Common Illness Vocabulary for English Learners
Illness vocabulary is essential for talking about health in everyday situations and English exams like IELTS. In this guide, you'll find key terms, example sentences, idioms, and common phrases related to symptoms, conditions, and treatments—plus exercises to help you master them.
I. What Is Illness Vocabulary?
Illness vocabulary refers to the specific set of English words and phrases used to talk about health problems, medical conditions, symptoms, and treatment. It's a practical and important topic for English learners at all levels, especially those preparing for international exams or working in healthcare environments.
This vocabulary group includes:
- Words for symptoms such as headache, fever, or sore throat
- Names of common illnesses like flu, allergy, or infection
- Medical terms related to treatment and recovery, such as prescription or diagnosis
Illness vocabulary is useful in many situations. It helps you explain your condition clearly when seeing a doctor or talking about health in daily life. In exams like IELTS, health topics often appear in Speaking or Listening. In professional contexts, it supports clear and accurate communication.
II. Illness Vocabulary List: Essential Words and Meanings
To talk about health effectively in English, you need the right vocabulary. Whether you're explaining symptoms to a doctor, describing a past illness in an exam, or simply expanding your diseases vocabulary, this list provides the most relevant words and phrases.
The vocabulary is grouped into three useful categories:
1. Diseases and Symptoms Vocabulary: Common Expressions
Some commonly used English symptom and illness vocabulary, often grouped under diseases vocabulary, include terms that describe how we feel when sick or unwell. These words are essential for both daily communication and medical contexts.
|
Health and illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Fever |
/ˈfiːvər/ |
She has a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius. |
|
Cough |
/kɒf/ |
I have had a cough that has persisted for over a week and showed no signs of improvement. |
|
Headache |
/ˈhɛdeɪk/ |
Because of the headache, I couldn’t work. |
|
Nausea |
/ˈnɔːziə/ |
Nausea is a symptom of food poisoning. |
|
Diarrhea |
/daɪəˈriːə/ |
Diarrhea is a sign of poor digestion. |
|
Fatigue |
/fəˈtiːɡ/ |
Fatigue and fever are symptoms of the flu. |
|
Shortness of breath |
/ˈʃɔːrtnəs ʌv brɛθ/ |
Shortness of breath is a symptom of Covid 19. |
|
Rash |
/ræʃ/ |
I have a rash due to seasonal allergies. |
|
Sore throat |
/sɔːr θroʊt/ |
Sore throat is a symptom of tonsillitis. |
|
Swelling |
/ˈswɛlɪŋ/ |
I have swellings around my feet due to edema. |
|
Dizziness |
/ˈdɪzɪnɪs/ |
Dizziness is a manifestation of cerebral ischemia. |
2. Illnesses Vocabulary: Everyday Health Conditions in English
Illnesses vocabulary in English covers a wide range of everyday health conditions and medical terms. These words help describe common sicknesses clearly and are especially useful in daily conversations and exam contexts like IELTS.
Digestive system
|
English health problem vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Acid reflux |
/ˈæsɪd ˈriː.flʌks/ |
Acid reflux disease often leads to heartburn. |
|
Constipation |
/ˌkɑːn.stɪˈpeɪ.ʃən/ |
Constipation is caused by a lack of fiber in the diet. |
|
Diarrhea |
/daɪəˈriːə/ |
Diarrhea can be due to the body’s intolereance of poor quality food . |
|
Indigestion |
/ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛsʧən/ |
If you have indigestion, don’t overeat at night. |
|
Peptic ulcer |
/ˈpɛptɪk ˈʌlsər/ |
Eating too much food will cause peptic ulcers. |
|
Ulcerative colitis |
/ˈʌlsəreɪtɪv kɑːˈlaɪtɪs/ |
Chronic ulcerative colitis causes persistent abdominal pain. |
|
Gallstones |
/ˈɡɔːlstoʊnz/ |
Gallstones can affect the body’s cleansing function. |
|
Pancreatitis |
/ˌpænkrəˈtaɪtɪs/ |
Pancreatitis is common in the elderly. |
Nervous system
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Stroke |
/stroʊk/ |
The rate of stroke is increasing, especially in the 45-60 age group. |
|
Epilepsy |
/ˈɛpəˌlɛpsi/ |
Epilepsy occurs when the nervous system is disturbed. |
|
Alzheimer’s disease |
/ˈæl.zaɪmərz dɪˈziːz/ |
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss and severe loss of thinking ability. |
|
Parkinson’s disease |
/ˈpɑːrkɪnsənz dɪˈziːz/ |
Parkinson’s disease is a slowly progressive, degenerative disorder. |
|
Migraine |
/ˈmaɪɡreɪn/ |
Migraine headaches are characterized by unilateral throbbing pain, sensory sensitivity, and nausea. |
|
Cerebral palsy |
/ˈsɛrəbrəl ˈpɔːlzi/ |
Cerebral Palsy is a disease that causes damage to the brain and slows development. |
Otorhinolaryngology
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Tinnitus |
/ˈtɪn.ɪ.təs/ |
Loud sounds will cause tinnitus. |
|
Sinusitis |
/ˌsaɪˈnaɪ.sɪs/ |
In winter, my sinusitis gets worse. |
|
Sore throat |
/sɔːr θroʊt/ |
Drinking too much ice water will cause a sore throat. |
|
Stuffy nose |
/ˈstʌfi noʊz/ |
A stuffy nose is a symptom of the flu. |
|
Rhinitis |
/raɪˈnaɪ.tɪs/ |
I need to clean my nose every day to avoid rhinitis. |
|
Laryngitis |
/ˌlærɪnˈdʒaɪ.tɪs/ |
Laryngitis causes us to limit the volume of speech. |
|
Ear infection |
/ɪr ɪnˈfɛkʃən/ |
Ear infections are very dangerous, and should not be ignored. |
|
Pharyngitis |
/ˌfærɪnˈdʒaɪ.tɪs/ |
Pharyngitis is an infection of the pharynx. |
Dermatology
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Acne |
/ˈækni/ |
Acne is a skin condition caused by the accumulation of bacteria and dirt. |
|
Eczema |
/ˈɛk.zɪ.mə/ |
Eczema is a skin condition that causes itchiness, redness, dryness, and irritation of the skin. |
|
Psoriasis |
/səˈraɪəsɪs/ |
Psoriasis can’t be spread to other people. |
|
Hives |
/haɪvz/ |
Hives are often caused by pet allergies or food allergies. |
|
Wart |
/wɔːrt/ |
Warts are a manifestation of HIV disease. |
|
Athlete’s foot |
/ˌæθliːts ˈfʊt/ |
Athlete’s foot can be spread by sharing shoes. |
Ophthalmology
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Conjunctivitis |
/kənˌdʒʌŋk.tɪˈvaɪ.tɪs/ |
Conjunctivitis can be contagious. |
|
Glaucoma |
/ˈɡlɔːkəʊmə/ |
Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve. |
|
Cataract |
/ˈkætərækt/ |
Cataract leads to a cloudy, no longer transparent lens. |
|
Myopia |
/maɪˈoʊpiə/ |
Myopia is a common disease among young people. |
|
Hyperopia |
/ˌhaɪpəˈroʊpiə/ |
Hyperopia is a common problem in the elderly. |
|
Macular degeneration |
/ˈmækjələr ˌdiːˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ |
Macular degeneration is a condition in which the retinal cells of the eye are damaged. |
Cardiology
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Hypertension |
/ˌhaɪpərˈtɛnʃən/ |
Hypertension will make it difficult for patients to breathe normally. |
|
Angina |
/ˈændʒɪnə/ |
Frequent angina caused me to go to the emergency room. |
|
Arrhythmia |
/əˈrɪðmɪə/ |
Arrhythmia is very dangerous, and can lead to sudden cardiac death. |
|
Atherosclerosis |
/ˌæθəroʊskləˈroʊsɪs/ |
Obesity is the leading cause of atherosclerosis. |
|
Heart attack |
/hɑːrt əˈtæk/ |
Coronary artery disease is the main cause of heart attack. |
|
Heart failure |
/hɑːrt ˈfeɪljər/ |
Heart failure can lead to death. |
|
Coronary artery disease |
/ˈkɔːrnəri ˈɑːrtəri dɪˈziːz/ |
Chest pain is a sign of coronary artery disease. |
|
Heart valve disease |
/ˈvælv dɪˈziːz/ |
Heart valve disease is a disease in which the heart valves have problems with their function. |
|
Peripheral artery disease |
/pəˈrɪfərəl ˈɑːrtəri dɪˈziːz/ |
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is the atherosclerosis of the arteries in the legs. |
Liver, lung, and kidney diseases
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Cirrhosis |
/səˈroʊsɪs/ |
Cirrhosis reduces the body’s ability to eliminate toxins. |
|
Hepatitis |
/ˌhɛpəˈtaɪtɪs/ |
Hepatitis B is a disease that is transmitted only from mother to child. |
|
Pneumonia |
/nuːˈmoʊniə/ |
Pneumonia can lead to a persistent cough, especially in the cold season. |
|
Tuberculosis |
/tuːˌbɜːrˈkjuːloʊsɪs/ |
Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease, and patients need to be isolated. |
|
Kidney stones |
/ˈkɪdni stoʊnz/ |
Holding in urine can cause kidney stones. |
|
Renal failure |
/ˈriːnl ˈfeɪljər/ |
People with Renal failure need regular dialysis. |
Musculoskeletal system
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Arthritis |
/ɑːrˈθraɪtɪs/ |
The breakdown of the tissue in the joints leads to arthritis. |
|
Osteoarthritis |
/ˌɒs.ti.əʊ.ɑːˈθraɪ.tɪs/ |
Osteoarthritis is common in the elderly. |
|
Gout |
/ɡaʊt/ |
Consuming too much protein is the main cause of gout. |
|
Ankylosing spondylitis |
/ˌæŋ.kəˌloʊzɪŋ ˌspɑːndəˈlaɪtɪs/ |
Ankylosing spondylitis will lead to many dangerous complications in the joints if not treated promptly. |
|
Osteoporosis |
/ˌɑːsti.oʊpəˈroʊsɪs/ |
Elderly people often suffer from osteoporosis. |
|
Carpal tunnel syndrome |
/ˌkɑːrpl ˈtʌnl ˌsɪndroʊm/ |
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel causes numbness and pain in the hand. |
|
Fibromyalgia |
/ˌfaɪbroʊ.maɪˈældʒiə/ |
The symptoms of Fibromyalgia can be widespread pain, fatigue, and headaches. |
Other diseases
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Diabetes |
/ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/ |
One of the causes of diabetes is obesity. |
|
Obesity |
/oʊˈbiːsəti/ |
People with obesity are more prone to cardiovascular diseases. |
|
Allergies |
/ˈælərdʒiz/ |
An allergy is an immune system response to a foreign substance that can cause harm to your body. |
|
Insomnia |
/ɪnˈsɑːmniə/ |
Excessive exposure to electronic devices can lead to insomnia. |
|
Depression |
/dɪˈprɛʃən/ |
Depression is a dangerous mental illness that young people are facing today. |
3. Illness Vocabulary for Treatment and Recovery
Talking about treatment and recovery is important when describing how people manage health problems. These words are commonly used in conversations with doctors, in health-related articles, and in English exams.
|
English illness vocabulary |
Pronunciation |
Example |
|
Exercise |
/ˈɛksərsaɪz/ |
Exercise improves physical health. |
|
Hydration |
/haɪˈdreɪʃən/ |
Hydration for the body will beautify the skin and be good for the excretory system. |
|
Balanced diet |
/ˈbælənst ˈdaɪət/ |
Maintaining a balanced diet will keep the body healthy and prevent disease. |
|
Stress management |
/strɛs ˈmænɪdʒmənt/ |
Effective stress management reduces the risk of depression. |
|
Sleep hygiene |
/sliːp ˈhaɪdʒiːn/ |
Good sleep hygiene will help improve your sleep quality. |
|
Immunization |
/ˌɪmjʊnɪˈzeɪʃən/ |
Immunization is necessary to prevent disease. |
IV. Illness Vocabulary for IELTS Speaking and Listening
Health and illness are common themes in the IELTS Speaking and Listening tests. Questions related to feeling unwell, taking care of your health, or healthcare systems regularly appear in Part 1 and Part 3 of the Speaking test, as well as in Listening sections involving hospital visits or everyday conversations.
Speaking: Typical health-related questions in IELTS
In Speaking Part 1, questions are usually personal and easy to answer:
- Do you often get sick?
- What do you usually do when you feel unwell?
- Do you prefer to rest at home or go to the doctor?
In Part 2 and 3, you may encounter health as a sub-topic:
- Describe a time when you were ill
- How can people take better care of their health?
- What role should governments play in healthcare?
Useful phrases for speaking naturally
- “I came down with the flu last winter and stayed in bed for a week.”
- “When I’m feeling under the weather, I usually take medicine and rest.”
- “Getting plenty of sleep and staying hydrated helps me recover faster.”
- “My doctor prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection.”
- “In my opinion, exercise and a healthy diet are key to preventing illness.”
- These phrases contain common collocations (e.g., “under the weather”, “take medicine”, “recover from”) that improve fluency and natural expression.
Listening: What to expect
Health-related vocabulary often appears in Listening Sections 1 or 2, especially in:
- Appointment booking conversations
- Medical advice from receptionists or doctors
- Descriptions of symptoms or past medical experiences
- Academic contexts (e.g., lectures on public health, stress, or lifestyle)
To score well, practice listening for synonyms and paraphrasing (e.g., “runny nose” = mild cold, “headache” = pressure in the head).
V. Idioms and Expressions Related to Illness
If you want to sound more natural and fluent when talking about health, learning a few common idioms and health-related expressions can make a big difference—especially in IELTS Speaking Part 2 or 3, where idiomatic language helps boost your Lexical Resource score.
These phrases are an important part of your illnesses vocabulary and are often used by native speakers to describe minor illnesses, recovery, and feelings related to being sick. They also help enrich your diseases vocabulary, making your language more expressive and contextually appropriate.
Common idioms about illness
|
Idiom |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
|
Under the weather |
Feeling a little sick or unwell |
I didn’t go to work today because I was feeling under the weather. |
|
Back on your feet |
Fully recovered after illness |
It took a few days of rest, but I'm back on my feet now. |
|
Catch a bug |
Get a mild illness (like a cold or flu) |
I think I caught a bug from someone at the office. |
|
A clean bill of health |
A report that someone is healthy |
The doctor gave me a clean bill of health after my checkup. |
|
In bad shape |
In poor physical condition |
He was in bad shape after the accident but is improving. |
Health-related phrasal verbs
|
Phrasal Verb |
Meaning |
Example Sentence |
|
Come down with |
Become sick with a minor illness |
She came down with the flu after the trip. |
|
Fight off |
Try to overcome an illness |
He’s trying to fight off a cold before the weekend. |
|
Pass out |
Faint or lose consciousness |
He passed out during the hot afternoon. |
|
Throw up |
Vomit |
He threw up after eating some bad seafood. |
|
Get over |
Recover from an illness or difficult situation |
It took her two weeks to get over the infection. |
Tips for using idioms in IELTS
- Use idioms naturally—never force them into the answer.
- Avoid using idioms in Writing Task 2, where formal language is preferred.
- In Speaking, idioms and phrasal verbs are welcome if used correctly and in context.
VI. Exercises on English illness vocabulary and diseases
Below are some exercises on English illness vocabulary and diseases that you should do to practice your memory:
Exercise 1: Make an example for the following words:
- Sinusitis
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Myopia
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer:
1. My grandmother suffers from ___________, which makes it hard for her to remember things.
A. Arthritis
B. Diabetes
C. Alzheimer’s disease
2. Children often have convulsions because of ___________
A. high fever
B. cold
C. cough
3. I had ___________ from eating rancid food.
A. A cough
B. Diarrhea
C. A headache
4. Because of eating too much fat and not controlling calories, she suffered from ___________
A. Gallstones
B. Obesity
C. Osteoporosis
5. Eating too much protein is the main cause of ___________
A. Gout
B. Depression
C. Insomnia
Answer keys
Exercises 1: Below are some samples from PREP. Students can make their own examples:
- In winter, my sinusitis gets worse.
- Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by memory loss and severe loss of thinking ability.
- Myopia is a common disease among young people.
- Hypertension will make it difficult for patients to breathe normally.
- Elderly people often suffer from osteoporosis.
Exercise 2:
|
1 – C |
2 – A |
3 – B |
4 – B |
5 – A |
VII. Get Instant Access to Top IELTS Study Resources
This is a collection of the most common English illness vocabulary. Let’s apply suitable thematic vocabulary learning methods related to medical conditions to effectively remember and utilize these terms. If you’re ready to boost your IELTS band score, check out our expert-led courses:
-
IELTS lessons online: Learn Smarter, Not Harder—PREP's Expert IELTS course await!
Hi I'm Chloe, and I am currently serving as an Product Content Administrator at Prep Education. With over five years of experience in independent online IELTS study and exam preparation, I am confident in my ability to support learners in achieving their highest possible scores.
Comment
Premium content
View all
Personalized roadmap
Most read
UEN: 202227322W
Address: 114 LAVENDER STREET, #11-83 CT HUB 2, SINGAPORE (338729)
