There's a special kind of stress in sitting across from a doctor and trying to explain, in Hebrew, what hurts.
You know the words exist. You've probably even learned some of them. But when you're not feeling well, your Hebrew is the first thing to go.
This post is a small survival kit: the words and sentences that come up again and again at the doctor, at your kupat holim and at the pharmacy.
First, the system
In Israel, your health care runs through your קופת חולים (kupat holim) - your health fund. There are four: Clalit, Maccabi, Meuhedet and Leumit. Most appointments, prescriptions and referrals go through their app, website or phone line - and a lot of that is in Hebrew.
A few words you'll see everywhere:
- תור (tor) - an appointment. Yes, the same word as a line or queue.
- לקבוע תור (likbo'a tor) - to make an appointment.
- רופא משפחה / רופאת משפחה (rofe mishpacha / rof'at mishpacha) - family doctor (male / female).
- רופא מומחה (rofe mumche) - a specialist.
- הפניה (hafnaya) - a referral.
- מרשם (mirsham) - a prescription.
- בית מרקחת (beit merkachat) - a pharmacy.
- אישור מחלה (ishur machala) - a sick note for work.
Making an appointment
- אני רוצה לקבוע תור לרופא משפחה (ani rotse / rotsa likbo'a tor le'rofe mishpacha) - I'd like to make an appointment with a family doctor.
- יש תור פנוי היום? (yesh tor panui hayom?) - Is there an available appointment today?
- אפשר תור יותר מוקדם? (efshar tor yoter mukdam?) - Is an earlier appointment possible?
Describing how you feel
This is the part to practice before you need it.
- אני מרגיש / מרגישה לא טוב (ani margish / margisha lo tov) - I don't feel well.
- כואב לי ה... (ko'ev li ha...) - My ... hurts. For example: כואב לי הראש (ko'ev li harosh) - I have a headache. כואבת לי הבטן (ko'evet li habeten) - my stomach hurts.
- יש לי חום (yesh li chom) - I have a fever.
- זה התחיל לפני יומיים (ze hitchil lifnei yomayim) - It started two days ago.
- אני אלרגי / אלרגית ל... (ani alergi / alergit le...) - I'm allergic to...
Notice: כואב (ko'ev) changes with the body part, not with you. "Rosh" (head) is masculine, so it's כואב; "beten" (stomach) is feminine, so it's כואבת. Don't worry if you mix them up - the doctor will understand you perfectly.
When you need it slower
There's no shame in asking. Most doctors are happy to slow down - and many can switch to English if you ask.
- אפשר לדבר יותר לאט? (efshar ledaber yoter le'at?) - Can you speak more slowly?
- אפשר לכתוב לי את זה? (efshar lichtov li et ze?) - Can you write that down for me?
- אני צריך / צריכה הפניה? (ani tsarich / tsricha hafnaya?) - Do I need a referral?
At the pharmacy
- יש לי מרשם (yesh li mirsham) - I have a prescription.
- כמה פעמים ביום? (kama pe'amim bayom?) - How many times a day?
- לפני האוכל או אחרי? (lifnei ha'ochel o acharei?) - Before or after food?
In an emergency
If it's urgent, don't practice your Hebrew - call. In Israel, the emergency medical number is 101 (Magen David Adom). Say "English, please" if you need it - many operators speak English. After hours, your kupat holim also has urgent care centers, often called מוקד (moked).
Practice before you need it
Here's a small exercise: say the "describing how you feel" sentences out loud once, today, while you're healthy. It sounds silly - but when you actually need them, your mouth will remember.
Hebrew for daily life is a big part of what we practice in our courses, alongside Hebrew for work - live on Zoom, in small groups of up to 8 students or 1:1.
Not sure where to start? Take the free placement test, and I'll send you your level and a personal recommendation.
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