🏥 Introduction
If you’re living in Singapore and English isn’t your first language, visiting a doctor can be a nerve-wracking experience. From booking an appointment to explaining your symptoms, the right English phrases can help you feel more confident and get the medical help you need faster.
This guide offers practical English for healthcare appointments in Singapore — no complicated grammar, just real-life phrases you’ll actually use.
📌 Why Learn Medical English in Singapore?
- Singapore’s healthcare system uses English as the primary language.
- Most clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies expect basic English communication.
- Foreigners, expats, and newcomers often struggle to describe symptoms clearly.
- Miscommunication can lead to delays or misunderstandings in treatment.
📅 Booking an Appointment: Useful English Phrases
Keywords: English phrases for making doctor appointments
Whether calling a clinic or booking online, these phrases are helpful:
- “Hi, I’d like to make an appointment with a doctor.”
- “Do you have any available slots today or tomorrow?”
- “Can I see a general practitioner?”
- “I have a referral from another clinic.”
👉 Tip: Always confirm the time and ask, “Do I need to bring anything with me?”
🤒 Describing Your Symptoms in English
Keywords: describing symptoms in English, English for patient communication
Doctors often ask:
- “What symptoms are you experiencing?”
- “When did they start?”
- “On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?”
You can answer with:
- “I have a sore throat and fever.”
- “It started two days ago.”
- “The pain is sharp and comes and goes.”
📌 Useful vocabulary:
- Fever – high temperature
- Nausea – feeling like vomiting
- Dizzy – feeling like the room is spinning
- Shortness of breath – hard to breathe
💊 Understanding Diagnosis & Instructions
Keywords: English at the clinic, understanding doctor’s advice
Doctors may say:
- “You have a viral infection, no antibiotics needed.”
- “Take this medicine twice a day after meals.”
- “You’ll need to do a blood test.”
- “Come back in a week for a follow-up.”
If you’re unsure, ask:
- “Could you repeat that, please?”
- “Can you write that down for me?”
- “Are there any side effects I should watch out for?”
💡 Bonus: At the Pharmacy
Keywords: English at the pharmacy, asking for medicine
When picking up medicine:
- “I’m here to collect my prescription.”
- “Can you explain how to take this?”
- “Is this safe with other medication I’m taking?”
👩⚕️ Who Should Learn Medical English?
- New expats and international students
- Long-term visitors on dependent or work passes
- Elderly family members accompanying working adults
- Domestic helpers and caregivers
🗣️ Want to Practice Medical English in Real Situations?
Join our Conversational English course in Singapore, specially designed for adults living or working here. Practice real-life roleplays like:
- Booking a clinic visit
- Talking to a doctor
- Picking up prescriptions
- Reading medicine labels
👨🏫 Small group classes | 💬 One-on-one speaking correction | 🏥 Practical vocabulary
📍Available near major MRT lines
Knowing how to speak English at the doctor’s office isn’t just about fluency — it’s about feeling safe and understood. With these essential English phrases for medical visits, your next clinic appointment in Singapore will be smoother, clearer, and less stressful.
