Health & Hospital

1. Saya sakit

   I am sick

   Usage

   The most basic expression to say you are not feeling well

   Grammar Note

   "Sakit" means both "sick" and "in pain". Combine with body parts: "sakit kepala" (headache), "sakit perut" (stomachache)

2. Tolong panggil dokter

   Please call a doctor

   Usage

   Used in an emergency to request a doctor be called

   Grammar Note

   "Tolong panggil" is a standard emergency request phrase. "Dokter" is from Dutch. Ambulance: "ambulans"; ambulance 118 / 119 (general emergency 112)

3. Di mana rumah sakit terdekat?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Used urgently to find the nearest hospital

   Grammar Note

   "Rumah sakit" literally means "sick house". Indonesia has public (RSUD) and private (RS Swasta) hospitals. Foreigners are advised to use international hospitals

4. Saya alergi terhadap...

   I am allergic to...

   Usage

   Used to inform someone of a specific allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Terhadap" is the preposition for the allergen. Examples: "alergi terhadap kacang" (peanut allergy), "terhadap seafood". Food allergy = "alergi makanan"

5. Saya butuh obat pereda nyeri

   I need pain relief medicine

   Usage

   Used at a pharmacy or hospital to request pain relief

   Grammar Note

   "Pereda nyeri" = "pereda" (reliever) + "nyeri" (pain). "Obat" = medicine in general. Prescription: "obat resep"; over-the-counter: "obat bebas"

6. Saya demam tinggi

   I have a high fever

   Usage

   Used to report a high fever to medical staff

   Grammar Note

   Dengue fever ("demam berdarah") is a common tropical disease in Indonesia. Seek medical care if fever exceeds 38°C. Ask for a "termometer" to check temperature

7. Saya mau periksa ke dokter

   I would like to see a doctor

   Usage

   Used at reception or when making a medical appointment

   Grammar Note

   "Periksa" means to examine or check. "Ke dokter" = go to the doctor. In Indonesia, choose "poli umum" (general outpatient) or "poli spesialis" (specialist clinic)

8. Ada asuransi kesehatan

   I have health insurance

   Usage

   Used at medical reception to inform that you have health insurance

   Grammar Note

   "Asuransi" is from Dutch "assurantie." "Kesehatan" = noun form of "sehat" (healthy). Travelers should carry "asuransi perjalanan" (travel insurance). National health scheme: BPJS Kesehatan

9. Di sini terasa sakit

   It hurts here

   Usage

   Used while pointing to the painful area on your body

   Grammar Note

   "Terasa" expresses a perceived sensation (passively felt). Word order: "di sini" (here) + "terasa" (feels) + "sakit" (painful). A body chart helps communicate pain location

10. Saya sudah minum obat

    I have already taken medicine

    Usage

    Used to inform a doctor or pharmacist that you have already taken medication

    Grammar Note

    "Sudah" marks completion, like "already / have done". Indonesian has no tense conjugation — aspect markers "sudah" (done), "belum" (not yet), "sedang" (ongoing) serve this role

11. Hamil

    Pregnant

    Usage

    Show before any medicine or X-ray — it changes what is safe for you

12. Asma

    Asthma

    Usage

    State as a pre-existing condition or show during an attack

13. Diabetes

    Usage

    Use when explaining dietary limits or insulin; colloquially "kencing manis"

14. Darah tinggi

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Everyday term is "darah tinggi"; the clinical term is "hipertensi"

15. Penyakit jantung

    Heart disease

    Usage

    State a pre-existing heart condition to medical staff

16. Epilepsi

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    The clinical term; avoid colloquial "ayan", which sounds derogatory

17. Asuransi kesehatan

    Health insurance

    Usage

    Show at hospital reception; "asuransi" alone means insurance in general

18. Patah tulang

    Broken bone

    Usage

    Say that a bone is broken or you suspect a fracture

19. Sesak napas

    Shortness of breath

    Usage

    Report difficulty breathing — point to it when you cannot speak

20. Pusing berputar

    Dizziness (vertigo)

    Usage

    Plain "pusing" also means headache, so this fuller form pins down spinning dizziness

21. Pendarahan

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Word for bleeding; written "perdarahan" in clinical texts

22. Luka bakar

    Burn

    Usage

    For a burn from heat, fire, or hot oil

23. Luka

    Wound

    Usage

    Covers cuts, grazes, and open wounds in general

24. Telinga

    Ear

    Usage

    Point to this for ear pain or trouble

25. Leher

    Neck

    Usage

    For neck pain; the throat inside is a separate word, "tenggorokan"

26. Bahu

    Shoulder

    Usage

    For shoulder pain or stiffness; "pundak" is the colloquial word

27. Lutut

    Knee

    Usage

    For knee pain or injury

28. Jari

    Finger

    Usage

    Means finger; toes are "jari kaki"

29. Kulit

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes and itching; "kulit" also means peel or leather, so point at your body as you show it

30. Lengan

    Arm

    Usage

    For arm injuries; the hand itself is "tangan"

31. Hidung

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nosebleed or a blocked nose

32. Batuk

    Cough

    Usage

    To report a cough

33. Gatal

    Itchy

    Usage

    To report itching

34. Ruam

    Rash

    Usage

    To report a rash; "bintik merah" (red spots) also works

35. Sembelit

    Constipation

    Usage

    Use at a pharmacy or clinic; the clinical term is "konstipasi"

36. Haid

    Menstruation

    Usage

    The everyday word used at pharmacies; "menstruasi" is formal and "datang bulan" is the euphemism

37. Golongan darah

    Blood type

    Usage

    State it to medical staff before a transfusion or surgery; the four groups are A, B, AB and O

38. Surat keterangan dokter

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    "Surat" (letter) + "keterangan" (statement) + "dokter"; needed for travel-insurance claims

39. Rawat inap

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    Inpatient care — treatment where the patient stays overnight at the hospital

40. Menggigil

    Chills / shivering

    Usage

    Shivering from cold, fever or fear; use it for the chills that come with a fever

41. Pilek

    Common cold

    Usage

    A cold with a runny nose and a slight cough; the synonym is "selesma"

42. Badan saya lesu

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Use when fever or dehydration has left you without strength. "Lemas" is also heard, but its senses lean toward "supple" and "short of breath", whereas "lesu" is explicitly "weak and tired"

    Grammar Note

    Possession is shown by juxtaposition ("badan saya" = my body). "Badan" is the same word as in "kurang enak badan" (feeling unwell). "lesu" means "feeling weak and tired; weary"

43. Saya sudah muntah beberapa kali

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Telling the doctor how many times helps the diagnosis

    Grammar Note

    The "saya sudah + verb" perfect of "saya sudah minum obat" (I have already taken medicine). "Beberapa" comes from "beberapa dokumen" and "kali" from "pertama kali". "muntah" means "for food or drink that has entered the mouth or stomach to come back out"

44. Apakah saya perlu istirahat total?

    Do I need complete bed rest?

    Usage

    Ask this after an examination to check whether you must rest; "istirahat total" is the clinical phrase for complete bed rest

    Grammar Note

    The "apakah saya perlu + verb?" frame of the "apakah saya perlu membuat janji terlebih dahulu?" (do I need to make an appointment first?), with the verb swapped. "Istirahat" is the same word as in the "mari istirahat sebentar" (let us rest a bit)

45. Diare

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Symptom name. Say or show it to a doctor or pharmacist; the colloquial word is "mencret"

46. Pup

    Poop

    Usage

    A casual everyday word for "buang air besar" (to have a bowel movement), common with children. At a clinic use "BAB" or "tinja" (stool)

47. Pipis

    Pee

    Usage

    A casual everyday word for "buang air kecil" (to urinate). Use it with family and children; at a clinic use "BAK" or "urine"

48. Saya diare

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Describing diarrhea to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    Indonesian can use the symptom name directly as the predicate (no "to be" needed): "Saya + symptom". Same shape as the "Saya sakit" (I am sick)

49. Saya sembelit

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Describing constipation to a doctor or pharmacist

    Grammar Note

    The "Saya + symptom" frame; sembelit means constipation

50. Saya mau pipis

    I need to pee

    Usage

    The plain, casual way to tell a companion or a child

    Grammar Note

    "mau + verb" means "want to …". Pipis is a synonym of kencing / buang air kecil. In formal settings use "Saya ingin buang air kecil"

51. Saya mau pup

    I need to poop

    Usage

    A casual way to tell a companion or a child. In formal adult settings use "Saya ingin buang air besar"

    Grammar Note

    The "mau + verb" frame. "Pup" is the colloquial word for "buang air besar" (to have a bowel movement)

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