How do we say “not well” in English?

When you feel unwell, you can use different words. The most common at A2 level are sick et ill.

• Sick: This word means “not well.” In British English, it often means feeling unwell generally. In American English, sick can specifically mean feeling like you need to vomit.
• Ill: This word also means “not well” or “unhealthy.” It is common in both British and American English.

Both words are good to use when you are not feeling healthy.

Who helps us when we are sick?

When you are not feeling well, different people and services can help you.

• Doctor: This is a person trained to help sick people. You usually visit a doctor at a clinic or hospital.
• Nurse: A nurse is a person who works with doctors, especially in hospitals. They care for patients and give medicine.
• Ambulance: This is a special vehicle that takes sick or injured people to the hospital quickly in an emergency. You call for an ambulance when someone needs urgent medical help.

What do we use to get better?

To recover from an illness, you might need certain things.

• Medicine: These are pills, liquids, or other treatments that help you feel better when you are sick. You take medicine to stop pain or fight an illness.
• Chemist: This is a shop where you can buy medicine and other health products. In American English, people often say pharmacy.

How do we talk about body changes when we are sick?

Sometimes, when you are sick, your body changes. One common change is your body temperature.

• Temperature: This is how hot or cold your body is. If you have a high temperature (also called a fever), your body feels very hot, and it is a sign you are ill.

Exemples

• I feel sick today, so I can't go to school.
• She is ill with a bad cold and needs to rest.
• The nurse checked my temperature and gave me some water.
• Please call an ambulance! My friend has fallen.
• You must take this medicine twice a day after meals.
• I need to go to the chemist to buy some pain relief.
• The baby has a high temperature, so we need to see a doctor.

Entraînement

Erreurs courantes chez les hispanophones

Spanish speakers sometimes make specific mistakes with health vocabulary:

• Using "sick" only for vomiting: In Spanish, "estar enfermo" is general. Remember that sick can mean generally unwell in British English, not just vomiting.
  • Correct : I feel sick. (Estoy enfermo/a.)
  • Incorrect : I have sick. (This is not natural English.)
• Confusing "chemist" and "pharmacy": Both are correct, but chemist is more common in British English (like for the A2 Key exam). Pharmacy is common in American English and also understood globally.
• Saying "high fever" instead of "high temperature": While fever is correct, high temperature is a very common and natural way to say it at A2 level.
  • Correct : I have a high temperature.
  • Also correct: I have a fever.

Questions fréquemment posées

What is the difference between sick et ill?

Both words mean "not well." Ill is generally used for any kind of sickness. Sick can also mean "not well," but in American English, it often means feeling like you need to vomit. In British English, sick can be used more generally, like ill.

Where can I buy medicine?

You can buy medicine at a chemist or a pharmacy. These are shops that sell health products and drugs.

What does a nurse do?

A nurse helps doctors care for patients, especially in hospitals. They might give medicine, check your temperature, or help you feel comfortable.

How can I use this vocabulary in the A2 Key exam?

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.

Leçons associées

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