Describing Pain and Symptoms: Full Sentences
Full sentences to say where it hurts, what it feels like, how long it has lasted and how bad it is — plus how 1177 and the pharmacy work.
A good description gets you the right help faster. These sentences go from where it hurts, to what kind of pain it is, to how long and how bad — and end with how to use 1177, the pharmacy and 112.

- 1
Jag har haft huvudvärk varje morgon den senaste veckan.
I've had a headache every morning for the past week.
Tip: No article before the ache. 'The latest week' = the past week.
- 2
Det känns som ett tryck över pannan.
It feels like pressure across my forehead.
Tip: Body parts take the definite form, not 'my'.
- 3
Jag har ont i örat och hör dåligt på den sidan.
I have an ear ache and can't hear well on that side.
Tip: Word for word: 'I have pain in the ear and hear badly'.
- 4
Tandvärken är värst på natten.
The toothache is worst at night.
Tip: Ache compounds take the definite -en ending.
- 5
Jag får ont i magen varje gång jag äter.
I get a stomach ache every time I eat.
Tip: 'Get pain' = start to hurt.
- 6
Jag fick ont i ryggen efter att jag hade lyft något tungt.
My back started hurting after I lifted something heavy.
Tip: Past perfect after 'after', like careful English.
- 7
Det gör mest ont när jag böjer mig framåt.
It hurts most when I bend forward.
Tip: A reflexive verb: you 'bend yourself'.
- 8
Smärtan strålar ner i benet.
The pain radiates down my leg.
Tip: The verb is the same as for rays of light. Definite body part again.
- 9
Jag vrickade foten när jag sprang.
I twisted my ankle when I was running.
Tip: Swedes twist 'the foot', not the ankle.
- 10
Knät är svullet och jag kan inte böja det.
My knee is swollen and I can't bend it.
Tip: The adjective takes -t because knee is an ett-word.
- 11
Jag kan inte stödja på foten.
I can't put any weight on my foot.
Tip: Word for word: 'I can't support on the foot'.
- 12
Jag har haft feber i tre dagar och den går inte ner.
I've had a fever for three days and it won't go down.
Tip: Fever is an en-word, so it's referred to as 'it' with the en form.
- 13
Jag har en torrhosta som inte vill ge med sig.
I have a dry cough that won't go away.
Tip: The idiom means to ease off or give in.
- 14
Jag har ont i hela kroppen, som när man håller på att bli förkyld.
My whole body aches, like when you're coming down with a cold.
Tip: 'Hold on to become' = be in the process of getting.
- 15
Jag har varit yr sedan i morse.
I've been dizzy since this morning.
Tip: A special word for 'this morning' once it's past.
- 16
Det kliar och har blivit rött runt såret.
It itches and has gone red around the wound.
Tip: The colour takes -t because it describes 'it'.
- 17
Mina leder värker när det är kallt ute.
My joints ache when it's cold outside.
Tip: The ache noun also works as a verb.
- 18
Det började plötsligt i går eftermiddag.
It started suddenly yesterday afternoon.
Tip: No preposition before 'yesterday afternoon'.
- 19
Smärtan har blivit värre de senaste dagarna.
The pain has got worse over the last few days.
Tip: Comparative of 'bad' is irregular, as in English.
- 20
Det är inte jätteont, men det går inte över.
It doesn't hurt that much, but it won't go away.
Tip: 'Go over' = pass, go away.
- 21
På en skala från ett till tio skulle jag säga en sjua.
On a scale from one to ten, I'd say a seven.
Tip: The number as a noun again: a seven is an en-word.
- 22
Jag har svårt att sova för att det värker.
I have trouble sleeping because it aches.
Tip: 'Have difficult to' = find it hard to.
- 23
Värktabletterna hjälper bara en liten stund.
The painkillers only help for a little while.
Tip: 'A small while' = a short time.
- 24
Jag har haft liknande besvär tidigare.
I've had similar problems before.
Tip: The word for problems is the same in singular and plural.
- 25
Jag är allergisk mot penicillin.
I'm allergic to penicillin.
Tip: The preposition here is 'against'.
- 26
Man kan ringa 1177 dygnet runt för sjukvårdsrådgivning.
You can call 1177 around the clock for healthcare advice.
Tip: 'Around the 24 hours' = around the clock.
- 27
Sjuksköterskan bedömer om man behöver träffa en läkare.
The nurse assesses whether you need to see a doctor.
Tip: 'If' also means 'whether'. You 'meet' a doctor.
- 28
På 1177 kan man också läsa om symtom och vad man ska göra.
On 1177 you can also read about symptoms and what to do.
Tip: The website has the same number as the phone line.
- 29
Apotekspersonalen kan ge råd om receptfria läkemedel.
The pharmacy staff can give advice about over-the-counter medicines.
Tip: 'Prescription-free' = over the counter.
- 30
Vid akut bröstsmärta ska man alltid ringa 112.
With sudden chest pain you should always call 112.
Tip: The preposition here means 'in case of'. 112 is the emergency number.