Jeg trenger en lege
I need a doctor
Usage
Essential phrase for requesting medical help when ill or injured in Norway
Grammar Note
"Lege" = doctor. Emergency number in Norway: 113. Medical hotline: 116 117 (non-emergency healthcare advice)
Hvor er nærmeste sykehus?
Where is the nearest hospital?
Usage
Used in emergencies to locate the nearest hospital
Grammar Note
"Sykehus" = syke (sick) + hus (house). "Nærmeste" is the superlative definite of "nær" (near)
Jeg er allergisk mot nøtter
I am allergic to nuts
Usage
Essential for informing restaurants or doctors about nut allergies
Grammar Note
"Allergisk mot + noun" = allergic to something. "Nøtt" (singular nut) → "nøtter" (nuts, plural)
Jeg føler meg ikke bra
I am not feeling well
Usage
Basic phrase to express that you are feeling unwell
Grammar Note
"Føler meg" = feel myself (reflexive). "Hvordan føler du deg?" = How are you feeling? (health inquiry)
Jeg har vondt i magen
I have a stomachache
Usage
Used to describe stomach pain to a doctor or pharmacist
Grammar Note
"Har vondt i + body part" is the standard Norwegian pain expression. "Vondt i hodet" = headache
Jeg tar disse medisinene
I am taking these medications
Usage
Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist about current medications
Grammar Note
"Disse" = these. "Medisinene" = the medications (definite plural). Show the actual medicine package when possible
Ring ambulansen!
Call an ambulance!
Usage
Emergency phrase to call for an ambulance — Norwegian emergency number is 113
Grammar Note
"Ring" as imperative means "call". Norway emergency numbers: 113 (ambulance), 112 (police), 110 (fire)
Har du reiseforsikring?
Do you have travel insurance?
Usage
Used when checking travel insurance status or when asked by hospital staff
Grammar Note
"Reiseforsikring" = reise (travel) + forsikring (insurance). EU citizens use EHIC; others need private insurance
Jeg er gravid
I am pregnant
Usage
Important phrase for informing medical staff or in emergencies that you are pregnant
Grammar Note
"Gravid" is medical/formal. Colloquially: "venter barn" (waiting for a baby) or "er med barn"
Kan du hjelpe meg?
Can you help me?
Usage
Basic distress phrase to ask for help in medical situations or emergencies
Grammar Note
In "hjelpe", "hj" is pronounced like "Y". "Hjelp!" (Help!) is the single-word emergency cry
astma
Asthma
Usage
Point to this at a clinic or pharmacy to declare asthma; an inhaler is "inhalator"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "astmaen"; the full sentence is "Jeg har astma"
diabetes
Diabetes
Usage
Declares diabetes; the starting point for explaining diet limits or carrying insulin
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "diabetesen"; the older word "sukkersyke" is still understood by older speakers
høyt blodtrykk
High blood pressure
Usage
Declares high blood pressure at a clinic or pharmacy; affects which medicines you can be given
Grammar Note
"Blodtrykk" is a neuter noun, so the adjective takes the neuter form "høyt"
hjertesykdom
Heart disease
Usage
Declares a heart condition; directly affects decisions about anaesthesia and medication
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "hjertesykdommen"; a heart attack is "hjerteinfarkt"
epilepsi
Epilepsy
Usage
Declares epilepsy; lets bystanders know what a seizure is before they misread it
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "epilepsien"; a seizure is "anfall"
forsikring
Insurance
Usage
Point to this when reception asks about cover; travel insurance is "reiseforsikring"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun; the feminine definite "forsikringa" exists but "forsikringen" dominates in writing
beinbrudd
Bone fracture
Usage
Says you have (or may have) a broken bone; the walk-in emergency clinic is the "legevakt"
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "beinbruddet"; "benbrudd" is an equally valid Bokmål spelling, but health authorities write "beinbrudd". Avoid bare "brudd", which also means a breach or breakup
pustevansker
Difficulty breathing
Usage
Point to this when you cannot get enough air — exactly the moment you cannot speak
Grammar Note
Used in the plural; in speech people also say "tung pust" (heavy breathing)
svimmelhet
Dizziness
Usage
Names the symptom of feeling faint or unsteady; as a sentence, "Jeg er svimmel"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun; in everyday speech the adjective "svimmel" is more common
blødning
Bleeding
Usage
Point to this while showing the wound
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "blødningen"; blood itself is "blod"
brannskade
Burn
Usage
A burn from heat, fire, or hot oil; sunburn is a different word, "solbrenthet"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "brannskaden"
sår
Wound
Usage
Names a cut or open wound; show it while pointing at the injury
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "såret". The same spelling is also an adjective meaning "sore", but pointing at the injury removes the ambiguity
øre
Ear
Usage
Point at your own ear while showing this for earache or hearing trouble
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "øret", plural "ører". The same spelling was the 1/100 krone coin, but it is no longer in circulation
nakke
Neck (back of the neck)
Usage
The back of the neck, for stiffness or pain there; the throat and front of the neck are a different word, "hals"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "nakken"
skulder
Shoulder
Usage
For shoulder pain or dislocation; point at your own shoulder
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "skulderen", plural "skuldre"
kne
Knee
Usage
For knee pain or injury; also needed at a ski resort clinic
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "kneet", plural "knær"
finger
Finger
Usage
For a finger injury; a toe is a different word, "tå"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "fingeren", plural "fingrer" (also "fingre")
hud
Skin
Usage
Used when describing a skin problem; a dermatologist is a "hudlege"
Grammar Note
An "en" noun; the feminine definite "huda" exists but "huden" dominates in writing
arm
Arm
Usage
For arm pain or a break; point at your own arm
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, definite "armen"
nese
Nose
Usage
For a blocked nose, nosebleed, or injury; a nosebleed is "neseblod"
Grammar Note
Historically feminine: both "nesa" and "nesen" are correct Bokmål, but "nesen" dominates in writing
hoste
Cough
Usage
Says you have a cough; at a pharmacy this leads to "hostesaft" (cough syrup)
Grammar Note
An "en" noun ("en hoste"); the identical form is also the verb "to cough", which does not cause confusion when naming a symptom
kløe
Itching
Usage
Names itching, for insect bites or an allergic reaction
Grammar Note
An "en" noun; the verb is "å klø" — "Det klør" means "it itches"
utslett
Rash
Usage
Names a rash; the key clue for whether this is an allergic reaction
Grammar Note
A neuter noun, definite "utslettet"
forstoppelse
Constipation
Usage
Names constipation; use it at a pharmacy when asking for a laxative ("avføringsmiddel")
Grammar Note
An "en" noun; colloquially also "treg mage". Diarrhoea is a separate word, "diaré"
mensen
Period (menstruation)
Usage
Says you are on your period; this is the everyday Norwegian word, used plainly rather than through a euphemism
Grammar Note
Used in this definite-looking form as the noun itself ("Jeg har mensen"); the clinical term is "menstruasjon", and period pain is "menssmerter"
blodtype
Blood type
Usage
Show this to state or ask a blood type where a transfusion may be needed; the groups are A, B, AB and 0 ("null")
Grammar Note
A masculine noun: definite "blodtypen", plural "blodtyper", compounding "blod" (blood) and "type"
legeerklæring
Medical certificate
Usage
Show this to ask a doctor for a written certificate for an insurance claim or for your employer
Grammar Note
A masculine noun: definite "legeerklæringen", plural "legeerklæringer", compounding "lege" (doctor) and "erklæring" (declaration); "legeattest" means the same
innleggelse
Hospital admission
Usage
Show this to check whether you need to be admitted; the hospital "legger inn" a patient, and the patient "blir innlagt"
Grammar Note
A masculine noun: definite "innleggelsen", plural "innleggelser"; the form "innlegging" means the same. Discharge is "utskrivning"
frysninger
Chills
Usage
Names shivering and feeling cold when you are not cold; as a symptom accompanying fever it is said in this plural form
Grammar Note
The plural of the masculine noun "frysning"; the singular can also mean freezing, so the symptom is named with the plural "frysninger"
forkjølelse
Common cold
Usage
Show this for an ordinary cold — sore throat, runny nose, cough; "I have a cold" is "Jeg er forkjølet"
Grammar Note
A masculine noun: definite "forkjølelsen", plural "forkjølelser". Influenza is a different word, "influensa"
Ring en lege!
Please call a doctor
Usage
Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone has been taken ill
Grammar Note
"Ring politiet!" takes the definite form, but here any doctor will do, so the indefinite "en lege" is used. "lege" is masculine: definite "legen", plural "leger"
Det gjør vondt her
It hurts here
Usage
Point at the painful spot while showing this to the doctor
Grammar Note
Det gjør litt vondt der with der (there) replaced by her (here). Gjøre vondt is a set expression with impersonal det as subject.
Jeg føler meg slapp og trøtt
My body feels sluggish
Usage
Show this to a doctor to describe the heavy, strengthless feeling that comes with fever or illness
Grammar Note
"føle seg" is reflexive and takes "meg / deg / seg" according to the subject. "slapp" is an adjective glossed as "kraftløs, matt" and "trøtt, veik": neuter "slapt", plural and definite "slappe"
Jeg har kastet opp flere ganger
I have vomited several times
Usage
Show this to a doctor to report that you have been vomiting repeatedly
Grammar Note
"kaste opp" is the phrasal verb glossed "spy, brekke seg" (to throw up); the perfect is "har kastet opp". The plural of "gang" (time, occasion) is "ganger"
Trenger jeg å hvile?
Do I need to rest?
Usage
Show this after an examination to ask the doctor whether you need to rest
Grammar Note
A yes/no question with the verb first, as in Trenger du pose? An infinitive after trenge takes å.
diaré
Diarrhea
Usage
Names diarrhea; show it to a doctor or pharmacist as the symptom. It means a condition with thin, frequent stools
Grammar Note
An "en" noun, a medical term of French origin, stressed on the final syllable (diaré). Constipation is a separate word, "forstoppelse"
bæsj
Poop
Usage
The everyday word parents use with children; an example is "det er bæsj i bleia" (there is poop in the nappy). With a doctor, "avføring" (stool) is more neutral
Grammar Note
An en noun. The verb is bæsje (example: jeg må bæsje). Bæsj has the same meaning as avføring, ekskrement and lort, but lort is close to vulgar, so avoid it.
urin
Urine
Usage
The neutral word for urine; show it at an examination to point out something wrong with it. The everyday word "tiss" also means a boy's genitals, so it is not used here
Grammar Note
An "en" noun. It means the yellowish fluid with waste products excreted by the kidneys. The act of urinating is "tisse" (jeg må tisse)
Jeg har diaré
I have diarrhea
Usage
Use it to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you have diarrhea
Grammar Note
The same "Jeg har + symptom" pattern as "Jeg har feber" (I have a fever). No article is used with the symptom name
Jeg er forstoppet
I'm constipated
Usage
Use it to tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated
Grammar Note
"Forstoppet" is the past participle of the verb "forstoppe", also used as an adjective (example "forstoppet mage"). The same word also means "blocked", as of traffic, but after "Jeg er" it means constipated. The noun is "forstoppelse"
Jeg må tisse
I need to pee
Usage
Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. It is the plain everyday phrasing
Grammar Note
The verb after the modal "må" takes the bare infinitive, without "å". It covers both obligation and a bodily urge. A more polite alternative is "Jeg må på toalettet" (I have to go to the toilet)
Jeg må bæsje
I need to poop
Usage
Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop. It is the plain everyday phrasing
Grammar Note
The verb after the modal "må" takes the bare infinitive, without "å". Bæsje means having a bowel movement. The noun is "bæsj"
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