Ég þarf lækni
I need a doctor
Usage
Basic phrase for asking for medical help when ill or hurt
Grammar Note
"Þurfa" (to need) takes the accusative, so "læknir" becomes "lækni". The emergency number in Iceland is 112. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Hvar er næsta sjúkrahús?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Use it to find the nearest hospital in an emergency
Grammar Note
"Sjúkrahús" is neuter, so the adjective is the neuter "næsta". It is built from "sjúkra-" (of the sick) and "hús" (house). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég er með ofnæmi fyrir hnetum
I am allergic to nuts
Usage
Essential for telling a restaurant or doctor about a nut allergy
Grammar Note
"Vera með ofnæmi fyrir" plus the dative means to be allergic to something; "hneta" becomes "hnetum" in the dative plural. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Mér líður illa
I am not feeling well
Usage
Basic phrase to say that you feel unwell
Grammar Note
"Líða" takes a dative subject: "Mér líður illa" literally means "it goes badly for me". Do not say "Ég líð illa"
Ég er með magaverk
I have a stomachache
Usage
Use it to describe stomach pain to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Verkur" (pain) becomes "verk" in the accusative after "með". "Magaverkur" is "maga-" (of the stomach) plus "verkur". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég tek þessi lyf
I am taking these medications
Usage
Use it to tell a doctor or pharmacist what you are taking; show the packaging if you can
Grammar Note
"Lyf" is a neuter noun with the same singular and plural form; the plural demonstrative is "þessi" (singular "þetta lyf"). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Hringið í sjúkrabíl!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Emergency phrase for asking bystanders to call an ambulance
Grammar Note
"Hringja í" plus the accusative means to phone someone; to a single person say "Hringdu í sjúkrabíl!". The emergency number is 112. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ertu með ferðatryggingu?
Do you have travel insurance?
Usage
Use it when hospital staff ask about, or you check, travel insurance
Grammar Note
"Ertu" is the contraction of "ert þú". "Vera með" means "to have" and takes the accusative, so "ferðatrygging" becomes "ferðatryggingu" (the dative has the same form). Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég er ófrísk
I am pregnant
Usage
Important phrase for telling medical staff that you are pregnant
Grammar Note
"Ófrískur" is an adjective; a woman says the feminine "ófrísk". A more casual word is "ólétt"
Geturðu hjálpað mér?
Can you help me?
Usage
Basic request for help in a medical situation or emergency
Grammar Note
"Hjálpa" takes the dative (ég becomes mér). "Geturðu" is the usual spoken contraction of "getur þú"
Astmi
Asthma
Usage
Point to it at a clinic or pharmacy to declare asthma
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. As a sentence: "Ég er með astma" (I have asthma)
Sykursýki
Diabetes
Usage
Declares diabetes; a starting point for explaining diet limits or insulin
Grammar Note
A feminine noun from "sykur" (sugar) and "sýki" (disease). As a sentence: "Ég er með sykursýki"
Háþrýstingur
High blood pressure
Usage
Declares high blood pressure, which affects which medicines you can be given
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "há-" (high) and "þrýstingur" (pressure). As a sentence: "Ég er með háþrýsting"
Hjartasjúkdómur
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a heart condition, which bears directly on anaesthesia and medication
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "hjarta" (heart) and "sjúkdómur" (disease)
Flogaveiki
Epilepsy
Usage
Declares epilepsy so bystanders understand a seizure
Grammar Note
A feminine noun from "flog" (seizure) and "veiki" (illness)
Trygging
Insurance
Usage
Point to it when reception asks about your cover
Grammar Note
A feminine noun, also used in compounds such as "ferðatrygging" (travel insurance). The formal term is "vátrygging"
Beinbrot
Bone fracture
Usage
Says you have, or may have, a broken bone
Grammar Note
A neuter noun from "bein" (bone) and "brot" (break)
Öndunarerfiðleikar
Difficulty breathing
Usage
Point to it when you cannot get enough air and cannot speak
Grammar Note
A masculine noun used only in the plural, from "öndun" (breathing) and "erfiðleikar" (difficulties)
Svimi
Dizziness
Usage
Names the symptom of feeling dizzy or unsteady
Grammar Note
A masculine noun; the verb is "svima", as in "Mig svimar" (I feel dizzy), which takes an accusative subject
Blæðing
Bleeding
Usage
Point to it while showing the wound
Grammar Note
A feminine noun; blood itself is "blóð" (neuter)
Brunasár
Burn
Usage
A burn from heat or fire
Grammar Note
A neuter noun from "bruni" (burning) and "sár" (wound). Sunburn is a different word
Sár
Wound
Usage
Names a cut or open wound; show it while pointing at the injury
Grammar Note
A neuter noun. The same spelling is also an adjective meaning "sore" or "hurt"
Eyra
Ear
Usage
Point at your own ear for earache or hearing trouble
Grammar Note
A neuter noun; the plural is "eyru"
Hnakki
Neck (back of the neck)
Usage
The back of the neck, for stiffness or pain there
Grammar Note
A masculine noun; the throat and front of the neck are "háls"
Öxl
Shoulder
Usage
For shoulder pain or dislocation; point at your own shoulder
Grammar Note
A feminine noun; the plural is "axlir"
Hné
Knee
Usage
For knee pain or injury
Grammar Note
A neuter noun; the plural is also "hné"
Fingur
Finger
Usage
For a finger injury; show the affected finger
Grammar Note
A masculine noun; the plural has the same form, "fingur". A toe is "tá"
Húð
Skin
Usage
Point to the affected area when describing skin symptoms
Grammar Note
A feminine noun. It is the word for human skin and also for animal hides
Handleggur
Arm
Usage
For arm pain or injury; point at your own arm
Grammar Note
A masculine noun, a compound of "hand-" (of the hand) and "leggur" (limb)
Nef
Nose
Usage
For a blocked nose or nosebleed; point at your own nose
Grammar Note
A neuter noun; the plural has the same form, "nef"
Hósti
Cough
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist that you are coughing
Grammar Note
A masculine noun; the verb is "hósta". As a sentence: "Ég er með hósta"
Kláði
Itching
Usage
Says that something itches; point at the spot
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. As a sentence: "Ég er með kláða"
Útbrot
Rash
Usage
Point to a skin rash to show it
Grammar Note
A neuter noun used only in the plural
Hægðatregða
Constipation
Usage
Tells a pharmacist or doctor about constipation
Grammar Note
A feminine noun from "hægðir" (bowel movements) and "tregða" (sluggishness)
Blæðingar
Period (menstruation)
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist about your period
Grammar Note
A feminine noun used only in the plural. It literally means "bleedings" and is the usual word for periods
Blóðflokkur
Blood type
Usage
Show it when asked for or giving your blood type
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "blóð" (blood) and "flokkur" (group)
Læknisvottorð
Medical certificate
Usage
Use it to ask for a medical certificate for insurance or proof of absence
Grammar Note
A neuter noun from "læknis-" (doctor's) and "vottorð" (certificate)
Innlögn
Hospital admission
Usage
Used when talking about being admitted to hospital
Grammar Note
A feminine noun; for admission to hospital one says "innlögn á sjúkrahús"
Kuldahrollur
Chills
Usage
Names the shivering that comes with a fever
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "kuldi" (cold) and "hrollur" (shudder)
Kvef
Common cold
Usage
Says that you have a cold
Grammar Note
A neuter noun. "Ég er með kvef" means "I have a cold"
Hringið í lækni, takk
Please call a doctor
Usage
Asks people nearby to phone a doctor
Grammar Note
The final "takk" works as "please" in a request. To one person say "Hringdu". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Það er sárt hérna
It hurts here
Usage
Say it while pointing at the painful spot
Grammar Note
"Sár" is an adjective meaning sore or painful; the neuter form is "sárt". Say it while pointing. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég er slappur
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Describes feeling weak and run down
Grammar Note
A man says "slappur", a woman "slöpp", and the neuter form is "slappt". For example a woman says "Ég er slöpp". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég hef kastað upp nokkrum sinnum
I have vomited several times
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist how often you have vomited
Grammar Note
"Kasta upp" (literally to throw up) means to vomit. "Sinnum" is the dative plural of "sinn" (time), and "nokkrum" matches it. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Þarf ég að hvíla mig?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Asks a doctor whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
"Hvíla mig" is the reflexive way to say rest (literally rest myself). "Þurfa að" plus the infinitive means to need to do something. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Niðurgangur
Diarrhea
Usage
Tells a pharmacist or doctor about diarrhea
Grammar Note
A masculine noun from "niður" (down) and "gangur" (going, passage). The accusative is "niðurgang"
Kúkur
Poop
Usage
An everyday word for stool, used with children. At a clinic, "hægðir" (bowel movements) sounds more formal
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. "Kúkur" can also be an insult for a person, so never aim it at someone. In the sense of stool it shares its root with the verb "kúka" (to poop)
Þvag
Pee (urine)
Usage
The neutral word for urine. Fine both at a clinic and when talking with a child
Grammar Note
A neuter noun. Informal alternatives such as "piss" and "hland" exist, but "piss" also means a tasteless drink, so the neutral "þvag" is used here
Ég er með niðurgang
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
After "vera með" the accusative is used, so "niðurgangur" becomes "niðurgang". This is the standard pattern for naming a symptom. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég er með hægðatregðu
I'm constipated
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist you are constipated
Grammar Note
After "vera með" the accusative is used, so the feminine noun "hægðatregða" becomes "hægðatregðu". Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég þarf að pissa
I need to pee
Usage
Tells a companion or a child you need to pee. Casual everyday speech
Grammar Note
"Þurfa að" plus the infinitive means to need to do something. "Pissa" is a casual verb. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
Ég þarf að kúka
I need to poop
Usage
Tells a companion or a child you need to poop. Casual everyday speech
Grammar Note
"Þurfa að" plus the infinitive means to need to do something. "Kúka" is a casual verb. Composed sentence, to be checked by a native speaker
More Icelandic phrases
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