Feeling unwell is stressful enough without having to worry about a language barrier. This essential lesson will teach you how to talk to a doctor in Lebanese Arabic, from explaining your symptoms to understanding a doctor’s questions.
Learn how to say “I’m sick,” describe your pain, ask about treatments, and understand what the doctor might ask you in return.
Full Transcript: A Guide to Visiting the Doctor
1. Describing How You Feel (Patient)
Let’s start with the basic phrases to explain that you are not feeling well.
- I’m sick:
- For a woman: ana marida (أنا مريضة) or ana shakhneh (أنا سخنة)
- For a man: ana mareed (أنا مريض) or ana shakhen (أنا سخن)
- I’m feeling tired:
- For a woman: ana ta3beneh (أنا تعبانة)
- For a man: ana ta3ben (أنا تعبان)
- I want to see the doctor:baddeh shouf l Hakeem (بدي شوف الحكيم)
- Note: Doctor is Hakeem (حكيم) for a man, and Hakeemeh (حكيمة) for a woman.
2. Explaining Your Pain & Asking Questions (Patient)
Once you’re with the doctor, you’ll need to describe what’s wrong.
- I have a stomachache:3endeh waja3 b me3dteh (عندي وجع بمعدتي)
- Note: Pain/ache is waja3 (وجع). Stomach is me3deh (معدة). Headache is waja3 b raseh (وجع براسي).
- My head is hurting: raseh 3am youja3neh (راسي عم يوجعني)
- My stomach is hurting: me3dteh 3am touja3neh (معدتي عم توجعني)
You can also ask the doctor some important questions:
- Is it something serious?: fi shi khuter? (في شي خطر؟)
- What causes this pain?: shou yalleh 3am b sabbebleh hayda l waja3? (شو يللي عم بسببلي هيدا الوجع؟)
- Is there a solution?: hal fi Hall? (هل في حل؟)
- Should I do more tests?: lezim a3moul ba3ed fHousat? (لازم أعمل بعد فحوصات؟)
- Is there a treatment?: fi 3ileij? (في علاج؟)
- Or should I do an operation?: aw lezim a3mol 3amaliyyeh? (أو لازم أعمل عملية؟)
3. What the Doctor Might Ask You (Doctor)
Now, let’s switch roles. Here is what a doctor might ask you.
- Tell me what are you feeling: khabberneh / khabrineh (m/f) b shou 3am betHess? (خبرني / خبريني بشو عم بتحس؟)
- Where does it hurt?: wein 3am youja3ak / youja3ik? (وين عم يوجعك؟)
- For how long has it been hurting?: ‘addeh sarlo l waja3? (قدّي صرّلو الوجع؟)
- Is it something common in your family (hereditary)?: hal hayda shi wirateh b 3ayltak / 3ayltik? (هل هيدا شي وراثة بعيلتك؟)
- Do you have any chronic illness?: 3andak / 3andik amraD mouzmineh? (عندك أمراض مزمنة؟)
- Do you have any kind of allergy?: 3andak / 3andik Hasasiyyeh 3a shi? (عندك حساسية ع شي؟)
4. Treatment & Well Wishes
After the examination, the doctor will recommend treatment.
- Medicines: ‘edwiyeh (أدوية) (Singular is dawa – دواء)
- You buy medicine from the pharmacy: saydaliyyeh (صيدلية)
- The doctor might say: “Take the medicine three times per day” – btekhod l dawa tlet marrat bil nhar (بتاخد الدوا ثلاث مرات بالنهار)
To wish someone well, you say:
- salemtak (سلامتك) to a man.
- salemtik (سلامتك) to a woman.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
| Lebanese Phrase | Transliteration | English Meaning |
| أنا مريض / مريضة | Ana mareed / marida | I am sick (m/f) |
| بدي شوف الحكيم | Baddeh shouf l Hakeem | I want to see the doctor |
| وجع | Waja3 | Pain / Ache |
| معدتي عم توجعني | Me3dteh 3am touja3neh | My stomach is hurting |
| في شي خطر؟ | Fi shi khuter? | Is it something serious? |
| في علاج؟ | Fi 3ileij? | Is there a treatment? |
| عملية | 3amaliyyeh | Operation / Surgery |
| وين عم يوجعك؟ | Wein 3am youja3ak? | Where does it hurt? (to a man) |
| أمراض مزمنة | AmraD mouzmineh | Chronic illnesses |
| أدوية | ‘Edwiyeh | Medicines |
| صيدلية | Saydaliyyeh | Pharmacy |
| سلامتك | Salemtak / Salemtik | Get well soon (to m/f) |
