Korean Health WordsHealth, illness & hospital words with romanization — free list

The key health verb in Korean is 아프다 (apeuda, to hurt/be sick): 머리가 아파요 means my head hurts. To catch a cold, say 감기에 걸리다. This free list covers symptoms, hospital staff, and pharmacy vocabulary with romanization.

KoreanRomanizationMeaning
건강 geongang health
byeong illness / disease
감기 gamgi cold (illness)
yeol fever
기침 gichim cough
콧물 konmul runny nose
두통 dutong headache
배탈 baetal stomachache / upset stomach
소화 sohwa digestion
yak medicine / drug
병원 byeongwon hospital / clinic
의사 uisa doctor
간호사 ganhosa nurse
주사 jusa injection / shot
처방전 cheobanjeon prescription
약국 yakguk pharmacy
환자 hwanja patient
아프다 apeuda to hurt / to be sick
다치다 dachida to get injured
낫다 natda to get better / to recover
쉬다 swida to rest
운동 undong exercise / sports
스트레스 seuteureseu stress
증상 jeungsang symptom

💡 Good to know

To say a body part hurts, use: [body part] + 이/가 아프다. For example, 배가 아파요 (my stomach hurts). 감기에 걸리다 = to catch a cold (literally cold grabs you). 약을 먹다 = to take medicine (literally eat medicine).

Lesson: At the hospital →Lesson: At the pharmacy →

FAQ

How do you say it hurts in Korean?
Use 아프다 (apeuda) with the body part + 이/가: 머리가 아파요 (my head hurts), 배가 아파요 (my stomach hurts). To say you're sick in general: 아파요.
How do you say I have a cold in Korean?
감기에 걸렸어요 (gamgie geollyeosseoyo) — literally the cold grabbed me. 감기 is cold, 걸리다 means to catch or get. To say you have a fever: 열이 나요 (yeori nayo).
How do you say take medicine in Korean?
약을 먹다 (yageul meokda) — literally to eat medicine. This is the standard expression. 약국 (yakguk) is pharmacy, 처방전 (cheobanjeon) is prescription.
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Written by Alvin Lim Certified Korean Language Teacher (Level 2)