Lesson 33: How to Talk to a Doctor in Lebanese Arabic

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.

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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)