{"id":273350,"date":"2026-09-14T03:00:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T08:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/?p=273350"},"modified":"2026-09-14T03:00:59","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T08:00:59","slug":"a2-health-vocabulary-sick-a2-key","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/blog\/a2-health-vocabulary-sick-a2-key\/","title":{"rendered":"Vocabulario sobre salud (nivel A2): Hablar de sentirse enfermo"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"lc-answer\"><strong>Learning common English words for health problems helps you talk about how you feel and understand others when you are not well.<\/strong> It is important to know how to describe your symptoms and ask for help. For example, if you feel unwell, you can say <span data-no-translation>I am sick<\/span> o <span data-no-translation>I am ill<\/span>. If your body is hot, you have a <span data-no-translation>temperature<\/span>. When you need professional help, a <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> o <span data-no-translation>doctor<\/span> can assist you. For emergencies, you might need to call an <span data-no-translation>ambulance<\/span>. To recover, you often take <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span>, which you can buy at a <span data-no-translation>chemist<\/span> or pharmacy. Mastering these basic health words will make communicating about your well-being much easier in English.<\/div>\n<h2>How do we say &#8220;not well&#8221; in English?<\/h2>\n<p>When you feel unwell, you can use different words. The most common at A2 level are <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> y <span data-no-translation>ill<\/span>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Sick<\/span>: This word means &#8220;not well.&#8221; In British English, it often means feeling unwell generally. In American English, <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> can specifically mean feeling like you need to vomit.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Ill<\/span>: This word also means &#8220;not well&#8221; or &#8220;unhealthy.&#8221; It is common in both British and American English.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Both words are good to use when you are not feeling healthy.<\/p>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-placement\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#2B87DA,#29C4A9);\"><h3 style=\"color:#fff;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\u270d\ufe0f \u00bfNo sabes en qu\u00e9 nivel est\u00e1s?<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.95;\">Realiza nuestra prueba de nivel gratuita y recibe comentarios personalizados de examinadores certificados por Cambridge.<\/p><a href=\"\/es\/ingles\/academia\/free-test\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#0A2540;color:#fff;\">Realice nuestra prueba de nivel GRATUITA<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Who helps us when we are sick?<\/h2>\n<p>When you are not feeling well, different people and services can help you.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Doctor<\/span>: This is a person trained to help sick people. You usually visit a <span data-no-translation>doctor<\/span> at a clinic or hospital.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Nurse<\/span>: A <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> is a person who works with doctors, especially in hospitals. They care for patients and give medicine.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Ambulance<\/span>: This is a special vehicle that takes sick or injured people to the hospital quickly in an emergency. You call for an <span data-no-translation>ambulance<\/span> when someone needs urgent medical help.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>What do we use to get better?<\/h2>\n<p>To recover from an illness, you might need certain things.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Medicine<\/span>: These are pills, liquids, or other treatments that help you feel better when you are sick. You take <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span> to stop pain or fight an illness.<\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Chemist<\/span>: This is a shop where you can buy <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span> and other health products. In American English, people often say <span data-no-translation>pharmacy<\/span>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>How do we talk about body changes when we are sick?<\/h2>\n<p>Sometimes, when you are sick, your body changes. One common change is your body temperature.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Temperature<\/span>: This is how hot or cold your body is. If you have a <span data-no-translation>high temperature<\/span> (also called a <span data-no-translation>fever<\/span>), your body feels very hot, and it is a sign you are ill.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table>\n<caption>Essential A2 Health Vocabulary<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>English Word<\/th>\n<th>Significado<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>sick<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>not well; feeling like you need to vomit (US)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>ill<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>not well; unhealthy<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>a person who helps doctors and cares for patients<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>ambulance<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>a special vehicle that takes sick people to hospital<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>pills or liquids that help you get better<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>chemist<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>a shop where you buy medicine (UK English)<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><span data-no-translation>temperature<\/span><\/td>\n<td><span data-no-translation>how hot or cold your body is; a high temperature means you are ill<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<h2>Ejemplos<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I feel sick today, so I can't go to school.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>She is ill with a bad cold and needs to rest.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The nurse checked my temperature and gave me some water.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>Please call an ambulance! My friend has fallen.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>You must take this medicine twice a day after meals.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>I need to go to the chemist to buy some pain relief.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-no-translation>The baby has a high temperature, so we need to see a doctor.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Pr\u00e1ctica<\/h2>\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-1652\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"1652\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"KET05 L3 VOCABULARY Health problems\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<div class=\"lc-cta lc-cta-exam\" style=\"border-radius:14px;padding:30px;margin:30px 0;text-align:center;color:#fff;background:#0A2540;\"><h3 style=\"color:#F2B705;font-size:22px;font-weight:800;margin:0 0 8px;\">\u00bfEst\u00e1s listo para obtener tu certificado?<\/h3><p style=\"margin:0 0 16px;opacity:.92;\">El curso Langcom prepara a los alumnos para los ex\u00e1menes de Cambridge, IELTS, TOEFL, DELE, SIELE y Michigan.<\/p><a href=\"\/es\/\" style=\"display:inline-block;margin-top:8px;padding:13px 30px;border-radius:8px;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;background:#F2B705;color:#0A2540;\">Empieza a utilizar Langcom<\/a><\/div>\n<h2>Errores habituales de los hispanohablantes<\/h2>\n<p>Spanish speakers sometimes make specific mistakes with health vocabulary:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Using \"sick\" only for vomiting:<\/strong> In Spanish, \"estar enfermo\" is general. Remember that <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> can mean generally unwell in British English, not just vomiting.\n<ul>\n<li>Correcto: <span data-no-translation>I feel sick.<\/span> (Estoy enfermo\/a.)<\/li>\n<li>Incorrecto: <span data-no-translation>I have sick.<\/span> (This is not natural English.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confusing \"chemist\" and \"pharmacy\":<\/strong> Both are correct, but <span data-no-translation>chemist<\/span> is more common in British English (like for the A2 Key exam). <span data-no-translation>Pharmacy<\/span> is common in American English and also understood globally.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Saying \"high fever\" instead of \"high temperature\":<\/strong> Aunque <span data-no-translation>fever<\/span> is correct, <span data-no-translation>high temperature<\/span> is a very common and natural way to say it at A2 level.\n<ul>\n<li>Correcto: <span data-no-translation>I have a high temperature.<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Also correct: <span data-no-translation>I have a fever.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Preguntas m\u00e1s frecuentes<\/h2>\n<h3>\u00bfCu\u00e1l es la diferencia entre <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> y <span data-no-translation>ill<\/span>?<\/h3>\n<p>Both words mean \"not well.\" <span data-no-translation>Ill<\/span> is generally used for any kind of sickness. <span data-no-translation>Sick<\/span> can also mean \"not well,\" but in American English, it often means feeling like you need to vomit. In British English, <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> can be used more generally, like <span data-no-translation>ill<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h3>Where can I buy <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span>?<\/h3>\n<p>You can buy <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span> at a <span data-no-translation>chemist<\/span> o un <span data-no-translation>pharmacy<\/span>. These are shops that sell health products and drugs.<\/p>\n<h3>What does a <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> do?<\/h3>\n<p>A <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> helps doctors care for patients, especially in hospitals. They might give <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span>, check your <span data-no-translation>temperature<\/span>, or help you feel comfortable.<\/p>\n<h3>How can I use this vocabulary in the A2 Key exam?<\/h3>\n<p>This vocabulary is very useful for A2 Key Reading and Writing Part 6, where you might need to complete gaps in a text about a health situation. You might also see these words in Listening Part 2, matching information about people and their health problems.<\/p>\n<h2>Lecciones relacionadas<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=272799\">Health vocabulary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=273191\">Health vocabulary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=273218\">Health vocabulary<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/?p=273221\">Health vocabulary<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning common English words for health problems helps you talk about how you feel and understand others when you are not well. It is important to know how to describe your symptoms and ask for help. For example, if you feel unwell, you can say I am sick or I am ill. If your body [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":192,"featured_media":274376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"bwfblock_default_font":"","langcom_teaches":"Health vocabulary","langcom_cefr":"A2","langcom_type":"vocabulary","langcom_faq":"[{\"q\": \"What is the difference between <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> and <span data-no-translation>ill<\/span>?\", \"a\": \"Both words mean \\\"not well.\\\" <span data-no-translation>Ill<\/span> is generally used for any kind of sickness. <span data-no-translation>Sick<\/span> can also mean \\\"not well,\\\" but in American English, it often means feeling like you need to vomit. In British English, <span data-no-translation>sick<\/span> can be used more generally, like <span data-no-translation>ill<\/span>.\"}, {\"q\": \"Where can I buy <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span>?\", \"a\": \"You can buy <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span> at a <span data-no-translation>chemist<\/span> or a <span data-no-translation>pharmacy<\/span>. These are shops that sell health products and drugs.\"}, {\"q\": \"What does a <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> do?\", \"a\": \"A <span data-no-translation>nurse<\/span> helps doctors care for patients, especially in hospitals. They might give <span data-no-translation>medicine<\/span>, check your <span data-no-translation>temperature<\/span>, or help you feel comfortable.\"}, {\"q\": \"How can I use this vocabulary in the A2 Key exam?\", \"a\": \"This vocabulary is very useful for A2 Key Reading and Writing Part 6, where you might need to complete gaps in a text about a health situation. You might also see these words in Listening Part 2, matching information about people and their health problems.\"}]","_kiss_seo_title":"","_kiss_seo_excerpt":"Learning common English words for health problems helps you talk about how you feel and understand others when you are not well.","_mwseo_canonical":"","_mwseo_keywords":"","_mwseo_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[618],"tags":[992,649],"formats":[],"class_list":["post-273350","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a2-key-ket","tag-health-problems","tag-vocabulary"],"dsm_author":{"name":"Ra\u00fal","avatar_url":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/nsl_avatars\/1de86ea706740d324aaef3dd8bf0843b.png","archive_link":"https:\/\/langcom.org\/es\/blog\/author\/raulmaguinahamann\/","biodata":""},"dsm_categories":[{"term_name":"A2 Key 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