Navigating healthcare situations can be stressful, especially in a foreign language. This guide teaches you the essential Turkish health vocabulary for effectively communicating when visiting the doctor, pharmacy, or hospital. You will be able to book an appointment with the doctor, describe your pain, and buy the appropriate medicines. Hadi başlayalım!
Table of Contents
Body Parts
For more vocabulary on the body parts, check this article: The Body Vocabulary in Turkish.
| Turkish | English |
|---|---|
| Baş | Head |
| Göz | Eye |
| Kulak | Ear |
| Burun | Nose |
| Ağız | Mouth |
| Boğaz | Throat |
| Diş | Tooth |
| Göğüs | Chest |
| Karın | Stomach |
| Omuz | Shoulder |
| Kol | Arm |
| El | Hand |
| Parmak | Finger |
| Bacak | Leg |
| Diz | Knee |
| Sırt | Back |
| Ayak | Foot |
Example sentence:
- Başım ağrıyor ve boğazım şiş. (My head hurts and my throat is swollen.)
Injuries
| Turkish | English |
| Yaralanma | Injury (general physical impairment) |
| Ağrı | Pain/sore/ache (general physical discomfort) |
| Çürük | Bruise (black and blue spot after injury) |
| Kesik | Cut (skin opening after injury) |
| Yara | Wound (skin opening after injury) |
| Çizik | Scratch (skin opening after injury) |
| Kırık | Fracture / Broken (e.g., broken leg) |
| Burkulma | Sprain (e.g., sprained ankle) |
| Yanık | Burn |
| Kanama | Bleeding |
| Isırık | Bite (from insect or animal) |
Example sentence:
- Ayağım burkuldu ve bileğim şişti. (I sprained my foot and my ankle is swollen.)
Illness Symptoms
| Turkish | English |
| Hasta | Ill/sick |
| Ağrı | Pain |
| Ateş | Fever |
| Baş dönmesi | Dizziness |
| Bulantı | Nausea |
| Kusma | Vomiting |
| Öksürük | Cough |
| Hapşırık | Sneeze |
| Titreme | Shivering |
| Halsizlik | Fatigue |
| Boğaz ağrısı | Sore throat |
| Şişlik | Swelling |
| Tansiyon | Blood pressure |
| Nabız | Pulse |
| Üşüme | Chills |
| Mide rahatsızlığı | Upset stomach |
| Nefes alma zorluğu | Difficulty/trouble breathing |
| Bayılma | Faint/pass out |
| Burun akıntısı | Runny nose |
Example sentence:
- Midem bulanıyor, titriyorum ve ateşim var. (I feel nauseous, I’m shivering, and I have a fever.)
Common Illnesses and Diseases
| Turkish | English |
| Grip | Flu |
| Soğuk algınlığı | Common cold |
| Baş ağrısı | Headache |
| Zatürre | Pneumonia |
| Döküntü | Rash |
| Enfeksiyon | Infection |
| İltihap | Inflammation |
| Kalp krizi | Heart attack |
| Hazımsızlık | Indigestion |
| Ülser | Ulcer |
| Astım | Asthma |
| Felç | Stroke |
| Artrit | Arthritis |
| Şeker hastalığı | Diabetes |
| Kanser | Cancer |
| Hafıza kaybı (amnezi) | Amnesia |
| Alerji | Allergy |
Example sentence:
- Sanırım soğuk algınlığına yakalandım, sürekli hapşırıyorum. (I think I caught a cold, I’m sneezing constantly.)
Medical Instruments, Common Cures & Medicines
| Turkish | English |
| Hasta | Patient |
| Haplar | Pills |
| Tabletler | Tablets |
| İlaç | Medicine |
| Tedavi | Cure |
| Yara bandı | Bandage |
| İğne | Injection |
| Antiseptik | Antiseptic |
| Alçı | Cast |
| Koltuk değneği | Crutches |
| Termometre | Thermometer |
| Stetoskop | Stethoscope |
| Röntgen | X-ray |
| Antibiyotikler | Antibiotics |
| Ameliyat | Surgery/Operation |
| Ağrı kesici | Painkiller |
Example sentence:
- Doktor reçeteye antibiyotik ve ağrı kesici yazdı. (The doctor prescribed antibiotics and a painkiller.)
Medical Professions
| Turkish | English |
| Doktor | Doctor |
| Hemşire | Nurse |
| Alerji uzmanı | Allergist |
| Anestezist | Anesthesiologist |
| Diş hekimi | Dentist |
| Dermatolog | Dermatologist |
| Jinekolog | Gynecologist |
| Ebe | Midwife |
| Nörolog | Neurologist |
| Onkolog | Oncologist |
| Çocuk doktoru | Pediatrician |
| Fizyoterapist | Physical Therapist |
| Psikiyatrist | Psychiatrist |
| Kardiyolog | Cardiologist |
| Cerrah | Surgeon |
| Ortopedist | Orthopedist |
| Göz doktoru | Ophthalmologist |
| Radyolog | Radiologist |
FAQ: How to say…
How to book an appointment at the doctor?
- Doktordan nasıl randevu alabilirim? (How can I book an appointment with the doctor?)
- Randevu almak istiyorum. (I want to make an appointment.)
- Bugün / yarın için randevu var mı? (Is there an appointment for today / tomorrow?)
- Hangi saatler uygun? (Which times are available?)
- Boş randevu var mı? (Are there any open appointments?)
- [Dr. Ahmet Yılmaz] ile görüşmek istiyorum. (I’d like to see Dr. Ahmet Yılmaz.)
How to describe your pain?
In Turkish, to describe physical pain or say “I am in pain,” you often use verbs like “ağrımak” (to ache/hurt) or expressions like “ağrım var” (I have pain) and “canım yanıyor” (I’m in pain / something hurts me). Here’s how to use them clearly:
1. Using “ağrımak” (to ache/hurt): This verb is used with the body part in the possessive + nominative form. The verb conjugates according to the tense and subject.
- Başım ağrıyor. – My head hurts.
- Dişim ağrıyor. – My tooth hurts.
- Karnım çok ağrıyor. – My stomach hurts a lot.
- Sırtım ağrıyor. – My back hurts.
2. Using descriptive expressions for pain: [Body part in locative case] + [adjective] bir ağrı var.
- Karnımda keskin bir ağrı var. – There is a sharp pain in my stomach.
- Belimde sürekli bir ağrı var. – I have a constant pain in my lower back.
- Göğsümde baskı hissediyorum. – I feel pressure in my chest.
- Boynumda batıcı bir ağrı var. – There’s a stabbing pain in my neck.
3. Using “canım yanıyor” (I’m in pain / it hurts): This is more emotional or general, used when the pain is intense or hard to localize.
- Canım çok yanıyor. – I’m in a lot of pain.
How to order medicines at the pharmacy?
- Bu reçetedeki ilaçları alabilir miyim? (Can I have the medicines on this prescription?)
- Grip için etkili bir ilaç önerir misiniz? (Can you recommend an effective medicine for flu?)
- Başım ağrıyor. Ağrı kesici alabilir miyim? (I have a headache. Can I get a painkiller?)
- Boğazım ağrıyor, ne önerirsiniz? (My throat hurts, what do you recommend?)
- Antibiyotik reçetesiz alabiliyor muyum? (Can I get antibiotics without a prescription?)
How to wish for a prompt recovery in Turkish?
- Geçmiş olsun (Get well soon): This is the most widely used expression in Turkish. It can be said even when someone is just feeling unwell or has had a minor accident.
- Acil şifalar dilerim (I wish you a quick recovery): More formal or empathetic; often used in messages or when someone is seriously ill.
- Umarım çabucak iyileşirsin (I hope you get well soon): Friendly and informal.
- Allah şifa versin (May God grant you healing): Traditional and often used in more religious or heartfelt contexts.
To continue learning Turkish vocabulary, discover the 100 most-used Turkish verbs in daily conversation.