appointment
Meaning: a planned time to see a doctor or another health professional
Example: I have a doctor's appointment at two o'clock.
Tip: You make an appointment before you visit the clinic.
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Vocabulary
Vocabulary for hospitals and pharmaciesLearn the English you need to explain symptoms, ask for medicine, and speak clearly in medical situations.
This lesson gives you practical medical English for appointments, pharmacies, and urgent health problems. Learn the main health words first, then useful phrasal verbs, and finally the questions patients often ask doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
8 words4 phrasal verbs6 questions
Visual overview
Medical vocabulary board
appointmentprescriptionsymptomfeverpainkillerbandageemergency roompharmacyVocabulary for hospitals and pharmacies
Core words
Start with the most useful words for this topic. Read the meaning, notice the example, and reuse the phrase in your own sentence.
prescription
Meaning: an official note from a doctor for medicine
Example: The pharmacist asked to see my prescription.
Tip: Some medicine needs a prescription, and some does not.
symptom
Meaning: a physical sign that shows you may be ill
Example: A sore throat is one common symptom of a cold.
Tip: Doctors often ask when a symptom started.
fever
Meaning: a body temperature that is higher than normal
Example: She has a fever and needs to rest.
Tip: A fever often comes with chills, tiredness, or pain.
painkiller
Meaning: medicine that helps reduce pain
Example: The doctor suggested a simple painkiller for the headache.
Tip: Always check how often you can take a painkiller.
bandage
Meaning: material used to cover or protect an injury
Example: The nurse put a clean bandage on my hand.
Tip: A bandage can protect a cut, burn, or wound.
emergency room
Meaning: the hospital area for serious urgent problems
Example: He went to the emergency room after the accident.
Tip: You may also hear ER as a short form.
pharmacy
Meaning: the place where you buy or collect medicine
Example: The pharmacy closes at nine tonight.
Tip: Pharmacist is the person who works there.
Useful phrasal verbs
These verb combinations appear often in natural conversations, so they are worth memorizing as full expressions.
fill out
Meaning: to complete a medical form with your information
Example: Please fill out this patient form before you see the doctor.
Tip: This is very common at clinics and hospitals.
throw up
Meaning: to vomit
Example: The child threw up after eating too quickly.
Tip: This is an informal but common phrase.
pass out
Meaning: to lose consciousness suddenly
Example: He passed out because of the heat.
Tip: This phrase is common in emergency descriptions.
pick up
Meaning: to collect medicine from the pharmacy
Example: I need to pick up my prescription after work.
Tip: People often use pick up for medicine, documents, and test results.
Questions you can ask
Practise these ready-made questions so you can react faster in real conversations.
I have a fever and a sore throat. What should I do?
When to use it: Use this when you want quick advice from a pharmacist or nurse.
Where is the emergency room?
When to use it: Use this when the situation feels urgent and you need to go quickly.
Do I need a prescription for this medicine?
When to use it: Use this at the pharmacy before you try to buy medicine.
How often should I take it?
When to use it: Use this after the doctor or pharmacist gives you medicine.
Can I pick up this prescription here?
When to use it: Use this when you are not sure if the pharmacy can prepare your medicine.
Should I make an appointment first?
When to use it: Use this when you need to know if a walk-in visit is possible.
Quick practice
Use these short exercises to check the lesson before you move on.
Practice
Complete the sentence: The doctor gave me a ______ for the antibiotic.
A prescription is the doctor's official note for medicine.
Practice
Which phrasal verb means to lose consciousness?
Pass out is the common phrase for losing consciousness suddenly.
Practice
Choose the better question: How often should I take it? / How often I take it?
The first sentence has the correct question order.
Practice
Correct the sentence: I need buy a painkiller in the pharmacy.
Use need to before the verb and at for the place.