Understanding how to talk about health and sickness is an essential part of any language learning journey. Whether you’re looking to describe your own health status or understand someone else’s, knowing the right vocabulary can make all the difference. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the Croatian words for healthy and sick, and explore related vocabulary. This will not only help you communicate more effectively but also deepen your cultural understanding.

Basic Vocabulary: Healthy vs. Sick

Let’s start with the basic words for “healthy” and “sick” in Croatian.

Zdravo – Healthy
Osjećam se zdravo danas.

Bolestan (masculine) / Bolesna (feminine) – Sick
On je bolestan, a ona je bolesna.

Expanding Your Vocabulary

Now, let’s look at some more specific terms that can help you describe various aspects of health and sickness.

Zdravlje – Health
Važno je voditi računa o svom zdravlju.

Bolest – Illness/Disease
Njegova bolest je ozbiljna.

Prehlada – Cold (common cold)
Imam prehladu i curi mi nos.

Gripa – Flu
Ovog tjedna se borim s gripom.

Simptomi – Symptoms
Koji su vaši simptomi?

Lijek – Medicine
Trebam uzeti lijek za glavobolju.

Liječnik – Doctor
Moram posjetiti liječnika.

Bolnica – Hospital
Hitno sam odvezen u bolnicu.

Apoteka – Pharmacy
Kupio sam lijek u apoteci.

Describing How You Feel

Being able to describe how you feel is crucial, especially when you’re not feeling well. Here are some useful phrases and vocabulary.

Osjećam se – I feel
Osjećam se bolje nego jučer.

Umoran (masculine) / Umorna (feminine) – Tired
Danas sam vrlo umoran.

Slab (masculine) / Slaba (feminine) – Weak
Osjećam se slabo nakon bolesti.

Glavobolja – Headache
Imam jaku glavobolju.

Vrtoglavica – Dizziness
Osjećam vrtoglavicu.

Groznica – Fever
Imam visoku groznicu.

Bol – Pain
Osjećam bol u trbuhu.

Kašalj – Cough
Imam jak kašalj.

Mučnina – Nausea
Osjećam mučninu cijeli dan.

Useful Phrases for Visiting the Doctor

When visiting a doctor, it’s important to be able to describe your symptoms and understand some common questions and instructions. Here are some useful phrases.

Imam problema sa zdravljem – I have health problems
Imam problema sa zdravljem već tjedan dana.

Osjećam bol ovdje – I feel pain here
Osjećam bol ovdje kad dišem.

Koliko dugo imate ove simptome? – How long have you had these symptoms?
Koliko dugo imate ove simptome?

Jeste li alergični na nešto? – Are you allergic to anything?
Jeste li alergični na nešto?

Morate se odmoriti – You need to rest
Morate se odmoriti i uzeti lijekove.

Uzmite ovaj lijek dvaput dnevno – Take this medicine twice a day
Uzmite ovaj lijek dvaput dnevno nakon jela.

Vratite se na kontrolu za tjedan dana – Come back for a check-up in a week
Vratite se na kontrolu za tjedan dana.

Preventative Measures and Healthy Habits

To stay healthy, it’s important to adopt certain habits and take preventative measures. Here are some useful words and phrases.

Prehrana – Diet
Zdrava prehrana je ključna za dobro zdravlje.

Vježbanje – Exercise
Redovito vježbanje pomaže u održavanju zdravlja.

San – Sleep
Dobar san je važan za oporavak.

Hidratacija – Hydration
Hidratacija je bitna za zdravlje kože.

Vitamini – Vitamins
Uzimam vitamine svakodnevno.

Pranje ruku – Handwashing
Pranje ruku sprječava širenje bolesti.

Cijepljenje – Vaccination
Cijepljenje je važno za prevenciju bolesti.

Preventivni pregledi – Preventive check-ups
Redoviti preventivni pregledi mogu otkriti bolesti u ranoj fazi.

Emergency Situations

In case of an emergency, it’s crucial to know the right words and phrases to communicate effectively.

Hitna pomoć – Emergency aid
Odmah zovite hitnu pomoć!

Nesreća – Accident
Dogodila se nesreća na cesti.

Ozljeda – Injury
Imam tešku ozljedu na nozi.

Krvarenje – Bleeding
Krvarenje se mora odmah zaustaviti.

Gubitak svijesti – Loss of consciousness
Doživio je gubitak svijesti.

Zovite liječnika – Call the doctor
Zovite liječnika odmah!

Hitna situacija – Emergency situation
Ovo je hitna situacija.

Conclusion

Knowing how to discuss health and sickness is invaluable, whether you’re traveling, living in a Croatian-speaking country, or simply expanding your language skills. By familiarizing yourself with these key words and phrases, you’ll be better equipped to handle various health-related situations, from everyday conversations to emergencies. Remember, practice makes perfect, so try using these words in sentences and real-life situations as much as possible.