Mă doare capul
muh DOH-ah-reh KAH-pul
I have a headache
Usage
Used to describe a headache to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Mă doare + body part (with definite article)" is the standard pain phrase. E.g. "Mă doare stomacul" (stomachache)
Am nevoie de un medic
ahm NEH-voh-yeh deh oon MEH-deek
I need a doctor
Usage
Used in emergencies or when feeling ill to request medical assistance
Grammar Note
Emergency: "Sunați la Salvare!" (Call an ambulance!). Romanian emergency number is 112
Sunt alergic(ă) la penicilină
soont ah-LEHR-jheek(-kuh) lah peh-nee-tsee-LEE-nuh
I am allergic to penicillin
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about a drug or food allergy
Grammar Note
Adjective changes by gender: "alergic" (m.), "alergică" (f.). Food: "la nuci" (nuts), "la lactoză" (lactose)
Unde este cea mai apropiată farmacie?
OON-deh YES-teh cheh-ah my ah-proh-PYAH-tuh fahr-mah-CHEE-eh
Where is the nearest pharmacy?
Usage
Used to ask for the location of the nearest pharmacy
Grammar Note
Romanian uses "cea mai" for feminine superlatives. In Bucharest, pharmacies display a green cross sign
Am febră
ahm FEH-bruh
I have a fever
Usage
Used to tell a doctor or others that you have a fever
Grammar Note
Adding temperature helps: "Am febră de 38 de grade" (I have a fever of 38 degrees)
Mă simt rău
muh seemt ROW
I feel sick / unwell
Usage
Used to express nausea or general feeling of being unwell
Grammar Note
"rău" used adverbially. For nausea: "Îmi este greață" (I feel nauseous)
Sunt diabetic(ă)
soont dyah-BEH-teek(-kuh)
I have diabetes
Usage
Used to inform medical staff about a diabetic condition
Grammar Note
Male: "diabetic", female: "diabetică". Heart disease: "Am boli de inimă"
Sunați la Salvare, vă rog!
soo-NAHTS-ee lah sahl-VAH-reh vuh ROHG
Call an ambulance, please!
Usage
Critical phrase used in emergencies to request an ambulance
Grammar Note
Romanian emergency number is 112 (EU standard). "Salvare" refers to the ambulance / emergency service
Am nevoie de o rețetă
ahm NEH-voh-yeh deh oh reh-TSEH-tuh
I need a prescription
Usage
Used at a pharmacy or after a consultation to request a prescription
Grammar Note
In Romanian, a prescription is called "rețetă". Present it at a "farmacie" (pharmacy) to purchase medication
Am asigurare de călătorie
ahm ah-see-goo-RAH-reh deh kuh-luh-TOH-ryeh
I have travel insurance
Usage
Used by foreign visitors when registering at a Romanian medical facility to inform them of travel insurance
Grammar Note
Major Bucharest hospitals accept international travel insurance. Carry your policy and emergency contact number
Însărcinată
uhn-suhr-chee-NAH-tuh
Pregnant
Usage
Show this first at a clinic or pharmacy — it changes what medication, X-rays, or anaesthetic are allowed
Grammar Note
A feminine-only adjective; as a sentence, "Sunt însărcinată" (I am pregnant)
Astm
AHSTM
Asthma
Usage
Point to declare the condition; "Am astm" means "I have asthma"
Diabet
dyah-BET
Diabetes
Usage
The noun for the condition; also useful when checking what is in a meal
Tensiune arterială mare
ten-SYOO-neh ar-teh-ryah-LUH MAH-reh
High blood pressure
Usage
Declare the condition to a doctor; the medical term "hipertensiune" appears on charts
Boală de inimă
BWAH-luh deh EE-nee-muh
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a cardiac condition — directly affects triage decisions
Epilepsie
eh-pee-lep-SEE-eh
Epilepsy
Usage
Warns of possible seizures in advance; also worth showing to travel companions
Asigurare medicală
ah-see-goo-RAH-reh meh-dee-KAH-luh
Medical insurance
Usage
Show alongside your policy when reception asks about coverage
Rețetă
reh-TSEH-tuh
Prescription
Usage
The doctor's prescription; the same word also means a cooking recipe, so show it at a pharmacy or clinic where the context is clear
Farmacie
fahr-mah-CHEE-eh
Pharmacy
Usage
Show it to a passer-by to ask where one is; a green cross marks pharmacies
Fractură
frahk-TOO-ruh
Fracture
Usage
Reports a suspected break; point at the painful spot while showing it
Dificultăți de respirație
dee-fee-kool-TUHTS deh res-pee-RAH-tsyeh
Difficulty breathing
Usage
For when speaking itself is hard; this symptom is triaged first
Amețeală
ah-meh-TSYAH-luh
Dizziness
Usage
Reports light-headedness or unsteadiness
Sângerare
suhn-jeh-RAH-reh
Bleeding
Usage
States that you are bleeding; point at the site while showing it
Arsură
ar-SOO-ruh
Burn
Usage
Reports a burn injury; sunburn is "arsură solară"
Rană
RAH-nuh
Wound
Usage
Covers cuts, grazes, and other open skin injuries
Ureche
oo-REH-keh
Ear
Usage
Point at this to localise ear pain or trouble
Grammar Note
Feminine noun; plural "urechi" for both ears
Umăr
OO-muhr
Shoulder
Usage
Point at this to localise shoulder pain
Grammar Note
Masculine noun; plural "umeri"
Genunchi
jeh-NOONK
Knee
Usage
Point at this to localise knee pain or injury
Grammar Note
Masculine noun with identical singular and plural: "un genunchi" / "doi genunchi"
Deget
DEH-jet
Finger
Usage
Romanian "deget" means both finger and toe — say "deget de la picior" for a toe, or point at your own foot to disambiguate
Piele
PYEH-leh
Skin
Usage
Used when raising a skin complaint — itching, rash, or irritation
Braț
BRAHTS
Arm
Usage
Point at this for arm pain or injury; the hand itself is "mână"
Grammar Note
Neuter noun; plural "brațe"
Nas
NAHS
Nose
Usage
Point at this for a blocked nose or a nosebleed
Tuse
TOO-seh
Cough
Usage
The noun for the symptom; also used at a pharmacy to ask for cough medicine
Mâncărime
muhn-kuh-REE-meh
Itching
Usage
Show it while pointing at the itchy area
Erupție cutanată
eh-ROOP-tsyeh koo-tah-NAH-tuh
Rash
Usage
Reports a skin rash — a key sign when assessing an allergic reaction
Constipație
kon-stee-PAH-tsyeh
Constipation
Usage
Lets you report an awkward symptom without saying it; understood as-is at a pharmacy
Menstruație
men-stroo-AH-tsyeh
Menstruation / period
Usage
The standard word understood at clinics and pharmacies; everyday speech uses the euphemism "ciclu" (cycle), but that word also means any cycle, so this one is safer to point at
Grupă sanguină
GRU-puh san-GVI-nuh
Blood type
Usage
Show it when you need to give your blood group before a transfusion or surgery
Grammar Note
"grupă" (group) + "sanguină" (of the blood). The spelling "sangvină" also exists
Certificat medical
cher-ti-fi-KAT me-di-KAL
Medical certificate
Usage
Show it when asking a doctor for a written statement, for example for an insurance claim
Grammar Note
"certificat" (certificate) + "medical" (medical); a lighter attestation is an "adeverință medicală"
Internare
in-ter-NA-re
Hospital admission
Usage
Being taken into hospital for treatment; the admission slip is a "bilet de internare". A synonym is "spitalizare"
Grammar Note
Feminine noun formed from the verb "a (se) interna"; plural "internări"
Frisoane
fri-SOA-ne
Chills
Usage
The shivering cold that comes before or during a fever
Grammar Note
The singular is "frison" (neuter), but this medical sense is mostly plural, so the symptom is named with "frisoane"
Răceală
ruh-CHEA-luh
Common cold
Usage
The ordinary cold with a runny nose and sore throat; understood as-is at a pharmacy
Grammar Note
Feminine noun, plural "răceli". Formed from "rece" (cold), so it also carries the sense of coldness
Chemați un medic!
keh-MATS oon MEH-deek
Please call a doctor
Usage
Used to ask someone present to fetch a doctor
Grammar Note
The "Chemați + object" pattern of "Chemați poliția!" with "un medic" (a doctor) from "Am nevoie de un medic"
Mă doare aici
muh DOH-ah-reh ah-EECH
It hurts here
Usage
Used while pointing at the spot that hurts when talking to a doctor
Grammar Note
The pattern of "Mă doare capul" with the body-part noun replaced by the adverb "aici" (the word from "Opriți aici"). With "a durea" the aching part is the subject and the person appears as the accusative clitic "mă"
Mă simt moleșit / moleșită
muh seemt moh-leh-SHEET / moh-leh-SHEE-tuh
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Used to tell a doctor that you feel weak and heavy-limbed
Grammar Note
The pattern of "Mă simt rău" with the adjective swapped. “a (se) moleși” means to lose one's strength and energy, often with drowsiness; “moleșeală” means the sensation of that loss. The participle agrees with the speaker's gender
Am vomitat de câteva ori
ahm voh-mee-TAHT deh KUH-teh-vah OHR-ee
I have vomited several times
Usage
Used to tell a doctor how many times you have been sick
Grammar Note
The "Am + past participle" pattern of "Am uitat cum se scrie". "câteva" is the word from "Pot sta aici câteva ore?"; "de câteva ori" is the set phrase for "several times". “a vomita” means to expel food that has reached the stomach through the oesophagus and the mouth
Am nevoie de repaus?
ahm NEH-voh-yeh deh reh-PAH-oos
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Used to ask a doctor whether you should stay at rest after being examined
Grammar Note
The pattern of "Am nevoie de o rețetă" used as a question without changing the word order (Romanian marks yes/no questions by intonation). “repaus” means a state in which activity is temporarily suspended in order to restore the body's capacity for work; rest
Diaree
dee-ah-REH-eh
Diarrhea
Usage
Lets you report the symptom without saying a sentence; understood as-is at a pharmacy or clinic
Caca
KAH-kah
Poop
Usage
Children's language. Use it with a small child or when describing a child's stool; with adults or a doctor, "materii fecale" is safer
Pipi
PEE-pee
Pee
Usage
Familiar (colloquial): the everyday word for urine, for talking with children or companions. With a doctor, "urină" is safer
Am diaree
ahm dee-ah-REH-eh
I have diarrhea
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The same “Am + symptom” pattern as “Am febră” (I have a fever). “Diaree” means “diarrhoea”; another example is “Am nevoie de medicamente pentru diaree”.
Sunt constipat(ă)
soont kon-stee-PAHT(-uh)
I'm constipated
Usage
To tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
The same pattern as "Sunt diabetic(ă)": male "constipat", female "constipată". The noun is "Constipație".
Trebuie să fac pipi
TREH-bwyeh suh fahk PEE-pee
I need to pee
Usage
To tell a companion or a child that you need to pee
Grammar Note
"Trebuie să + subjunctive" means "must / have to". "A face pipi" is "to pee". “Pipi” is familiar (colloquial), so this is a casual phrase for children and companions.
Trebuie să fac caca
TREH-bwyeh suh fahk KAH-kah
I need to poop
Usage
To tell a companion or a child that you need to poop
Grammar Note
Same pattern as «Trebuie să fac pipi». “Caca” is children's language, so this is for children and family. The verb "a căca" is colloquial and vulgar and is avoided; say "a face caca" instead.
More Romanian phrases
- Basic Words
- Basic Nouns
- Basic Verbs
- Adjectives
- Question Words
- Greetings
- Food & Drinks
- Transportation
- Shopping
- Numbers
- Hotel
- Emergency
- Sightseeing
- Flirting
- Nightlife
- Massage & Spa
- Compliments
- Contacts & SNS
- Beach & Activities
- Places & Areas
- Useful Phrases
- Airport & Customs
- Weather & Climate
- Pharmacy & Health
- Directions
- Money & Exchange
- Internet & WiFi
- Nature & Outdoors
- Religion & Temples
- Café & Drinks
- Schedule & Booking
- Culture & Etiquette
- Traveling with Kids
- Sports & Activities
- Public Transport
- Accommodation
- Banking & ATM
- Visa & Immigration
- Business & Work
- School & Education
- Cooking & Markets
- Music & Entertainment
- Art & Museums
- Festivals & Events
- Photography
- Laundry
- Post Office
- Language Learning
- Dating & Romance
- Dating Apps
- Volunteering
- Accessibility
- Sustainability & Eco
- Fruits
- Colors
- Dietary & Allergies
- Markets & Souvenirs
- Wine & Spirits
- Car Rental & Driving
- Time & Dates
- Hiking & Trekking
- Diving & Water Sports
- Skiing & Winter Sports
- Hot Springs & Baths
- Yoga & Wellness
- Casino & Gambling
- Beauty & Grooming
- Remote Work
- Fashion & Clothing
- Convenience Store
- Martial Arts
- Signs
- Body Parts
- Animals
- Vehicles
- Electronics
- Feelings
- Slang
- Local Dishes
- Local Drinks
- Indulgences