Dutch Health Vocabulary — Pharmacy, Symptoms & Medicine

Learning how to talk about health in Dutch is crucial whether you live in the Netherlands, plan to visit, or want to communicate in emergency situations. This article provides essential Dutch words and phrases related to the human body, symptoms, diseases, medical visits, treatments, and well-being.

🧍 Common Health-Related Nouns

• de gezondheid – health
• de dokter – doctor
• de patiënt – patient
• de ziekte – illness
• het ziekenhuis – hospital
• de apotheek – pharmacy
• de behandeling – treatment
• de afspraak – appointment

🩺 Symptoms and Feelings

• de pijn – pain
• de koorts – fever
• misselijk – nauseous
• duizelig – dizzy
• moe – tired
• verkouden – to have a cold
• hoofdpijn – headache
• keelpijn – sore throat

🏥 At the Doctor's Office

• Ik voel me niet goed. – I don’t feel well.
• Ik heb pijn hier. – I have pain here.
• Heeft u een afspraak? – Do you have an appointment?
• Neem deze medicijnen in. – Take this medicine.
• Blijf in bed. – Stay in bed.

💊 Common Health-Related Verbs

• genezen – to heal
• hoesten – to cough
• slaan – to hit
• ademen – to breathe
• niezen – to sneeze
• slikken – to swallow

📌 Tips for Using Health Vocabulary

• Practice with role-plays for emergencies and doctor visits.
• Use visual aids and flashcards for symptoms and medications.
• Listen to Dutch medical dialogues online or via YouTube.

📚 Related Lessons

• Body Vocabulary
• Dutch Jobs & Professions
• Basic Dutch Verbs