Czech for the doctor: symptoms and visits

Book an appointment, describe what hurts, and understand the pharmacist — without freezing up. 40 Czech words and phrases for the doctor, dentist, and pharmacy, with pronunciation and real examples. For anyone in Czechia who'd rather not mime a sore throat.

Subject language

Czech

Study language

English

Who it's for

For anyone living in or moving to Czechia who needs to handle health in Czech — registering with a GP, calling about an appointment, or explaining symptoms at the counter. Beginners welcome: the set starts from "Není mi dobře" (I don't feel well) and builds up. If you've been dreading the doctor's office because of the language, this set takes the edge off.

What's inside

40 practical cards covering the doctor's visit end to end: symptoms (horečka, kašel, bolest), places (ordinace, lékárna, pohotovost), people (praktický lékař, zubař, specialista), and the admin (recept, pojišťovna). Each card carries:

the Czech word with its English meaning, and gender where it matters;
IPA pronunciation in the standard Czech accent;
a natural example sentence you might actually say or hear;
notes on false friends — ordinace is the surgery, not a "residency."

How to study

Group the cards by situation — symptoms first, then the appointment, then the pharmacy — and rehearse the "Bolí mě + body part" pattern aloud until it's automatic. Ten to fifteen minutes a day with spaced repetition gets the core phrases ready before your next visit. If you're settling in, pair it with "Czech for the úřad: visas and paperwork."

lékař

/ˈlɛːkar̝̊/

doctor; physician

Musím jít k lékaři. (I have to go to the doctor.)

A female doctor is "lékařka." A GP is a "praktický lékař."

Není mi dobře

I don't feel well

Není mi dobře, asi mám horečku. (I don't feel well, I think I have a fever.)

A go-to opening line at the start of a visit.

Bolí mě hlava

I have a headache

Od rána mě bolí hlava. (I've had a headache since morning.)

Pattern: "Bolí mě + body part." "Bolí mě v krku" = my throat hurts.

bolest

/ˈbolɛst/

pain

Mám silnou bolest v zádech. (I have a strong pain in my back.)

Feminine (ta bolest).

horečka

/ˈɦorɛt͡ʃka/

fever; high temperature

Dítě má horečku přes 38 stupňů. (The child has a fever over 38 degrees.)

"teplota" is temperature in general; "horečka" is specifically a high one.

nachlazení

/ˈnaxlazɛɲiː/

a cold

Je to jen lehké nachlazení. (It's just a mild cold.)

kašel

/ˈkaʃɛl/

cough

Mám suchý kašel už týden. (I've had a dry cough for a week.)

rýma

/ˈriːma/

runny nose; head cold

K té rýmě se přidal i kašel. (A cough joined the runny nose.)

recept

/ˈrɛt͡sɛpt/

prescription

Lékař mi napsal recept na antibiotika. (The doctor wrote me a prescription for antibiotics.)

The same word as a cooking recipe.

lék

/ˈlɛːk/

medicine; drug

Berte ten lék třikrát denně. (Take this medicine three times a day.)

"léky" = medicines (pl.). You pick them up at a "lékárna."

lékárna

/ˈlɛːkaːrna/

pharmacy; chemist's

Léky vyzvednete v lékárně. (You'll pick up the medicine at the pharmacy.)

Don't mix up "knihovna" (library) with "lékárna" (pharmacy).

ordinace

/ˈordɪnat͡sɛ/

doctor's office; surgery hours

Ordinace je dnes do tří hodin. (The office is open until three today.)

False friend: not a "residency" but the consulting room or its hours.

objednat se

to make an appointment

Chci se objednat k zubaři. (I want to make an appointment with the dentist.)

Imperfective "objednávat se." You often won't be seen without one.

pojišťovna

/ˈpojɪʃcovna/

insurance company; health insurer

Vezměte si kartičku pojišťovny. (Bring your insurance card.)

They ask for your insurance card at every visit.

pohotovost

/ˈpoɦotovost/

emergency room; urgent care

S tou bolestí běž rovnou na pohotovost. (With pain like that, go straight to urgent care.)

Where you go when the "ordinace" is already closed.

zubař

/ˈzubar̝̊/

dentist

Bolí mě zub, musím k zubaři. (My tooth hurts, I have to see the dentist.)

Officially "zubní lékař."

nemoc

/ˈnɛmot͡s/

illness; disease

Chřipka je nepříjemná nemoc. (The flu is an unpleasant illness.)

Feminine (ta nemoc).

nemocnice

/ˈnɛmot͡sɲɪt͡sɛ/

hospital

Odvezli ho do nemocnice. (They took him to the hospital.)

Don't confuse it with "nemoc" (illness).

být nemocný

to be ill; be sick

Jsem nemocný, zůstanu doma. (I'm ill, I'll stay home.)

A woman says "nemocná."

nachladit se

to catch a cold

Včera jsem se venku nachladil. (I caught a cold outside yesterday.)

Perfective; no common imperfective. The result is "nachlazení."

teplota

/ˈtɛplota/

temperature

Změřte si teplotu. (Take your temperature.)

"teplota" = temperature in general, "horečka" = a high one.

léčit se

to undergo treatment; be treated

Léčím se s vysokým tlakem. (I'm being treated for high blood pressure.)

"léčit" = to treat someone, "léčit se" = to be treated.

vyšetření

/ˈvɪʃɛtr̝̊ɛɲiː/

examination; check-up

Čeká mě krevní vyšetření. (I have a blood test coming up.)

krev

/ˈkrɛf/

blood

Odebrali mi krev na rozbor. (They took my blood for testing.)

Feminine; the final v sounds like [f].

Questions and answers

How many cards are in the set?

40, covering symptoms, the doctor's and dentist's office, the pharmacy, and insurance.

What level is it for?

Beginner to early intermediate. The phrases are practical and the notes explain everything in English.

Does it include pronunciation?

Yes — every single-word term has IPA in the standard Czech accent (first-syllable stress, correct vowel length).

Will it help me actually talk to a doctor?

That's the goal. The examples are real sentences for booking, describing symptoms, and understanding instructions.

Is it free?

Yes, free to study.

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