Health & Hospital

1. Mwen malad

   Mwen ma-lad

   I am sick

   Usage

   The most basic phrase to say you are sick

   Grammar Note

   No verb conjugation in Haitian Creole — "mwen malad" directly means "I am sick"

2. Tèt mwen fè mal

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Express a headache

   Grammar Note

   "fè mal" literally "does harm" — body part + "fè mal" = "[body part] hurts"

3. Kote lopital ki pi pre a?

   Ko-te lo-pi-tal ki pi pre a

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Ask for the nearest hospital in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "pi" is the comparative marker; "ki pi pre" = "which is nearer" = nearest

4. Mwen bezwen yon doktè

   Mwen be-zwen yon dok-tè

   I need a doctor

   Usage

   Urgently request a doctor

   Grammar Note

   "bezwen" from French "besoin" (need) — "mwen bezwen" expresses necessity

5. Mwen alèjik ak medikaman sa a

   Mwen a-lè-jik ak me-di-ka-man sa a

   I am allergic to this medicine

   Usage

   Inform medical staff about a drug allergy

   Grammar Note

   "alèjik ak X" means "allergic to X"; "alèjik" comes from French "allergique"; "sa a" means "this"

6. Mwen gen fyèv

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Report having a fever

   Grammar Note

   "fyèv" from French "fièvre"; in tropical Haiti, fever can signal serious conditions

7. Kote famasi ki pi pre a?

   Ko-te fa-ma-si ki pi pre a

   Where is the nearest pharmacy?

   Usage

   Find the nearest pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "famasi" from French "pharmacie"; the definite article "a" is postposed at sentence end

8. Mwen bezwen repèlan moustik

   Mwen be-zwen re-pè-lan mous-tik

   I need mosquito repellent

   Usage

   Request mosquito repellent — essential in tropical Haiti

   Grammar Note

   "Mosquito repellent" is repèlan moustik (repèlan = repellent, moustik = mosquito). Note that mouchwa means "handkerchief", not "repellent".

9. Mwen blese

   Mwen ble-se

   I am injured

   Usage

   Report an injury in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "blese" from French "blessé" (wounded) — past participle forms often become stative in Haitian Creole

10. Rele anbasad mwen

    Re-le an-ba-sad mwen

    Please call my embassy

    Usage

    Request embassy contact in a medical emergency

    Grammar Note

    "rele" means both "to call (phone)" and "to call out/summon" — a versatile verb

11. Mwen ansent

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Show this before any medicine, X-ray, or procedure

12. Mwen gen opresyon

    I have asthma

    Usage

    Declare the condition; also usable when an attack stops you talking

13. Mwen gen dyabèt

    I have diabetes

    Usage

    Affects food, medication, and how fainting is treated

14. Mwen gen tansyon wo

    I have high blood pressure

    Usage

    Tell this before anything is prescribed

15. Mwen gen maladi kè

    I have a heart condition

    Usage

    Show it together with chest pain

16. Mwen gen malkadi

    I have epilepsy

    Usage

    Lets bystanders understand a seizure

17. Asirans

    Insurance

    Usage

    At a clinic or counter, to ask about or show insurance

18. Mwen kase yon zo

    I broke a bone

    Usage

    After a fall or crash; point at the limb you cannot move

19. Mwen pa ka respire

    I can't breathe properly

    Usage

    Top priority at altitude, in asthma, or in an allergic reaction

20. Tèt mwen ap vire

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    For altitude sickness, dehydration, or low blood pressure

21. M ap senyen

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Point at the bleeding spot while showing it

22. Boule

    Burn

    Usage

    For scalds, exhaust-pipe burns, or bad sunburn

23. Blesi

    Wound

    Usage

    When asking to have a cut or graze treated

24. Zòrèy

    Ear

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

25. Kou

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your neck — "kou" also means "a blow", so gesture as well

26. Zepòl

    Shoulder

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

27. Jenou

    Knee

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

28. Dwèt

    Finger

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

29. Po

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes, itching, or sunburn

30. Bra

    Arm

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

31. Nen

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nosebleed or a blocked nose

32. Tous

    Cough

    Usage

    Also works at a pharmacy when asking for cough medicine

33. Kò m ap grate

    It itches

    Usage

    For insect bites, allergies, or a rash

34. Gratèl

    Rash

    Usage

    Show it while pointing at the affected skin

35. Mwen konstipe

    I am constipated

    Usage

    When asking at a pharmacy

36. Mwen gen règ mwen

    I am on my period

    Usage

    When buying supplies or medicine, and before any procedure

37. Sètifika medikal

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The certificate a doctor issues; show it when an insurer or border asks for one

38. Frison

    Chills

    Usage

    The shivering that comes with a fever; list it alongside lafyev and tous

39. Rim

    Common cold

    Usage

    A head cold. Note the homograph: rim also means "rhyme" in poetry, so show this card in a medical context. grip leans toward influenza.

40. Rele yon doktè, tanpri!

    Please call a doctor

41. Isit la fè mal.

    It hurts here

42. Kò m fèb.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Say your body feels weak or sluggish. Kò m (my body) + fèb (weak, faint)

43. Mwen vomi plizyè fwa.

    I have vomited several times

44. Èske mwen bezwen repoze?

    Do I need to rest?

45. Dyare

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Symptom name. Say or show it to a doctor or pharmacist

46. Konstipasyon

    Constipation

    Usage

    Symptom name. Say or show it to a doctor or pharmacist

47. Pipi

    Pee

    Usage

    Everyday word for urine. Fine with family and children, and when describing urine to a doctor

48. Mwen gen dyare

    I have diarrhea

49. Mwen bezwen fè pipi

    I need to pee

    Usage

    To tell a companion or a child. bezwen (need) + fè pipi (to pee)

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