Language/Latin/Vocabulary/Health
Hi Latin learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will focus on Latin vocabulary related to health. It's always important to be able to express oneself when feeling sick, so let's get started!
Be sure to also check out the Find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have about Latin. And for more Latin Vocabulary, be sure to check out our collection of words and phrases. Ready? Let's go!
General health[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some general health vocabulary.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| valetudo | /wa.leˈtu.do/ | health |
| sanitas | /saˈni.tas/ | health, cleanliness |
| actus | /ˈak.tus/ | act, action |
| morbus | /ˈmor.bus/ | disease, illness |
| infirmitas | /in.firˈmi.tas/ | weakness, infirmity |
| febris | /ˈfe.bris/ | fever |
| dolor | /doˈlor/ | pain |
| nausea | /ˈnau̯.ze.a/ | nausea, sickness |
To help you remember these words, let's use them in context:
- Person 1: Quomodo es? (How are you?)
- Person 2: Male me habeo. Dolor iam tria dies sentio. (I'm not well. I've been experiencing pain for three days already.)
- Person 1: Certe febris habes. (You definitely have a fever.)
Parts of the body[edit | edit source]
It's also useful to know the names of parts of the body to describe any injury or pain.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| caput | /ˈka.put/ | head |
| pes | /pes/ | foot |
| manūs | /ˈma.nuːs/ | hand |
| peśs | /pesː/ | leg, foot |
| bracchium | /ˈbrak.kʰi.um/ | arm |
| oculus | /ˈɔ.ku.lus/ | eye |
| auris | /ˈau̯.ris/ | ear |
| nasus | /ˈna.sus/ | nose |
| os | /os/ | bone |
| dentes | /ˈden.teːs/ | teeth |
Let's see some dialogue that uses this vocabulary:
- Person 1: Quo te dolor sentis? (Where do you feel the pain?)
- Person 2: In crure meo. (In my leg.)
- Person 1: Num os truncatum habes? (Do you have a broken bone?)
- Person 2: Non, sed machinas ponderosas levavi crure. (No, but I lifted heavy machines with my leg.)
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Now let's learn some common symptoms that can occur when we are unwell.
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| sudor | /ˈsuː.dor/ | sweat |
| palpitatio cordis | /pal.pi.taˈti.o korˈdis/ | heart palpitations |
| frigus | /ˈfri.gus/ | cold |
| tussis | /ˈtus.sis/ | cough |
| vomitus | /ˈwoː.mi.tus/ | vomiting |
| diarhoea | /di.aˈrɔ̝.e.a/ | diarrhea |
| stranguria | /straŋˈɡu.ri.a/ | slow or painful urination |
| insomnia | /insoˈmni.a/ | insomnia |
A little dialogue to help remember these symptoms:
- Person 1: Quid infirmaris? (What are you sick with?)
- Person 2: Dysenteriam habeo: diarhoeam gravem et vomitum. (I have dysentery: severe diarrhea and vomiting.)
Medication[edit | edit source]
When we're sick, we often need some kind of medication to help us recover. Here are some useful vocabulary words to help you understand what medications people may be taking:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| medicamentum | /me.di.kaˈmen.tum/ | medication |
| tabella | /taˈbɛl.la/ | pill, tablet |
| frigidarium | /fri.ɡiˈda.ri.um/ | refrigerator (for medicines) |
| pilula | /pi.ˈlu.la/ | pill |
Let's see this vocabulary in action:
- Person 1: Quid tibi est? (What's wrong with you?)
- Person 2: Febricitamus, ac praeterea stomacace ludimus. (We have a fever, and we also suffer from stomach pain.)
- Person 1: Sic eam ad medicamentorum frigidarium ponite, et pilulas quotidianas accipite. (Put this in the medicine fridge, and take a pill every day.)
Remedies[edit | edit source]
There are also different remedies people might use when they are feeling unwell. Here are some Latin words that might come in handy:
| Latin | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aqua | /ˈa.kʷa/ | water |
| frigus | /ˈfri.gus/ | cold, coolness |
| calidus | /ˈka.li.dus/ | hot, warm |
| morsus | /morˈsus/ | bite |
And here's an example of using some of these words in a conversation:
- Person 1: Estne aliquid quod possim facere ut febre solvatur? (Is there anything I can do to break my fever?)
- Person 2: Potes lavare corpus aqua frigida, vel cupam solvibilem cum aqua tumidam in fronte praecipere. Caloremque tectum perfricare morsu leopardi vel aliud animal. (You can wash your body in cold water, or put a wet towel on your forehead. Or even rub yourself with a leopard's or another animal's bite.)
That's it for this lesson on Latin vocabulary related to health. Be sure to review and practice these words, so that you can use them in conversation with your Latin-speaking friends. Take care of your health, and see you in the next lesson!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Numbers
- Express Surprise
- Animal
- Education
- How to Say Hello and Greetings
- Seasons
- Days Of The Week
- Null
- Problems in Latin
- Verbs in Latin
Sources[edit | edit source]
- medical terminology, greek roots, latin roots, medical jargon, pocket
- Medical Latin Course
- Benefits of Latin | University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences