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Russian vocabulary·здоро́вье · health

Russian health vocabulary

Short answer: health is здоро́вье (zda-RO-v’ye). Most symptoms follow one pattern, у меня́ + noun, literally “at me is…”: У меня́ на́сморк, “I have a runny nose”. In Russian, температу́ра on its own means a fever. The emergency number is 112 (or 103 for an ambulance).

40°37° 38,2° Russians write a comma, not a point У меня́ температу́ра. at · me · temperature = I have a fever.
Temperatures are in Celsius. Anything above 37° counts as температу́ра.
On this page Symptomsболи́т or боле́етAt the doctor’sAt the pharmacyEmergenciesGet-well wishesRelated guides

Symptoms: у меня́ + noun

Russian has no verb “to have” in everyday speech. Instead it says “at me (there is)”: у + the person in the genitive (the case for “of” and “at someone’s”), then the symptom in its dictionary form. Tap a card to hear the full sentence.

боли́т or боле́ет: two verbs that look alike

Russian has two different verbs spelt боле́ть. One means “to hurt” and is used about a body part; the other means “to be ill” and is used about a person. Their present forms differ by one vowel.

BODY PART HURTS · SUBJECT = THE PARTPERSON IS ILL · SUBJECT = THE PERSON У меня́ боли́т зуб. at · me · hurts · tooth = My tooth hurts. Plural: У меня́ боля́т глаза́. My eyes hurt. Ма́ма боле́ет. mum · is ill = Mum is ill. With an illness: Он боле́ет гри́ппом. He has flu.
боли́т (ba-LEET) goes with a body part; боле́ет (ba-LYE-yit) goes with a person, and the illness is in the instrumental case.

At the doctor’s

A visit to a local clinic, called a поликли́ника (pa-li-KLEE-ni-ka). Doctors use вы, and patients address them as до́ктор or by name and patronymic.

Doctor na shto ZHA-lu-ye-tis’ Наaboutчтоwhatжа́луетесьyou complain What seems to be the problem?
You u mi-NYA ba-LEET GOR-la i tim-pi-ra-TU-ra Уatменя́meболи́тhurtsго́рлоthroatиandтемперату́раfever I have a sore throat and a fever.
Doctor kak dav-NO vy ba-LYE-ye-tye Какhowдавно́longвыyouболе́етеare ill How long have you been ill?
You u-ZHE tri dnya Уже́alreadyтриthreeдняdays Three days now.
Doctor at-KROY-tye rot, ska-ZHY-tye a Откро́йтеopenротmouthскажи́теsayа-а-аah Open your mouth and say “ah”.
Doctor E-ta pras-TU-da. ya VY-pi-shu vam li-KARST-va Э́тоit’sпросту́даcoldЯIвы́пишуwill prescribeвамto youлека́рствоmedicine It’s a cold. I’ll prescribe you some medicine.
You kak yi-VO pri-ni-MAT’ Какhowего́itпринима́тьto take How should I take it?
Doctor pa ad-NOY tab-LYET-kye tri RA-za v dyen’ POS-lye yi-DY Поeachодно́йoneтабле́ткеtabletтриthreeра́заtimesвaденьdayпо́слеafterеды́food One tablet three times a day after meals.

At the pharmacy

Russian pharmacies (апте́ка, marked with a green cross) sell many medicines over the counter. Ask for what you need with Да́йте, пожа́луйста… (Please give me…) or name the symptom: У вас есть что́-нибудь от ка́шля? “Do you have anything for a cough?” From a symptom takes от + genitive.

WordEnglishSomething for… (от + genitive)
лека́рство ▸li-KARST-va medicine —
табле́тки ▸tab-LYET-ki tablets от головно́й бо́ли (for a headache)
ка́пли ▸KAP-li drops от на́сморка (for a runny nose)
сиро́п ▸si-ROP syrup от ка́шля (for a cough)
пла́стырь ▸PLAS-tyr’ plaster —
реце́пт ▸ri-TSEPT prescription —

Emergencies

112 connects to every emergency service from any phone. The phrases below are short on purpose: say them clearly, then give the address.

pa-ma-GEE-tye Помоги́теhelp Help!
VY-za-vi-tye SKO-ru-yu Вы́зовитеcallско́руюambulance Call an ambulance!
mnye PLO-kha Мнеto meпло́хоbad I feel unwell.
gdye bli-ZHAY-sha-ya bal’-NEE-tsa Гдеwhereближа́йшаяnearestбольни́цаhospital Where is the nearest hospital?

Get-well wishes

Wishing someone health is part of everyday Russian, from sneezes to toasts. Each phrase has a ты form and a вы form.

  1. vyz-da-RAV-li-vayВыздора́вливайget well (ты)Выздора́вливайтеget well (вы) Get well soon!Imperfective: “keep getting better”.
  2. but’ zda-ROFБудьbeздоро́вhealthyБу́дьтеbe (вы)здоро́выhealthy Bless you! / Stay healthy!Said after a sneeze, and when saying goodbye. To a woman: будь здоро́ва.
  3. bi-ri-GEE si-BYAБереги́take careсебя́yourself Take care of yourself!A warm goodbye, especially to someone unwell.
  4. za VA-she zda-RO-v’yeЗаtoва́шеyourздоро́вьеhealth To your health!The classic toast.