Mul on vaja arsti
mul on VA-ja ARS-ti
I need a doctor
Usage
Used to indicate you need medical attention urgently
Grammar Note
"On vaja" is an impersonal necessity construction. "Mul" is the adessive of "mina" (I). The needed item takes the genitive
Mul on tugev peavalu
mul on TU-gev PEA-va-lu
I have a severe headache
Usage
Used to describe a severe headache to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Mul on" is Estonian's possession construction (parallel to Finnish "minulla on"). "Peavalu" = pea (head) + valu (pain)
Olen allergiline pähklite suhtes
O-len al-LER-gi-li-ne PÄH-kli-te SUH-tes
I am allergic to nuts
Usage
Used to inform a server or chef of a nut allergy
Grammar Note
"Suhtes" is a postposition meaning "regarding / concerning". It is commonly used with allergy expressions
Kus on lähim apteek?
kus on LÄ-him ap-TEEK
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Usage
Used to find the nearest pharmacy when you need medicine
Grammar Note
Estonian pharmacies (apteek) display a green cross. Tallinna Apteek, founded in 1422, is one of Europe's oldest pharmacies
Mul on palavik
mul on PA-la-vik
I have a fever
Usage
Used to report a fever to a medical professional
Grammar Note
"Palavik" derives from "palav" (hot/warm). The adessive construction "Mul on" is standard for describing health symptoms
Kutsuge kiirabi kohe!
KUT-su-ge KII-ra-bi KO-he
Call an ambulance immediately!
Usage
Used in emergencies to urgently call for an ambulance
Grammar Note
Estonia's emergency number is 112. "Kiirabi" compounds kiire (fast) and abi (help) — literally "fast help"
Mul on diabeet
mul on di-a-BEET
I have diabetes
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or emergency responder about a diabetes diagnosis
Grammar Note
Estonian medical vocabulary borrows extensively from international terms. "Mul on diabeet" is clear and universally understood
Mul on vaja valuvaigistit
mul on VA-ja VA-lu-vai-gis-tit
I need a painkiller
Usage
Used to request pain medication at a pharmacy or hospital
Grammar Note
Valuvaigisti compounds valu (pain) and vaigisti (suppressor/reliever). "Vaigistama" means to suppress or calm
Kas saan end arsti juurde registreerida?
kas saan end ARS-ti JUUR-de re-gist-REE-ri-da
Can I register to see a doctor?
Usage
Used to make a medical appointment at a clinic
Grammar Note
"Juurde" is a postposition meaning "to/towards the place of someone". "Arsti juurde" = to the doctor's (place)
Mul on hingamisraskused
mul on HIN-ga-mis-ras-ku-sed
I am having breathing difficulties
Usage
Used to report breathing difficulties to a doctor or emergency responder
Grammar Note
Hingamisraskused compounds hingamine (breathing) and raskused (difficulties, plural of raskus — hardship/weight)
rase
RA-se
Pregnant
Usage
Show before any exam — it changes what medication or X-rays are allowed
astma
AST-ma
Asthma
Usage
Point to declare asthma to a doctor or pharmacist
kõrge vererõhk
KÕR-ge VE-re-rõhk
High blood pressure
Usage
Everyday term for hypertension; the clinical term is "kõrgvererõhutõbi"
südamehaigus
SÜ-da-me-hai-gus
Heart disease
Usage
Point to declare a heart condition to medical staff
epilepsia
e-pi-LEP-si-a
Epilepsy
Usage
Declare epilepsy, or show it to bystanders during a seizure
ravikindlustus
RA-vi-kind-lus-tus
Health insurance
Usage
Show at reception when asked about coverage; travel insurance is "reisikindlustus"
luumurd
LUU-murd
Bone fracture
Usage
Say you may have a fracture; point at your own body for the location
õhupuudus
Õ-hu-puu-dus
Shortness of breath
Usage
Point to it when you are too breathless to speak
pearinglus
PEA-ring-lus
Dizziness
Usage
Report dizziness to a doctor or pharmacist
verejooks
VE-re-jooks
Bleeding
Usage
Show that you are bleeding
põletus
PÕ-le-tus
Burn (injury)
Usage
A burn injury; do not confuse with "põletik", which means inflammation
haav
Wound / cut
Usage
Point at the injury while showing this card
köha
KÖ-ha
Cough
Usage
Report a cough; cough syrup is "köhasiirup"
sügelus
SÜ-ge-lus
Itching
Usage
Show to report itching
lööve
LÖÖ-ve
Rash
Usage
Report a skin rash, including allergic reactions
kõhukinnisus
KÕ-hu-kin-ni-sus
Constipation
Usage
Show at the pharmacy; diarrhoea is "kõhulahtisus"
menstruatsioon
mens-tru-at-SIOON
Menstruation / period
Usage
Neutral term used with doctors and pharmacists; colloquially Estonians say "mul on päevad"
kõrv
Ear
Usage
Use to indicate where it hurts; point at your own ear
kael
Neck
Usage
The outer neck; the throat itself is a different word, "kurk"
õlg
Shoulder
Usage
Point at your shoulder — the same spelling also means "straw", so the gesture disambiguates
põlv
Knee
Usage
Indicate knee pain or injury
sõrm
Finger
Usage
A finger; a toe is a separate word, "varvas"
nahk
Skin
Usage
Use when describing a skin problem
käsivars
KÄ-si-vars
Arm
Usage
The arm proper; the hand is "käsi"
nina
NI-na
Nose
Usage
Indicate a nose problem; a runny nose is "nohu"
veregrupp
VE-re-grupp
Blood type
Usage
Asked before a transfusion or surgery; write the type itself (A, B, O, AB)
arstitõend
ARS-ti-tõend
Medical certificate
Usage
The certificate a doctor issues about your state of health, needed for an insurance claim or to prove absence
haiglaravi
HAIG-la-ra-vi
Hospital admission
Usage
Treatment given in hospital; show this to ask whether you need to be admitted
külmavärinad
KÜL-ma-vä-ri-nad
Chills
Usage
The shivering that comes with cold or fever; used in the plural as a symptom (the singular is "külmavärin")
külmetushaigus
KÜL-me-tus-hai-gus
Common cold
Usage
A viral illness of the upper airways; "külmetus" on its own can also mean getting chilled
Kutsuge arst!
KUT-su-ge arst
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask the people around you to call a doctor when you or your companion is unwell
Grammar Note
A "Kutsuge + nominative" frame, with the person called being "arst" (doctor); in a need construction such as "Mul on vaja arsti" it is the partitive "arsti"
Mul on siin valu
mul on siin VA-lu
It hurts here
Usage
Show this while pointing at the place that hurts
Grammar Note
An adessive possession frame, with the place adverb "siin" (here) and bare "valu" (pain) instead of a body-part compound
Olen jõuetu
O-len JÕU-e-tu
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Say that your body has no strength, for instance with a fever or after an illness
Grammar Note
An "Olen + adjective" frame; "jõuetu" means having no or little strength, weak and tired, and therefore unable to do anything
Olen mitu korda oksendanud
O-len MI-tu KOR-da OK-sen-da-nud
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tell a doctor how often you have vomited; it matters for diagnosing food poisoning or infection
Grammar Note
A perfect built on "Olen" with the active past participle of "oksendama" (to vomit)
Kas pean puhkama?
kas pean PUH-ka-ma
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Check with the doctor after an examination whether you have to stay at rest
Grammar Note
A "Kas pean + ma-infinitive" necessive construction, with the verb "puhkama" (to rest)
kõhulahtisus
KÕ-hu-lah-ti-sus
Diarrhea
Usage
Names the symptom at a pharmacy or clinic; a compound of "kõhu" (belly) + "lahtisus" (looseness)
kaka
KA-ka
Poop
Usage
The everyday word with children (colloquial and childish). With a doctor, "väljaheide" (stool) is the safe clinical term
piss
Pee
Usage
The everyday word for "pee"; children also say "pipi". At the doctor's, "uriin" (urine) is the medical word
Mul on kõhulahtisus
mul on KÕ-hu-lah-ti-sus
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist about the symptom; follow with how many days it has lasted
Grammar Note
An adessive possessive construction (literally "at me is …"). The symptom stays in the nominative
Mul on kõhukinnisus
mul on KÕ-hu-kin-ni-sus
I'm constipated
Usage
Tell a doctor or pharmacist; follow with how many days since you last went
Grammar Note
A "Mul on + symptom" construction. "Kõhukinnisus" (constipation) is a state in which stool is very hard and bowel emptying is rarer than normal
Ma tahan pissile
ma TA-han PIS-si-le
I need to pee
Usage
The ordinary way to tell a companion or a child you need to go. To a stranger such as a shop assistant, "Kus on tualett?" is more polite
Grammar Note
"Pissile tahtma" is a set pattern: the allative "pissile" of "piss" (pee) goes with "tahtma" (to want). No further verb is needed
Mul on kakahäda
mul on KA-ka-hä-da
I need to poop
Usage
The ordinary colloquial way to tell a companion or a child you need to go. To a stranger such as a shop assistant, "Kus on tualett?" is more polite
Grammar Note
A "Mul on" construction. "Kakahäda" is a compound of "kaka" (poo) + "häda" (distress, urgency), meaning the need to defecate; it is colloquial
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