How to Talk About Illness in English — Real Vocabulary & Idioms

😷 Learn natural English vocabulary for illness, symptoms, and feeling sick. In this episode, you’ll hear the phrases native speakers really use when they don’t feel well, plus how to describe symptoms clearly at the doctor, at work, or in everyday conversation.

You will learn when to use “I have,” “I feel,” or “I am,” along with phrases for stomach problems, fever, nausea, congestion, colds, and flu. We also explore common idioms like “under the weather,” “catch a bug,” “green around the gills,” “death warmed over,” and other natural expressions so you can sound more fluent and confident when talking about sickness.

This episode is perfect for English learners who want practical vocabulary they can use in real conversations, especially when describing how they feel or understanding others who are ill.

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📝 Vocabulary list

1) Under the weather: feeling sick (origin likely related to boats and seasickness)

2) Nautical: Relating to ships, sailors, or navigation on water.

3) Coming down with something: starting to get sick

4) Battling a bug: fighting off an illness

5) Disposition: A person's inherent qualities of mind and character.

6) Stomach bug/flu: upset stomach with nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

7) Gastrointestinal track/GI symptoms: medical terms for stomach and related symptoms

8) Tummy/tummy troubles: informal terms for stomach upset

9) Green around the gills: looking unwell, likely about to vomit

10) I have - [symptom]: most common structure for describing symptoms (e.g., I have a runny nose)

11) I am - [symptom]: used for some specific symptoms like nausea, tiredness, or fatigue

12) Coughing up a lung/hacking up a lung: coughing a lot, feels like lungs are coming out

13) My brain is foggy/fried: unable to think clearly due to sickness

14) My nose is running like a faucet: constant runny nose