Words for your next conversation
Russian at the doctor and pharmacy
When you feel unwell, even a familiar language can be harder to find. Prepare a few short sentences about what hurts, when it started and any allergies you need to mention. This vocabulary helps you ask a clinician or pharmacist for clarification, including a request to write instructions down. The examples practise communication only and give no diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Bring the names of any medicines you take, and ask for an interpreter if you cannot understand important instructions.
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24 words and phrases to try
An accent marks the stressed vowel. Transliteration is a reading aid; ё carries its own stress.
| Russian | Transliteration | Meaning | In a sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| приём | priyom | appointment / consultation | У меня́ приём в три. My appointment is at three. |
| за́пись | zápis | appointment booking | Ну́жна предвари́тельная за́пись? Do I need to book in advance? |
| страхо́вка | strakhóvka | insurance | Вот моя́ страхо́вка. Here is my insurance. |
| жа́лоба | zháloba | complaint / symptom | Основна́я жа́лоба — боль. The main complaint is pain. |
| боль | bol | pain | Боль начала́сь вчера́. The pain started yesterday. |
| ка́шель | káshel | cough | У меня́ сухо́й ка́шель. I have a dry cough. |
| на́сморк | násmork | runny nose | На́сморк уже́ два дня. I've had a runny nose for two days. |
| сы́пь | sýp | rash | Сы́пь появи́лась у́тром. The rash appeared this morning. |
| тошнота́ | toshnotá | nausea | Тошнота́ не прохо́дит. The nausea isn't going away. |
| головокруже́ние | golovokruzhénie | dizziness | У меня́ головокруже́ние. I feel dizzy. |
| аллерги́я | allergíya | allergy | У меня́ аллерги́я на оре́хи. I have a nut allergy. |
| давле́ние | davlénie | blood pressure | Мо́жно изме́рить давле́ние? Can you measure my blood pressure? |
| осмо́тр | osmótr | examination | Когда́ бу́дет осмо́тр? When will the examination be? |
| ана́лиз | análiz | test | Когда́ бу́дет гото́в ана́лиз? When will the test result be ready? |
| лека́рство | lekárstvo | medicine | Вот лека́рство, кото́рое я принима́ю. Here is the medicine I take. |
| дозиро́вка | doziróvka | dosage | Уточни́те дозиро́вку, пожа́луйста. Please clarify the dosage. |
| инстру́кция | instrúktsiya | instructions / leaflet | Есть инстру́кция на англи́йском? Are there instructions in English? |
| побо́чный эффе́кт | pobóchnyy effékt | side effect | Како́й возмо́жен побо́чный эффе́кт? What side effect is possible? |
| Мне ну́жен врач. | Mne núzhen vrach. | I need a doctor. | Мне ну́жен врач сего́дня. I need a doctor today. |
| Тру́дно дыша́ть. | Trúdno dyshát. | It's hard to breathe. | Мне тру́дно дыша́ть. I'm finding it hard to breathe. |
| Бо́льно глота́ть. | Bólno glotát. | It hurts to swallow. | Мне бо́льно глота́ть. It hurts when I swallow. |
| Как принима́ть? | Kak prinimát? | How should I take it? | Как принима́ть э́то лека́рство? How should I take this medicine? |
| По реце́пту? | Po retséptu? | On prescription? | Э́то то́лько по реце́пту? Is this prescription-only? |
| Напиши́те, пожа́луйста. | Napishíte, pozháluysta. | Please write it down. | Напиши́те, пожа́луйста, назва́ние. Please write down the name. |
Try the conversation
A: Мне ну́жен врач. У меня́ ка́шель.
I need a doctor. I have a cough.
B: Когда́ он начался́?
When did it start?
A: Вчера́. Я пло́хо понима́ю по-ру́сски.
Yesterday. I don't understand Russian very well.
B: Дава́йте найдём перево́дчика.
Let's find an interpreter.
Questions about this situation
Does this page tell me which medicine to take?
How can I ask for written instructions?
How do I mention an allergy?
Keep exploring
Make this set yours
Add your own words with AI and build a set around the conversations you want to have.