Did you know there are actually two very simple patterns for describing your symptoms when you feel ill?!
If you learn the patterns and the common illness vocabulary below, you’ll be able to moan about how you feel to a friend, tell a colleague at work or even speak to a doctor to get some treatment….. and your English will sound fantastic!
Illness Vocabulary – Pattern 1
If you want to use a noun, say ‘I’ve got’ …….
I’ve got
(I haven’t got)
- a headache
- a sore throat
- flu
- a nasty cold
- chickenpox
- a stomachache
- a high temperature
- that bug that’s going round
- a cough
Do you know all of those symptoms? Can you pronounce them correctly? You’ll get a chance to check in the video below.
Illness Vocabulary – Pattern 2
If you want to use an adjective, say ‘I’m’ or ‘I feel’….
I’m / I feel
(I’m not / I don’t feel)
- sick
- dizzy
- achy
- nauseous
Listening and pronunciation practice
Watch my video below. Which of the symptoms from the lists above do I mention?
(Make sure you practise your pronunciation while watching!)
Activate the vocabulary
Remember, it’s not enough to just read this lesson and watch the video. You need to write down the new illness vocabulary and practise it regularly until it becomes natural for you to use.
Now I’d love to hear from you? Which new illness vocabulary from this lesson are you going to write down in your notebook?
Leave me a reply below to let me know!
6 Responses
The patterns made it really simple to use this vocabulary, thank you Nicki. For me, it’s the first time to hear ‘achy’ and also I like ‘a nasty cold’. I think I can use those ones.
Yes Marie, if you stick to those patterns, you’ll never go wrong 😊 Thanks for sharing your favourites with us, I’m so pleased you found some new vocabulary to use!
Thanks Nicki, I’ve enjoyed the pronunciation’s well most especially sore-throat!
Brilliant! Thanks so much for the feedback, that’s great to hear 🥰
Hi Nicki,
I liked all the sentences which you used. Especially a nasty cold, I feel achy and I feel nauseous.
Lovely! Those will all make you sound so natural… Although hopefully you won’t have to use them often! 😉
Thanks Kalinka