbi gyógyszertár?

   Where is the nearest pharmacy?

   Usage

   Finding the nearest pharmacy when you need medicine

   Grammar Note

   Hungarian superlatives start with "leg-". "Gyógyszertár" combines "gyógyszer" (medicine) + "tár" (store/treasury)

7. Hányingerem van

   I feel nauseous

   Usage

   Describing nausea to a doctor

   Grammar Note

   "Hányingerem" uses possessive "-em". Similarly: "fájdalmam van" (I have pain), "szédülésem van" (I feel dizzy)

8. Tudna ajánlani egy orvost?

   Could you recommend a doctor?

   Usage

   Asking a hotel receptionist or guide to recommend a doctor

   Grammar Note

   "Tudna" is the polite conditional of "tud" (can/know). Hungary has public hospitals (kórház) and private clinics (magánklinika)

9. Receptet kérek

   I would like a prescription

   Usage

   Requesting a prescription from a doctor after a consultation

   Grammar Note

   "Recept" comes from Latin for prescription. "Kérek" is polite "I request". Many medicines in Hungary are available over the counter

10. Utazási biztosításom van

    I have travel insurance

    Usage

    Informing medical staff that you have travel insurance when seeking care

    Grammar Note

    "Utazási" is the adjectival form of "utazás" (travel). EU citizens may also use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

11. Terhes

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Show this first at any medical visit — it decides what drugs and X-rays are allowed. As a general adjective the same word means "burdensome", but in a medical setting it is understood as pregnant. The politer word is "várandós"; pregnancy itself is "terhesség"

12. Asztma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Declare this as an existing condition to medical staff; an inhaler is "inhalátor"

13. Cukorbetegség

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Declare this as an existing condition; literally "sugar illness". The clinical term "diabétesz" is understood too, and a diabetic person is a "cukorbeteg"

14. Magas vérnyomás

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Declare this as an existing condition; blood pressure is "vérnyomás" and low blood pressure "alacsony vérnyomás"

15. Szívbetegség

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Declare this as an existing condition; the heart is "szív" and a heart attack "szívroham"

16. Epilepszia

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Show this in advance so bystanders respond correctly to a seizure; a seizure is a "roham"

17. Biztosítás

    Insurance

    Usage

    Show this when reception asks about cover; travel insurance is "utazási biztosítás" and health insurance "egészségbiztosítás". EU visitors can use the EHIC card

18. Csonttörés

    Fracture

    Usage

    Report a suspected broken bone; a bone is "csont" and an X-ray "röntgen"

19. Légszomj

    Shortness of breath

    Usage

    A one-word way to report that you cannot breathe properly — for when you have no breath to speak. Colloquially "nem kapok levegőt" (I can't get air)

20. Szédülés

    Dizziness

    Usage

    Report light-headedness or vertigo; "I feel dizzy" is "szédülök"

21. Vérzés

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Report that you are bleeding; blood is "vér" and a nosebleed "orrvérzés"

22. Égési sérülés

    Burn (injury)

    Usage

    The injury. "égés" alone means combustion as a process, so use this two-word form when reporting an injury

23. Seb

    Wound

    Usage

    An open wound such as a cut; a plaster is "sebtapasz" and wound care "sebellátás"

24. Fül

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at this as the painful spot; earache is "fülfájás"

25. Nyak

    Neck

    Usage

    The neck. The throat inside is a different word, "torok" — point to show whether the pain is outside or inside

26. Váll

    Shoulder

    Usage

    The shoulder; Hungarian has no exact word for "stiff shoulders", so describe it as "merev váll" (stiff shoulder)

27. Térd

    Knee

    Usage

    The knee; a sprain is "rándulás"

28. Ujj

    Finger

    Usage

    A finger on the hand. A toe uses the same root, "lábujj" (foot-finger), and the same word also means a garment's "sleeve" — show the actual digit while using this card

29. Bőr

    Skin

    Usage

    Point at this when reporting a skin problem. The same word also means "leather", so touch your own skin when using it. Dermatology is "bőrgyógyászat"

30. Kar

    Arm

    Usage

    From shoulder to wrist. The same word also means "choir" and a university "faculty", but pointing at your body removes the ambiguity. The hand itself is "kéz"

31. Orr

    Nose

    Usage

    The nose; a runny nose is "orrfolyás" and a blocked nose "orrdugulás"

32. Köhögés

    Cough

    Usage

    Report a cough as a symptom; cough syrup is "köhögés elleni szirup"

33. Viszketés

    Itching

    Usage

    Report itching as a symptom; "it itches" is "viszket"

34. Kiütés

    Rash

    Usage

    A skin rash. The same word also means a boxing "knockout", so show the affected skin when using this card

35. Székrekedés

    Constipation

    Usage

    Report this at a pharmacy or clinic; diarrhoea is the opposite word, "hasmenés" — do not mix them up

36. Menstruáció

    Period (menstruation)

    Usage

    The word used at a clinic or pharmacy; Hungarian normally uses it plainly rather than via a euphemism. Colloquially "menzesz"; period cramps are "menstruációs görcs"

37. Vércsoport

    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. Orvosi igazolás

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The certificate written out by the doctor who examined you, needed for insurance claims

39. Kórházi felvétel

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    For checking whether you need to be admitted to hospital; it names the admission procedure itself

40. Hidegrázás

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering chill that accompanies a high fever

41. Megfázás

    Common cold

    Usage

    The common cold; a head cold on its own can also be called "nátha"

42. Hívjon orvost!

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

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

    Grammar Note

    Same frame as "Hívjon mentőt!" with the object swapped for "orvost". The object has no article, so the verb keeps the indefinite conjugation "Hívjon".

43. Itt fáj

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Said while pointing at the spot that hurts

    Grammar Note

    Replaces the subject (the aching part) of "Fáj a fejem" with "itt". In Hungarian the aching thing is the subject.

44. Gyengének érzem magam

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that your body feels weak and heavy

    Grammar Note

    Uses the reflexive "érzem magam" of "Nagyon jól érzem magam melletted"; the state is expressed by the dative of the adjective, "gyengének".

45. Többször hánytam

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tells a doctor that you have vomited more than once

    Grammar Note

    The verb "hány" (to vomit) shares its root with "hányinger" (nausea). It takes no object here, so the 1sg past stays in the indefinite conjugation, "hánytam".

46. Pihenésre van szükségem?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Asks the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    Same "-ra/-re van szükségem" frame as "Orvosra van szükségem" with the needed thing swapped. "pihenés" shares its root with "pihenjünk"; vowel harmony selects the front-vowel "-re". The question keeps the word order and is marked by rising intonation.

47. Hasmenés

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Symptom name (medical term). Say or show it to a doctor or pharmacist; constipation is the opposite word, "székrekedés" — do not mix them up

48. Kaki

    Poop

    Usage

    Informal, childish everyday word. Use it with children and family; in a medical visit the formal term is "széklet" (stool)

49. Pisi

    Pee

    Usage

    Informal everyday word. Use it with children and family; in a medical visit the formal term is "vizelet" (urine)

50. Hasmenésem van

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Describing diarrhea to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    The same "symptom + -em (my) + van" frame as "Hányingerem van": hasmenés (diarrhea) + em = "I have diarrhea"

51. Székrekedésem van

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Describing constipation to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    The same "symptom + -em (my) + van" frame as "Hányingerem van", using székrekedés (constipation)

52. Pisilnem kell

    I need to pee

    Usage

    The plain, casual way to tell a companion or a child

    Grammar Note

    "Infinitive + personal ending + kell" means "have to / need to". The infinitive pisilni (to pee, from pisil) takes the 1st-person ending -em

53. Kakilnom kell

    I need to poop

    Usage

    A casual, somewhat childish way to tell a companion or a child. Not for formal adult settings

    Grammar Note

    The "infinitive + personal ending + kell" frame. The infinitive kakilni of kakil (a verb built from kaki) takes the 1st-person ending -om (back-vowel stem)

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