When traveling to Thailand or interacting with Thai speakers, knowing some basic medical and health-related vocabulary can be incredibly useful. Not only does it help in communicating your health needs, but it also ensures that you can understand directions and advice given by medical professionals. In this article, we will explore essential Thai medical vocabulary and phrases that will prepare you for a visit to the hospital, a pharmacy, or just talking about health in general.
Basic Medical Terms
Doctor in Thai is “หมอ” (maw). If you need to see a doctor, you might say:
Hospital is translated as “โรงพยาบาล” (roong pha-ya-baan). In case of an emergency, you might need to say:
Pharmacy or “ร้านขายยา” (ráan kăai yaa) is where you get your prescriptions filled. To ask where the pharmacy is, you could ask:
Medicine is generally referred to as “ยา” (yaa) in Thai. If you need medicine, you might say:
Describing Symptoms
Being able to describe your symptoms accurately is crucial. For fever, the Thai word is “ไข้” (kâi). You might need to say:
For pain, the word is “ปวด” (bpùat). If you’re experiencing a headache, you would say:
If you have a stomachache, you could express this by saying:
Cough in Thai is “ไอ” (ai) and to say you have a cough, you would say:
Asking for Help or Advice
Knowing how to ask for help or advice in a pharmacy or hospital is equally important. To ask for something that helps with pain, you might say:
If you need something for a cold, you could ask:
In case you need to explain that you’re allergic to something, it’s crucial to know the word for allergic, which is “แพ้” (páe). You could say:
Visiting a Hospital or Clinic
When visiting a hospital, you might need to fill out forms or describe your health history. Knowing terms for health insurance, “ประกันสุขภาพ” (bprà-gan sùk-kà-pâap), can be helpful. You might need to explain:
If you’re referred to a specialist, the term in Thai is “แพทย์เฉพาะทาง” (páet chà-pâw taang). You might hear:
Emergency Situations
In an emergency, knowing some key phrases can make a big difference. For instance, to call for an ambulance, you would say:
To tell someone you need help immediately, you could express:
Understanding and being able to use these basic Thai medical and health vocabulary can significantly ease your communication in a medical setting, ensuring that you receive the appropriate care and assistance. Whether it’s a minor ailment or a more serious condition, being prepared with the right words can make your healthcare experience in Thailand much smoother.
