Health & Hospital

1. Kam nevojë për mjek.

   I need a doctor.

   Usage

   Used in urgent situations when medical attention is required

   Grammar Note

   "Kam nevojë për" means "I need" (literally "I have need for")

2. Ku është spitali më i afërt?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Used to locate the nearest hospital in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "Më i afërt" is the superlative: "më" (most) + "i afërt" (near/close). Gender: masculine form

3. Jam alergjik ndaj penicilinës.

   I am allergic to penicillin.

   Usage

   Used to inform medical staff about a penicillin allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Alergjik" is masculine; females say "alergjike". "Ndaj" means "towards/against"

4. Kam dhimbje koke.

   I have a headache.

   Usage

   Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist

   Grammar Note

   "Kam dhimbje koke" = "I have a head pain". "Dhimbje + body part" describes symptoms

5. Kam humbur barnat e mia.

   I have lost my medication.

   Usage

   Used to inform a pharmacist or doctor that medication has been lost

   Grammar Note

   "Kam humbur" is the present perfect (kam + past participle), equivalent to "I have lost"

6. A keni nevojë për recetë?

   Do you need a prescription?

   Usage

   Used by a pharmacist to formally ask a patient if a prescription is needed

   Grammar Note

   "Keni" is 2nd person plural of "have", used formally. "Nevojë" = need/necessity

7. Ndihem keq.

   I feel sick.

   Usage

   Used to express feeling unwell to others

   Grammar Note

   "Ndihem" is a reflexive verb meaning "I feel (myself)". "Keq" means "bad"

8. Kam sigurim shëndetësor.

   I have health insurance.

   Usage

   Used to inform a hospital or clinic that you have health insurance

   Grammar Note

   "Shëndetësor" means "health-related", derived from "shëndet" (health) + suffix -ësor

9. Ku është farmacia?

   Where is the pharmacy?

   Usage

   Used to find a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Farmacia" is the definite form of "farmaci" (pharmacy): the feminine definite suffix -a is added to "farmaci"

10. Thirrni një ambulancë!

    Call an ambulance!

    Usage

    Used in a medical emergency to call for an ambulance

    Grammar Note

    "Thirrni" is the 2nd person plural imperative of "thërras" (to call). The "!" signals urgency

11. shtatzënë

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Point to this before any treatment; it changes what medication or X-rays are safe

12. astmë

    Asthma

    Usage

    Point to declare a chronic condition; definite form "astma"

13. diabet

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Point to declare diabetes; also useful when explaining dietary limits

14. presion i lartë i gjakut

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    For declaring hypertension; low blood pressure is "presion i ulët i gjakut"

15. sëmundje e zemrës

    Heart disease

    Usage

    For declaring a cardiac condition; show it to paramedics first

16. epilepsi

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    To tell bystanders before or after a seizure

17. sigurim shëndetësor

    Health insurance

    Usage

    Point at reception while handing over your insurance card

18. thyerje kocke

    Bone fracture

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the injured part; the clinical term "frakturë" also works

19. Kam vështirësi në frymëmarrje.

    I have difficulty breathing.

    Usage

    Show this when you cannot breathe well; an early sign of asthma or anaphylaxis

20. marramendje

    Dizziness

    Usage

    For light-headedness or vertigo

21. gjakderdhje

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at where you are bleeding

22. djegie

    Burn

    Usage

    A burn injury; sunburn is "djegie nga dielli"

23. plagë

    Wound

    Usage

    An open cut or graze; definite form "plaga"

24. vesh

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at your ear while showing it — the same spelling is also the verb "to wear"

25. qafë

    Neck

    Usage

    For neck pain or a stiff neck

26. sup

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at your shoulder; "shpatull" (shoulder blade area) is also used

27. gju

    Knee

    Usage

    For knee pain or injury; definite form "gjuri"

28. gisht

    Finger

    Usage

    Covers fingers and toes alike: "gisht dore" (finger), "gisht këmbe" (toe)

29. lëkurë

    Skin

    Usage

    For skin problems; definite form "lëkura"

30. krah

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at your arm — the word also means "wing"

31. hundë

    Nose

    Usage

    For a blocked nose or a nosebleed

32. kollë

    Cough

    Usage

    The symptom "cough"; definite form "kolla"

33. kruajtje

    Itching

    Usage

    Point at the itchy spot; as a sentence, "Më kruhet"

34. skuqje e lëkurës

    Rash

    Usage

    For an allergic rash; "skuqje" alone means redness in general

35. kapsllëk

    Constipation

    Usage

    Point to this at a pharmacy; diarrhoea is "diarre"

36. menstruacione

    Menstrual period

    Usage

    Albanian normally uses this direct term rather than a euphemism

37. grupi i gjakut

    Blood type

    Usage

    Show it when you need to give your blood group before a transfusion or surgery; "gjak" is blood. Albanian uses this phrase only in the definite, because the genitive "i gjakut" requires the definite "grupi"

38. raport mjekësor

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    Show it when asking a doctor for a written statement, for an insurance claim or a sick note

39. shtrim në spital

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Being taken into hospital for treatment. "shtrim" is the act of laying someone in, as in "shtrimi i të sëmurëve" (admitting the sick); the Latinate "hospitalizim" is also used

40. të dridhura

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering cold that comes before or with a fever. The singular "dridhje" also means mechanical vibration, so the symptom is named with this plural form

41. rrufë

    Common cold

    Usage

    The ordinary cold with a runny nose and sneezing; "Jam me rrufë" means "I have a cold". "ftohje" also means a cold but doubles as the word for cooling, so this one is safer to point at. Note that "rrufe" without the ë is a different word, "lightning"

42. Thirrni një mjek!

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Used to ask someone present to fetch a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The "Thirrni një + indefinite noun" pattern of "Thirrni një ambulancë!" with "mjek" (doctor), as in "Kam nevojë për mjek."

43. Kam dhimbje këtu

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Used while pointing at the spot that hurts when talking to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    The "Kam dhimbje + body part" pattern of "Kam dhimbje koke." with the noun replaced by the adverb "këtu" (the word in "Ndaloni këtu")

44. Kam lodhje fizike

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor that you feel weak and heavy-limbed

    Grammar Note

    The "Kam + symptom noun phrase" pattern of "Kam dhimbje koke.". Examples with "lodhje": "Lodhje mendore (fizike, trupore)." (mental or physical fatigue) and "Ndien lodhje." (to feel tired)

45. Kam vjellë disa herë

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor how many times you have been sick

    Grammar Note

    The "Kam + past participle" perfect of "Kam humbur barnat e mia.". "herë" is the word in "Edhe një herë, ju lutem". "vjell" means bringing up through the mouth food the stomach cannot keep down

46. A kam nevojë për pushim?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Used to ask a doctor whether you should stay at rest after being examined

    Grammar Note

    Combines the question particle "A" of "A keni nevojë për recetë?" (do you need a prescription?) and the "Kam nevojë për + noun" frame of "Kam nevojë për doktor". Sense 2 of "pushim" is rest, the free time after work during which a person rests

47. diarre

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Point to this to tell a doctor or pharmacist; constipation is "kapsllëk"

48. jashtëqitje

    Poop

    Usage

    A neutral, medical-leaning word (feces). Use it to describe your stool to a doctor

49. urinë

    Pee

    Usage

    The colloquial "shurrë" is slang or crude, so the neutral "urinë" (urine) is used. Use it to describe your urine to a doctor

50. Kam diarre.

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    The same "Kam + noun" frame as "Kam dhimbje koke." (I have a headache). "Diarre" is used bare, in the indefinite form, to name the symptom

51. Kam kapsllëk.

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    The same "Kam + noun" frame as "Kam dhimbje koke.". The noun is "kapsllëk" (constipation)

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