When learning Tamil, especially if you plan to travel or live in Tamil Nadu or other Tamil-speaking regions, having a basic understanding of vocabulary related to healthcare and medical situations is incredibly important. This knowledge could prove crucial in emergencies or even during routine visits to a local clinic. In this article, we will cover key phrases and vocabulary that can help English speakers communicate effectively in Tamil during healthcare-related situations.
Basic Healthcare Vocabulary
Doctor in Tamil is เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฐเฏ (Maruththuvar). If you need to see a doctor, you might say:
เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฐเฏ เฎชเฎพเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Enakku maruththuvarai paarkka vendum.)
This translates to “I need to see a doctor.”
Hospital is called เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฎเฎฉเฏ (Maruththuvamanai) in Tamil. In case of an emergency, you could say:
เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎตเฎฎเฎฉเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Enakku maruththuvamanaikku poga vendum.)
Meaning “I need to go to the hospital.”
Pharmacy or drugstore in Tamil is เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฎเฎฎเฏ (Marunthagam). If you need to buy medicine, you might say:
เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎตเฎพเฎเฏเฎ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฎเฎคเฏเฎคเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎเฏ เฎชเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ. (Marunthu vaanga marunthagaththirku poga vendum.)
This means “I need to go to the pharmacy to buy medicine.”
Describing Symptoms
When visiting a doctor or speaking about health issues, it’s important to know how to describe your symptoms in Tamil.
Pain is translated as เฎตเฎฒเฎฟ (Vali). To express that something hurts, you could say:
เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎคเฎฒเฏเฎตเฎฒเฎฟ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (Enakku thalaivali irukkirathu.)
This means “I have a headache.”
Fever is called เฎเฎพเฎฏเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฒเฏ (Kaaychal). If you are experiencing a fever, you might say:
เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎพเฎฏเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฒเฏ เฎเฎฐเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฏ. (Enakku kaaychal irukkirathu.)
This translates to “I have a fever.”
Asking for Help
Itโs also useful to know how to ask for help in medical situations.
To ask for immediate medical assistance, you can say:
เฎคเฎฏเฎตเฏ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฎคเฎตเฏเฎเฏเฎเฎณเฏ! เฎเฎฉเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎคเฏเฎคเฏเฎต เฎเฎคเฎตเฎฟ เฎคเฏเฎตเฏ. (Thayavu seithu udhavungal! Enakku maruththuva udhavi thevai.)
This means “Please help! I need medical assistance.”
Medication and Prescriptions
Understanding terms related to medication and prescriptions is crucial when you need treatment.
Prescription is called เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ (Marunthu seettu) in Tamil. You might need to ask:
เฎคเฎฏเฎตเฏ เฎเฏเฎฏเฏเฎคเฏ เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎดเฏเฎคเฎฟ เฎคเฎฐเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฏเฎฐเฏเฎเฎณเฎพ? (Thayavu seithu marunthu seettai ezhuthi tharugireergalaa?)
This translates to “Could you please write a prescription?”
When you need to take medicine, knowing how to ask about the dosage is important:
เฎเฎจเฏเฎค เฎฎเฎฐเฏเฎจเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฎตเฏเฎตเฎณเฎตเฏ เฎฎเฏเฎฑเฏ เฎเฎเฏเฎเฏเฎ เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ? (Indha marunthu evvalavu murai edukka vendum?)
This means “How many times should I take this medicine?”
Insurance and Payments
If you are in a hospital or a clinic, it’s possible you’ll need to discuss insurance or payments.
Insurance is translated as เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎเฏ (Kaappeedu) in Tamil. You might need to confirm:
เฎเฎฉเฏเฎฉเฏเฎเฏเฎฏ เฎเฎพเฎชเฏเฎชเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎเฏเฎเฏ เฎเฎฑเฏเฎฑเฏเฎเฏเฎเฏเฎณเฏเฎณเฎชเฏเฎชเฎเฏเฎเฎฟเฎฑเฎคเฎพ? (Ennudaiya kaappeedu ingu yetrukkollapadugirathaa?)
This means “Is my insurance accepted here?”
Discussing payment options is also essential:
เฎจเฎพเฎฉเฏ เฎเฎเฏเฎเฎฃเฎคเฏเฎคเฏ เฎเฎชเฏเฎชเฎเฎฟ เฎเฏเฎฒเฏเฎคเฏเฎค เฎตเฏเฎฃเฏเฎเฏเฎฎเฏ? (Naan kattanaththai eppadi selutha vendum?)
This translates to “How should I make the payment?”
Conclusion
Mastering these Tamil phrases and vocabulary for healthcare and medical situations not only eases your communication in critical moments but also helps integrate you more deeply into Tamil culture. Whether itโs a minor ailment or a visit to the hospital, being prepared with the right words can make a significant difference in your experiences and outcomes.