Health & Hospital in Swedish: 52 Travel Phrases with Audio

Jag behöver en läkare
I need a doctor
Usage
Essential phrase for requesting medical help when feeling ill or injured in Sweden
Grammar Note
"Läkare" is the formal term for doctor. In emergencies call 112; for medical advice call 1177 (healthcare hotline)
Var är närmaste sjukhus?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Used in emergencies to find the nearest hospital
Grammar Note
"Sjukhus" = sjuk (sick) + hus (house). "Närmaste" is the superlative of "nära" (near), meaning nearest
Jag är allergisk mot nötter
I am allergic to nuts
Usage
Essential for informing restaurants or hotels about nut allergies
Grammar Note
"Allergisk mot + noun" = allergic to. "Nöt" (single nut) → "nötter" (nuts). Common allergy phrase to memorize
Jag mår inte bra
I am not feeling well
Usage
Basic phrase to express that you are feeling unwell
Grammar Note
"Mår" (present tense of "må") describes health or wellbeing. "Hur mår du?" = How are you? (lit. how do you feel?)
Jag har ont i magen
I have a stomachache
Usage
Used to describe stomach pain to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Har ont i + body part" is the standard Swedish pain expression. "Ont i huvudet" = headache, "ont i halsen" = sore throat
Jag tar dessa mediciner
I am taking these medications
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about current medications
Grammar Note
"Dessa" is the plural demonstrative pronoun "these". Singular: "denna" (common gender) or "detta" (neuter)
Ring ambulansen!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Emergency phrase to call for an ambulance — Swedish emergency number is 112
Grammar Note
"Ring" in imperative form means "call". Sweden's emergency number is 112. "Ring 112!" is equally effective
Har ni sjukförsäkring?
Do you have health insurance?
Usage
Used at hospitals or clinics when staff ask whether you have health insurance coverage
Grammar Note
EU citizens can use EHIC in Sweden. Non-EU visitors (e.g., Japanese) should bring private travel health insurance
Jag är gravid
I am pregnant
Usage
Important phrase for informing medical staff or in emergencies that you are pregnant
Grammar Note
"Gravid" is the medical/formal term. Colloquially, Swedes also say "väntar barn" (waiting for a baby) or "är med barn"
Kan du hjälpa mig?
Can you help me?
Usage
Basic distress phrase to ask for help in medical situations or emergencies
Grammar Note
In "hjälpa", "hj" is silent — pronounced like "Y". "Hjälp!" (Help!) is the single-word emergency cry
astma
Asthma
Usage
Point to this at a clinic or pharmacy to declare asthma; an inhaler is "inhalator"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "astman"; the full sentence is "Jag har astma"
diabetes
Diabetes
Usage
Declares diabetes at a clinic, pharmacy, or restaurant; it affects both meals and insulin handling
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "diabetesen"; the older term "sockersjuka" is also understood
högt blodtryck
High blood pressure
Usage
Declares hypertension, which affects which medication can be prescribed
Grammar Note
"Blodtryck" is a neuter "ett" word (definite "blodtrycket"); low blood pressure is "lågt blodtryck"
hjärtsjukdom
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a pre-existing heart condition before an examination; a heart attack itself is "hjärtinfarkt"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "hjärtsjukdomen"; a compound of "hjärta" (heart) and "sjukdom" (illness)
epilepsi
Epilepsy
Usage
Declares epilepsy so that bystanders and staff know how to react to a seizure
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "epilepsin"; a seizure is "ett anfall" or "ett epileptiskt anfall"
försäkring
Insurance
Usage
Used at a hospital reception when insurance comes up; travel cover is "reseförsäkring" and health cover "sjukförsäkring"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "försäkringen"; on its own it means insurance in general, so say "sjukförsäkring" when you mean medical cover
benbrott
Bone fracture
Usage
Point to this at an emergency room to say a bone is (possibly) broken, then point at the place
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "benbrottet". "Ben" means both bone and leg, but "benbrott" covers a fracture of any bone; the clinical term is "fraktur"
andnöd
Shortness of breath
Usage
Point to this when you cannot speak because you cannot breathe; if you can speak, say "Jag har svårt att andas"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "andnöden"; a compound of "and-" (breath) and "nöd" (distress), standard in emergency settings
yrsel
Dizziness
Usage
Names dizziness as a symptom; the sentence form is "Jag är yr"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "yrseln"; the adjective is "yr"
blödning
Bleeding
Usage
Says there is bleeding — then point at the place; the sentence form is "Jag blöder"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "blödningen"; blood itself is "blod" (a neuter "ett" word)
brännskada
Burn (injury)
Usage
Names a burn injury; sunburn is a different word, "solbränna"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "brännskadan"; a compound of "bränna" (to burn) and "skada" (injury)
sår
Wound
Usage
Names an open wound such as a cut or graze; a bruise is a different word, "blåmärke"
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "såret" (plural is also "sår"). It can also mean an ulcer, but in an injury context it reads as an open wound
öra
Ear
Usage
Points out an ear problem; point at your own ear to show which side
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "örat", irregular plural "öron"; earache is "öronvärk"
nacke
Neck (back of the neck)
Usage
Used for pain or a crick at the back of the neck; the front of the neck and the throat are a different word, "hals"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "nacken". "Nacke" is the back of the neck (nape), while "hals" is the neck as a whole and the throat
axel
Shoulder
Usage
Points out shoulder pain; show it while pointing at your own shoulder
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "axeln", plural "axlar". The same word also means an axle or axis, so point at your body when you show it; the anatomical term is "skuldra"
knä
Knee
Usage
Points out knee pain or a knee injury
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "knät", plural "knän"; never drop the ä — "kna" is not the same word
finger
Finger
Usage
Names an injured or painful finger; a toe is a different word, "tå"
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "fingret", plural "fingrar"; a toe is "en tå" (definite "tån", plural "tår")
hud
Skin
Usage
Used when describing a skin problem such as a rash, dryness, or eczema; a dermatologist is "hudläkare"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "huden"
arm
Arm
Usage
Points out pain or an injury in the arm
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "armen", plural "armar"; the elbow is "armbåge"
näsa
Nose
Usage
Used for nose complaints; a nosebleed is "näsblod" and a blocked nose "täppt näsa"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "näsan", plural "näsor"
hosta
Cough
Usage
Names a cough as a symptom; at a pharmacy ask for "hostmedicin" (cough medicine)
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "hostan". The same form is also the verb "att hosta" (to cough), so show it as the symptom noun
klåda
Itching
Usage
Names itching — point at the itchy spot; the sentence form is "Det kliar"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "klådan"; the verb is "klia"
hudutslag
Rash
Usage
Names a rash on the skin — point at where it has appeared
Grammar Note
A neuter "ett" word, definite "hudutslaget" (plural unchanged). The short form "utslag" also means a verdict or ruling, so the "hud-" (skin) compound is the unambiguous choice
förstoppning
Constipation
Usage
Point to this at a pharmacy or clinic for constipation; diarrhoea is "diarré"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "förstoppningen"
mens
Period (menstruation)
Usage
The everyday Swedish word for menstruation, used openly at a pharmacy or clinic — it is not a euphemism
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "mensen"; the formal term is "menstruation" and period pain is "mensvärk"
blodgrupp
Blood type
Usage
Show this to state or ask a blood type where a transfusion may be needed; the groups are written A, B, AB and 0 ("noll")
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "blodgruppen", plural "blodgrupper", compounding "blod" (blood) and "grupp" (group)
läkarintyg
Medical certificate
Usage
Show this to ask a doctor for a written certificate for an insurance claim or for your employer
Grammar Note
An "ett" word: definite "läkarintyget", plural unchanged, compounding "läkare" (doctor) and "intyg" (certificate)
inläggning på sjukhus
Hospital admission
Usage
Show this to check whether you need to be admitted; "inläggning" alone can also mean pickling food, so the phrase keeps "på sjukhus" (in hospital)
Grammar Note
"Inläggning" is an "en" word, definite "inläggningen"; the verb is "lägga in" (to admit) and the patient side is "bli inlagd". Discharge is "utskrivning"
frossa
Chills
Usage
Names shivering and feeling cold when you are not cold; a common early sign of fever
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "frossan". In older usage the same word also meant a fever illness such as malaria; the shivering fits are also called "frossbrytningar"
förkylning
Common cold
Usage
Show this for an ordinary cold — sore throat, runny nose, cough; "I have a cold" is "Jag är förkyld"
Grammar Note
An "en" word: definite "förkylningen", plural "förkylningar". Influenza is a different word, "influensa"
Ring en läkare!
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone has been taken ill
Grammar Note
"Ring ambulansen!" takes the definite form, but here any doctor will do, so the indefinite "en läkare" is used. "läkare" is unchanged in the plural; the definite is "läkaren"
Jag har ont här
It hurts here
Usage
Point at the painful spot while showing this to the doctor
Grammar Note
Pain is expressed with "ha ont"; the site normally follows as "i" + definite noun, as in "Jag har ont i magen". When you point instead, the site is replaced by "här"
Jag känner mig trött och matt
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Show this to a doctor to describe the heavy, strengthless feeling that comes with fever or illness
Grammar Note
"känna sig" is reflexive and takes "mig / dig / sig" according to the subject. "matt" is the adjective for lacking normal strength in the body's functions: neuter "matt", plural and definite "matta"
Jag har kräkts flera gånger
I have vomited several times
Usage
Show this to a doctor to report that you have been vomiting repeatedly
Grammar Note
"kräkas" is a deponent verb ending in -s: present "kräks", past "kräktes", perfect "har kräkts". The plural of "gång" (time, occasion) is "gånger"
Behöver jag vila?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Show this after an examination to ask the doctor whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
"Behöver jag …?" is a yes/no question with the verb fronted, the same pattern as "Behöver jag recept?". An infinitive after "behöva" takes no "att"
diarré
Diarrhea
Usage
Point to this at a pharmacy or clinic for diarrhea; constipation is "förstoppning"
Grammar Note
An "en" word, definite "diarrén"; the full sentence is "Jag har diarré"
bajs
Poop
Usage
The everyday word for stool, used with children and when describing it to a doctor. The medical or formal word is "avföring"
Grammar Note
An "ett" word, definite "bajset"; the verb is "bajsa". "bajs" and "skit" both stand in for "avföring", but "skit" doubles as a curse word, so avoid it
kiss
Pee
Usage
The everyday word for urine, used with children and when describing it to a doctor. The medical or formal word is "urin"
Grammar Note
An "ett" word, definite "kisset"; the verb is "kissa". "Kissa" is the everyday way to say it
Jag har diarré
I have diarrhea
Usage
Show this to a doctor or pharmacist to say that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
Symptoms use "Jag har + noun" (the same frame as "Jag har astma"), with no article
Jag är förstoppad
I'm constipated
Usage
Show this to a doctor or pharmacist to say that you are constipated
Grammar Note
"Förstoppad" is the adjective matching the noun "förstoppning". The frame is "Jag är + adjective"; "Jag har förstoppning" also works
Jag måste kissa
I need to pee
Usage
Use it to tell a companion or a child that you need to pee
Grammar Note
The verb after "måste" is a bare infinitive without "att" (kissa). A more polite alternative is "Jag behöver gå på toaletten"
Jag måste bajsa
I need to poop
Usage
Use it to tell a companion or a child that you need to poop
Grammar Note
The same frame as "Jag måste kissa". "Bajsa" is the everyday verb, as in "bajsa på förskolan". In formal settings say "Jag behöver gå på toaletten"

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