Telling Someone What Hurts
Short phrases to describe pain, how long and how bad, at the pharmacy, on the phone and at the health centre.
Leo wakes up with a sore throat, then gets a stomach ache that won't go away. Follow him from the pharmacy to a call with the health centre and an appointment with the nurse — the questions they ask, and how he answers.
- 1
Jag har ont i halsen.
My throat hurts.
Tip: Word for word: 'I have pain in the throat'. Body part in the definite form.
- 2
Har ni något mot halsont?
Do you have anything for a sore throat?
Tip: You ask for something 'against' the problem.
- 3
Och jag har lite feber.
And I have a bit of a temperature.
Tip: No article: you have 'a little fever'.
- 4
Hur länge har du haft det?
How long have you had it?
Tip: Perfect tense, just like English.
- 5
Sedan i går kväll.
Since last night.
Tip: Word for word: 'since yesterday evening'.
- 6
Har du svårt att svälja?
Do you have trouble swallowing?
Tip: Word for word: 'have you difficult to swallow?'
- 7
Ja, det gör ont när jag sväljer.
Yes, it hurts when I swallow.
Tip: Word for word: 'it does pain'. The second key way to say something hurts.
- 8
Hostar du?
Are you coughing?
Tip: A yes/no question: just put the verb first.
- 9
Nej, men jag är jättetrött.
No, but I'm really tired.
Tip: The prefix means 'giant' — everyday for 'really'.
- 10
Det här hjälper mot feber och värk.
This helps with fever and aches.
Tip: Again 'against' where English says 'with' or 'for'.
- 11
Ring 1177 om det inte blir bättre.
Call 1177 if it doesn't get better.
Tip: The national healthcare advice number. 'Not' comes before the verb in the if-clause.
- 12
Jag har haft ont i magen i tre dagar.
I've had stomach ache for three days.
Tip: 'For three days' uses the preposition 'in'.
- 13
Var gör det ont?
Where does it hurt?
Tip: The question form of 'it does pain'.
- 14
Längst ner till höger.
Low down on the right.
Tip: Word for word: 'longest down to right'.
- 15
Hur ont gör det, från ett till tio?
How much does it hurt, from one to ten?
Tip: Word for word: 'how bad does it do?' Counting uses the ett form of one.
- 16
Kanske en sexa.
Maybe a six.
Tip: Numbers become nouns for grades and scores: a six = an en-noun.
- 17
Har du ont hela tiden?
Does it hurt all the time?
Tip: Word for word: 'have you pain the whole time?'
- 18
Nej, det kommer och går.
No, it comes and goes.
Tip: Same image as in English.
- 19
Har du kräkts?
Have you been sick (vomited)?
Tip: A verb ending in -s even in the active. Polite and clinical.
- 20
Nej, men jag mår illa.
No, but I feel sick.
Tip: Word for word: 'I feel badly' — this means nausea, not just unwell.
- 21
Lägg dig här på britsen.
Lie down here on the examination couch.
Tip: A reflexive verb: you 'lay yourself'. The couch is a special word.
- 22
Andas djupt.
Breathe deeply.
Tip: A verb that always ends in -s.
- 23
Det gör ont när du trycker där.
It hurts when you press there.
Tip: The verb for pressing a button, too.
- 24
Är det en molande värk?
Is it a dull ache?
Tip: The adjective describes a dull, nagging ache.
- 25
Nej, det hugger till ibland.
No, it gives a sharp stab now and then.
Tip: The verb means to chop or stab; with the particle, a sudden sharp pain.
- 26
Har du ätit något konstigt?
Have you eaten anything strange?
Tip: The adjective takes -t to match 'something'.
- 27
Inte vad jag vet.
Not that I know of.
Tip: Word for word: 'not what I know'.
- 28
Tar du några mediciner?
Are you taking any medication?
Tip: You 'take' pills in Swedish too.
- 29
Är det något farligt?
Is it anything serious?
Tip: Word for word: 'is it something dangerous?' The normal way to ask.
- 30
Hör av dig om det blir värre.
Get in touch if it gets worse.
Tip: A reflexive idiom: 'hear off yourself' = get in touch.
- 31
Tack för hjälpen!
Thanks for your help!
Tip: Swedish says 'the help', not 'your help'.