Tá mé tinn
taw may chin
I am sick / I am ill
Usage
Basic phrase for expressing illness
Grammar Note
"Tinn" (sick/sore/ill) is an Irish adjective for illness and pain. "Tá mé tinn" uses the existence verb "tá." For specific pain: "tá mo cheann tinn" (my head is sore).
Cá bhfuil an t-ospidéal?
kaw will un TUSP-ih-dale
Where is the hospital?
Usage
Emergency phrase for finding a hospital
Grammar Note
Masculine nouns beginning with a vowel add "t-" after the definite article "an": "ospidéal → an t-ospidéal." This is called "t-prefixing" in Irish grammar, applied to masculine vowel-initial nouns.
Tá pian i mo chloigeann
taw PEE-un ih muh KLOG-un
I have a headache (pain in my head)
Usage
Expressing a headache. The structure places "pian" (pain) at a specific body part
Grammar Note
"Cloigeann" (head) lenites to "chloigeann" (c→ch, /x/) after "mo" (my). Possessive pronouns "mo," "do," "a (his)" trigger lenition in Irish — a fundamental grammar rule.
Glaoigh ar an dochtúir
GLEE er un DOKH-toor
Call the doctor
Usage
Requesting that a doctor be called in an emergency
Grammar Note
"glaoch" is the noun (a call) and the verbal noun; the imperative is "Glaoigh". "glaoch ar" = "to ring someone". In the Caighdeán, only b, c, f, g and p are eclipsed after "ar an"; d and t are left alone, so "ar an dochtúir" is correct
Tá mé ag cur amach
taw may egg kur ah-WOKH
I am vomiting / I am being sick
Usage
Describing vomiting. "Cur amach" (putting out) is the Irish idiom for vomiting
Grammar Note
"Cur amach" (put out/outward) is the Irish idiom for vomiting. "Cur" (to put) + "amach" (out/outwards) form a phrasal verb. Irish body idioms tend to express symptoms as physical actions.
Teastaíonn cógas uaim
CHASS-teen KOH-gus OO-im
I need medicine
Usage
Expressing that you need medication
Grammar Note
"Needing" in Irish uses "teastaíonn X uaim" (X is needed from me). "Uaim" = "ó (from) + mé (me)." Irish conceptualizes "need" as something emanating from the person, not possessed by them.
Tá fiabhras orm
taw FEE-russ ORM
I have a fever (fever is on me)
Usage
Reporting a fever. Uses the prepositional phrase "orm" (on me)
Grammar Note
"Tá X orm" (X is on me) is the fundamental Irish construction for physical symptoms and emotions: "tá fiabhras orm" (fever), "tá ocras orm" (hungry), "tá áthas orm" (happy). It conceptualizes states as entities sitting on the person.
Cabhraigh liom
KOW-ree lyum
Help me
Usage
Simple urgent request for help
Grammar Note
"Cabhraigh" is the Irish imperative (root + -aigh/-igh ending). "Liom" = "le (with) + mé (me)." Irish imperatives maintain the VSO tendency with the verb coming first.
Tá ailléirge agam ar...
taw al-LAYR-geh AG-um er
I have an allergy to...
Usage
Communicating an allergy. Important information at restaurants and medical facilities
Grammar Note
"Ailléirge" is an Irish phonological adaptation of "allergy." The allergen follows "ar + noun": "ar chnónna" (nuts), "ar bhainne" (milk). Medical loanwords are actively adapted into Irish phonology.
Tá mé go maith anois
taw may guh mah uh-NISH
I am well now / I am okay now
Usage
Saying you have recovered or are feeling better
Grammar Note
"Tá mé go maith" is the basic Irish health expression. "Go" is a particle that makes adjectives adverbial: "go maith" (well), "go dona" (badly), "go hiontach" (wonderfully). Note "h" before vowel-initial adjectives after "go."
Tá mé ag iompar clainne
taw may eg OOM-par KLAN-yeh
I am pregnant
Usage
Tell staff first — it changes what medication, X-rays or anaesthetic are allowed
Grammar Note
Literally "I am carrying a family". "Torrach" also means pregnant but is blunt and used of animals, so this idiom is the normal one for people
Tá asma orm
taw AS-ma OR-um
I have asthma
Usage
Declare it as a chronic condition; an inhaler is "análóir"
Grammar Note
Illness uses "Tá X orm" (X is on me). "Plúchadh" and "múchadh" are the traditional words and are still understood
Tá diaibéiteas orm
taw dee-a-BAY-tyas OR-um
I have diabetes
Usage
Say it before meals or medication; insulin is "inslin"
Grammar Note
"Diaibéiteas" is masculine; a diabetic person is "duine diaibéiteach"
Tá brú fola ard orm
taw broo FUL-a ard OR-um
I have high blood pressure
Usage
Declare it at the pharmacy or in consultation
Grammar Note
"Brú fola" (blood pressure) + "ard" (high); low blood pressure is "brú fola íseal"
Tá galar croí orm
taw GAL-ar kree OR-um
I have a heart condition
Usage
One of the first things to declare in an emergency or consultation
Grammar Note
"Galar" (disease) + "croí" (heart). "Croí" covers both the organ and the heart figuratively
Tá titimeas orm
taw TITCH-i-mas OR-um
I have epilepsy
Usage
Show it to warn people that you may have a seizure
Grammar Note
"Titimeas" derives from "titim" (to fall); a seizure/fit is "taom"
árachas sláinte
AW-ra-khas SLAWN-tcheh
Health insurance
Usage
Point at it at reception when showing an insurance card or travel policy
Grammar Note
"Árachas" (masc.) + genitive "sláinte"; travel insurance is "árachas taistil"
Tá cnámh briste agam
taw knawv BRISH-tcheh AG-um
I have a broken bone
Usage
Point at your body to show which bone
Grammar Note
"Cnámh" (fem., bone) + "briste" (broken); possession uses "Tá X agam"
Tá deacracht agam ag análú
taw DYAK-rakht AG-um eg a-NAW-loo
I have difficulty breathing
Usage
Show the screen when you are too breathless to speak
Grammar Note
"Deacracht" (difficulty) + "ag análú" (breathing); "anáil" is breath
Tá meadhrán orm
taw MYAI-rawn OR-um
I feel dizzy
Usage
For light-headedness or vertigo
Grammar Note
"Meadhrán" is dizziness. "Mearbhall" leans towards confusion, so it is ambiguous on a card
Tá mé ag cur fola
taw may eg kur FUL-a
I am bleeding
Usage
Point at your body to show where the bleeding is
Grammar Note
Literally "I am putting blood"; "fuil" (blood) has the genitive "fola"
Tá mé dóite
taw may DOH-tcheh
I have been burnt
Usage
For scalds, burns or sunburn; point at the affected area
Grammar Note
"Dóite" is the past participle of "dó" (to burn); sunburn is "dó gréine"
Tá mé gortaithe
taw may GUR-ti-heh
I am injured
Usage
Covers cuts, bruises and injuries generally; a wound itself is "créacht"
Grammar Note
"Gortaithe" is the past participle of "gortú" (to injure); a cut is "gearradh"
an chluas
un KHLOO-as
Ear
Usage
Point at it for earache or hearing trouble
Grammar Note
"cluas" (fem.), lenited to "an chluas" after the article
an muineál
un MWIN-awl
Neck
Usage
Point at it for neck pain or a stiff neck
Grammar Note
"muineál" (masc.); the throat inside is "scornach"
an ghualainn
un GHOO-a-lin
Shoulder
Usage
Point at it for shoulder pain or a dislocation
Grammar Note
"gualainn" (fem.), lenited to "an ghualainn"
an ghlúin
un GHLOO-in
Knee
Usage
Point at it for knee pain or injury
Grammar Note
"glúin" (fem.). The same word also means "generation", but pointing at your body removes the ambiguity
an mhéar
un VAIR
Finger
Usage
Point at it for an injured or painful finger; a toe is "méar coise"
Grammar Note
"méar" (fem.), lenited to "an mhéar"
an craiceann
un KRAK-un
Skin
Usage
Point at it for rashes, irritation or sunburn
Grammar Note
"craiceann" (masc.); the same word is used for the skin or peel of fruit
an tsrón
un TROHN
Nose
Usage
Point at it for a blocked nose or a nosebleed
Grammar Note
"srón" (fem.); feminine nouns in s + r take a prefixed t after the article
Tá casacht orm
taw KAS-akht OR-um
I have a cough
Usage
Also works for asking for cough medicine at the pharmacy
Grammar Note
"Casacht" (fem.); cough syrup is "síoróip chasachta"
Tá tochas orm
taw TUKH-as OR-um
It is itchy
Usage
For itching from insect bites or an allergic reaction
Grammar Note
"Tochas" (masc., an itch); point at your body to show where
Tá gríos ar mo chraiceann
taw grees er muh KHRAK-un
I have a rash on my skin
Usage
For an allergic reaction or eczema
Grammar Note
"Gríos" (masc.); "mo" lenites "craiceann" to "chraiceann"
Tá iatacht orm
taw EE-a-takht OR-um
I am constipated
Usage
Also useful when asking for a laxative; diarrhoea is "buinneach"
Grammar Note
"Iatacht" (fem.); a laxative is "purgóid"
míostrú
MEES-troo
Menstruation / period
Usage
The word to show at a clinic or pharmacy; sanitary towels are "tuáillí sláintíochta"
Grammar Note
"Míostrú" is the clinical term and is unambiguous. In speech "fuil mhíosta" or "tá mo chúrsaí orm" are used euphemistically
fuilghrúpa
FWIL-ghroo-pa
Blood type
Usage
Blood group; asked before a transfusion or surgery
Grammar Note
A compound of "fuil" (blood, fem.) and "grúpa" (group); the compound is a 4th-declension masculine noun
teastas dochtúra
TAS-tas DOKH-too-ra
Medical certificate
Usage
A doctor’s certificate, used for an insurance claim
Grammar Note
"Teastas" (certificate, masc.) + genitive "dochtúra"; a sick note is "nóta dochtúra"
crithfhuacht
KRIH-oo-akht
Chills
Usage
Chills — the medical term for the shivering cold that comes with a fever
Grammar Note
A compound of "crith" (shivering) and "fuacht" (cold), a 3rd-declension masculine noun; the "fh" is silent
slaghdán
SLY-dawn
Common cold
Usage
A common cold; "I have a cold" is "Tá slaghdán orm"
Grammar Note
"Slaghdán" is a 1st-declension masculine noun; influenza ("fliú") is a different illness
cur san ospidéal
kur son USP-ih-dale
Hospital admission
Usage
Hospital admission. "He had to be hospitalised" is "níorbh fholáir é a chur san ospidéal"
Grammar Note
"Cur" is the verbal noun of "cuir" (to put), a 1st-declension masculine noun. The verb form is "cuir san ospidéal"
Tá pian anseo.
taw PEE-un on-shuh
It hurts here
Usage
Point at the painful spot while showing this to a doctor
Grammar Note
The "Tá pian i mo chloigeann" ("my head hurts") pattern with the body part replaced by "anseo" (here); point anywhere on the body
Tá mo chorp spadánta.
taw muh khorp spa-DAWN-ta
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Tells a doctor that your body feels heavy from fever or fatigue
Grammar Note
The "Tá + subject + adjective" frame with "mo chorp" and "spadánta". After the possessive "mo", "corp" is lenited to "chorp"
An bhfuil sos ag teastáil uaim?
on will suss egg CHASS-tawl OO-im
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Asks the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
Recasts the "X is needed by me" pattern ("Teastaíonn cógas uaim") as an "An bhfuil …?" question
buinneach
Diarrhea
Usage
Names the symptom for a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
A feminine noun; its genitive is "buinní" (as in "cógas in aghaidh na buinní", anti-diarrhoea medicine)
Tá buinneach orm
I have diarrhea
Usage
Tells a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhoea
Grammar Note
The "Tá + ailment + orm (on me)" frame, as in "Tá iatacht orm": an ailment is said to be "on" you
cac
Poop
Usage
The everyday word for poop. It is informal: for talking with children or companions, not for formal use with a doctor
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. "To poop" is "cac a dhéanamh"
mún
Pee
Usage
The everyday word for pee (urine). "Fual" is a synonym; fine to use with a doctor too
Grammar Note
A masculine noun. The synonym "fual" also means urine. "To pee" is "mún a dhéanamh"
Caithfidh mé cac a dhéanamh
I need to poop
Usage
The ordinary way to tell a companion or a child you need to poop
Grammar Note
"Caithfidh mé" + "object + a + verbal noun". It combines "caithfidh mé mo mhún a dhéanamh" (I need to pee) with "cac a dhéanamh" (to do a poo). In polite settings use "Caithfidh mé dul chuig an leithreas"
Caithfidh mé mo mhún a dhéanamh
I need to pee
Usage
The ordinary way to tell a companion or a child you need to pee
Grammar Note
The possessive "mo" lenites "mún" to "mhún"
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