Learning the language of healthcare and medical terminology can be incredibly helpful, especially if you are traveling or living in a country where it’s not your native language. In Iceland, where Icelandic is the primary language, becoming familiar with key healthcare and medical vocabulary can facilitate your interactions with healthcare professionals and improve your understanding of medical documents.

Læknir (Doctor)
The person qualified to practice medicine, diagnose illnesses, and offer treatment.
Hvar er næsti læknir? (Where is the nearest doctor?)

Hjúkrunarfræðingur (Nurse)
A healthcare professional who takes care of patients, administers medications, and assists doctors.
Hjúkrunarfræðingurinn gaf mér verkir lyf. (The nurse gave me pain medication.)

Apothek (Pharmacy)
A place where prescription drugs are dispensed and various healthcare products are sold.
Ég þarf að fara í apothek til að sækja lyfseðilinn minn. (I need to go to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription.)

Lyf (Medicine)
Any substance used in the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of diseases or as a component of medication.
Taktu lyfið þitt tvisvar á dag eftir máltíð. (Take your medicine twice a day after meals.)

Sjúkrahús (Hospital)
A healthcare institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment.
Ég þarf að vera í sjúkrahúsinu í nokkra daga. (I need to stay in the hospital for a few days.)

Sjúkdómur (Disease)
A particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of part or all of an organism.
Læknirinn greindi hann með hjartasjúkdóm. (The doctor diagnosed him with heart disease.)

Meðferð (Treatment)
The management and care of a patient or the combating of disease or disorder.
Hann er undir læknisfræðilegri meðferð fyrir hans ástand. (He is undergoing medical treatment for his condition.)

Bráðamóttaka (Emergency Room)
The part of a hospital where people who have severe injuries or sudden illnesses are taken for immediate treatment.
Hún var send beint í bráðamóttöku eftir slysið. (She was sent straight to the emergency room after the accident.)

Einkenni (Symptom)
A physical or mental feature that indicates a condition of disease, particularly such a feature that is apparent to the patient.
Hann fór til læknisins vegna andþyngs sem var nýtt einkenni. (He went to the doctor because of new onset shortness of breath which was a new symptom.)

Smit (Infection)
The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites that are not normally present within the body.
Læknirinn staðfesti að hún hafði hálsbólgu smit. (The doctor confirmed that she had a throat infection.)

Fyrirbyggjandi (Preventive)
Designed to keep something undesirable such as illness, harm, or accidents from occurring.
Fyrirbyggjandi aðgerðir geta komið í veg fyrir margar sjúkdóma. (Preventive measures can avoid many diseases.)

Tilvísun (Referral)
A letter from a primary care doctor to see a specialist for further examination or treatment.
Læknirinn gaf mér tilvísun til sérfræðingsins. (The doctor gave me a referral to the specialist.)

These are just a few terms to get you started on expanding your Icelandic medical vocabulary. With these words, you can help ensure that you’re able to communicate more effectively in healthcare settings in Iceland. Keep in mind that Icelandic has different rules for grammar and pronunciation, so practicing with native speakers or taking a language course could be beneficial for mastering these terms.