Health & Medicine Vocabulary in English

Improve essential communication with Health & Medicine Vocabulary in English. Learn key words for symptoms, doctor visits, medicine, and emergencies. Perfect for learners and travelers, this set helps you describe health needs clearly and confidently in real-life situations.

Knowing how to describe the body, symptoms, treatments, and hospital situations is essential for daily communication and emergencies. GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition system helps you retain medical vocabulary consistently and confidently.

Below is a curated sample from GuruLango’s Health & Medicine in English vocabulary set.

1. Human Body

These terms help you describe the body clearly in daily situations.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

head

hed

top part of the body

arm

ɑːm

upper limb

leg

leɡ

lower limb

hand

hænd

end of the arm

foot

fʊt

bottom of the leg

shoulder

ˈʃəʊl.dər

upper body joint

back

bæk

rear torso

chest

tʃest

front upper torso

stomach

ˈstʌm.ək

abdomen area

knee

niː

leg joint

2. Body Action & Reflex

These words describe physical actions and natural body responses.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

breathe

briːð

take in air

cough

kɒf

force air from lungs

sneeze

sniːz

sudden nasal reflex

blink

blɪŋk

close eyes briefly

swallow

ˈswɒl.əʊ

move food down

stretch

stretʃ

extend muscles

yawn

jɔːn

open mouth from tiredness

sweat

swet

release perspiration

shiver

ˈʃɪv.ər

shake from cold

hiccup

ˈhɪk.ʌp

sudden diaphragm spasm

3. Symptom 

Use these words to explain what you feel when unwell.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

fever

ˈfiː.vər

high body temperature

headache

ˈhed.eɪk

pain in head

dizziness

ˈdɪz.i.nəs

lightheaded feeling

nausea

ˈnɔː.zi.ə

urge to vomit

cough

kɒf

throat irritation

sore throat

sɔː θrəʊt

throat pain

fatigue

fəˈtiːɡ

extreme tiredness

chills

tʃɪlz

cold shivers

runny nose

ˈrʌn.i nəʊz

nasal discharge

stomachache

ˈstʌm.ək.eɪk

abdominal pain

4. Illness

These illness names help you communicate health problems effectively.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

flu

fluː

influenza

cold

kəʊld

viral infection

allergy

ˈæl.ə.dʒi

immune reaction

infection

ɪnˈfek.ʃən

harmful germs

pneumonia

njuːˈməʊ.ni.ə

lung infection

diabetes

ˌdaɪ.əˈbiː.tiːz

sugar disorder

asthma

ˈæs.mə

breathing condition

migraine

ˈmiː.ɡreɪn

severe headache

food poisoning

fuːd ˈpɔɪ.zən.ɪŋ

contaminated food illness

hypertension

ˌhaɪ.pəˈten.ʃən

high blood pressure

5. Health Condition

These terms describe short-term and long-term physical conditions.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

healthy

ˈhel.θi

in good shape

weak

wiːk

lacking strength

dehydrated

ˌdiːˈhaɪ.dreɪ.tɪd

low on fluids

exhausted

ɪɡˈzɔː.stɪd

extremely tired

unconscious

ʌnˈkɒn.ʃəs

not awake

injured

ˈɪn.dʒəd

physically harmed

swollen

ˈswəʊ.lən

enlarged from injury

bleeding

ˈbliː.dɪŋ

losing blood

infected

ɪnˈfek.tɪd

affected by germs

stable

ˈsteɪ.bəl

condition under control

6. Treatment

These words help you discuss medications and medical procedures.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

medicine

ˈmed.ɪ.sən

drug for illness

pill

pɪl

small medicine tablet

injection

ɪnˈdʒek.ʃən

medicine shot

surgery

ˈsɜː.dʒər.i

medical operation

therapy

ˈθer.ə.pi

treatment method

bandage

ˈbæn.dɪdʒ

wrapping for wounds

antibiotic

ˌæn.ti.baɪˈɒt.ɪk

germ-fighting drug

prescription

prɪˈskrɪp.ʃən

doctor’s medicine order

check-up

ˈtʃek.ʌp

routine medical exam

vaccine

ˈvæk.siːn

immunization

7. In the Hospital

These hospital terms help you describe locations and people involved in care.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

doctor

ˈdɒk.tər

medical expert

nurse

nɜːs

caregiving staff

patient

ˈpeɪ.ʃənt

person receiving care

emergency room

ɪˈmɜː.dʒən.si ruːm

urgent care area

clinic

ˈklɪn.ɪk

small medical center

pharmacy

ˈfɑː.mə.si

medicine shop

ward

wɔːd

hospital room

stretcher

ˈstretʃ.ər

patient carrier

ambulance

ˈæm.bjə.ləns

emergency vehicle

surgeon

ˈsɜː.dʒən

doctor for operations

8. Healthy Habit

These words describe positive routines for maintaining good health.

Vocabulary

IPA

Meaning

exercise

ˈek.sə.saɪz

physical activity

balanced diet

ˈbæl.ənst ˈdaɪ.ət

healthy food intake

sleep early

sliːp ˈɜː.li

rest at proper time

drink water

drɪŋk ˈwɔː.tər

stay hydrated

meditate

ˈmed.ɪ.teɪt

calm the mind

avoid sugar

əˈvɔɪd ˈʃʊɡ.ər

limit sweets

walk daily

wɔːk ˈdeɪ.li

regular movement

stretch

stretʃ

improve flexibility

wash hands

wɒʃ hændz

reduce germs

rest well

rest wel

recover energy

These Health & Medicine vocabulary lists help you explain symptoms, talk about illnesses, understand medical instructions, and describe hospital situations more accurately in English. With GuruLango’s Spaced Repetition method, learning becomes smoother and more effective.

Keep practicing with GuruLango and speak confidently about health in any situation!