Health and Doctor Words in Punjabi: Pain, Fever, Medicine, "Where Does It Hurt?" and Get Well Soon
Pain is dard, fever is bukhaar, medicine is davaai, doctor is daaktar, get well soon is jaldi theek ho jao. Sixty health words with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, plus the phrases you need at an appointment with a Punjabi-speaking parent — where does it hurt, since when, twice a day after food — and the body parts to point at.
The health words you need first in Punjabi are dard (ਦਰਦ, pain), bukhaar (ਬੁਖ਼ਾਰ, fever), davaai (ਦਵਾਈ, medicine), daaktar (ਡਾਕਟਰ, doctor), haspataal (ਹਸਪਤਾਲ, hospital) and bimaar (ਬਿਮਾਰ, sick); "get well soon" is jaldi theek ho jao (ਜਲਦੀ ਠੀਕ ਹੋ ਜਾਓ). If you're the child or grandchild who sits in on the GP appointments in Toronto, Birmingham or Fresno, this is the vocabulary that makes you useful: where does it hurt, since when, do you take any medicine, one tablet in the morning after food. Here it all is, with the body parts to point at.
Symptoms and Conditions
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | Sehat | ਸਿਹਤ | SEH-ut |
| Sick, ill | Bimaar | ਬਿਮਾਰ | bi-MAAR |
| Illness | Bimaari | ਬਿਮਾਰੀ | bi-MAA-ree |
| Pain | Dard | ਦਰਦ | durd |
| Headache | Sir dard | ਸਿਰ ਦਰਦ | sir durd |
| Stomach ache | Pet dard | ਪੇਟ ਦਰਦ | payt durd |
| Fever | Bukhaar | ਬੁਖ਼ਾਰ | bu-KHAAR |
| Cough | Khangh | ਖੰਘ | khungh |
| A cold | Zukaam | ਜ਼ੁਕਾਮ | zu-KAAM |
| Runny nose, catarrh | Nazla | ਨਜ਼ਲਾ | NUZ-laa |
| Sore throat | Gala kharaab | ਗਲਾ ਖ਼ਰਾਬ | GUL-aa kha-RAAB |
| Sneeze | Chhikk | ਛਿੱਕ | chhikk |
| Vomiting | Ulti | ਉਲਟੀ | UL-tee |
| Diarrhoea | Dast | ਦਸਤ | dust |
| Constipation | Kabz | ਕਬਜ਼ | kubz |
| Dizziness | Chakkar | ਚੱਕਰ | CHUK-kur |
| Weakness | Kamzori | ਕਮਜ਼ੋਰੀ | kum-ZO-ree |
| Tiredness | Thakaavat | ਥਕਾਵਟ | tha-KAA-vut |
| Breath; breathlessness | Saah; saah chadhna | ਸਾਹ; ਸਾਹ ਚੜ੍ਹਨਾ | saah CHUDH-naa |
| Swelling | Sojj | ਸੋਜ | soj |
| Itch | Khaarish | ਖਾਰਸ਼ | KHAA-rish |
| Injury | Satt | ਸੱਟ | sutt |
| Wound | Zakham | ਜ਼ਖ਼ਮ | ZUKH-um |
| Blood | Khoon | ਖ਼ੂਨ | khoon |
| Bone; broken bone | Haddi; haddi tutt gayi | ਹੱਡੀ; ਹੱਡੀ ਟੁੱਟ ਗਈ | HUD-dee tutt ga-EE |
| Diabetes (colloquial) | Shoogar | ਸ਼ੂਗਰ | SHOO-gur |
| Blood pressure | BP / khoon da dabaa | ਬੀ.ਪੀ. / ਖ਼ੂਨ ਦਾ ਦਬਾਅ | khoon daa da-BAA |
| Heart attack | Dil da daura | ਦਿਲ ਦਾ ਦੌਰਾ | dil daa DAU-raa |
| Asthma | Dama | ਦਮਾ | DUM-aa |
| Allergy | Allergy | ਐਲਰਜੀ | — |
| Insomnia | Neend na aauna | ਨੀਂਦ ਨਾ ਆਉਣਾ | neend naa AA-u-naa |
| Pregnant | Garbhvati (colloquial: umeed naal) | ਗਰਭਵਤੀ / ਉਮੀਦ ਨਾਲ | gur-bh-VUT-ee |
At the Doctor and the Pharmacy
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doctor | Daaktar | ਡਾਕਟਰ | DAAK-tur |
| Nurse | Nurse | ਨਰਸ | nurs |
| Hospital | Haspataal | ਹਸਪਤਾਲ | hus-pa-TAAL |
| Clinic | Clinic / dawakhana | ਕਲੀਨਿਕ / ਦਵਾਖ਼ਾਨਾ | da-vaa-KHAA-naa |
| Medicine | Davaai | ਦਵਾਈ | da-VAA-ee |
| Tablet, pill | Goli | ਗੋਲੀ | GO-lee |
| Syrup | Sharbat / syrup | ਸ਼ਰਬਤ | SHUR-but |
| Injection | Teeka | ਟੀਕਾ | TEE-kaa |
| Prescription, slip | Parchi | ਪਰਚੀ | PUR-chee |
| Pharmacy | Davaai di dukaan / chemist | ਦਵਾਈ ਦੀ ਦੁਕਾਨ | da-VAA-ee dee du-KAAN |
| Test; blood test | Test; khoon da test | ਟੈਸਟ; ਖ਼ੂਨ ਦਾ ਟੈਸਟ | — |
| X-ray | X-ray | ਐਕਸ-ਰੇ | — |
| Operation | Operation | ਆਪਰੇਸ਼ਨ | aa-pa-RAY-shun |
| Treatment | Ilaaj | ਇਲਾਜ | i-LAAJ |
| Rest | Aaram | ਆਰਾਮ | aa-RAAM |
| Appointment | Appointment / time | ਅਪੌਇੰਟਮੈਂਟ | — |
| Emergency | Emergency | ਐਮਰਜੈਂਸੀ | — |
| Ambulance | Ambulance | ਐਂਬੂਲੈਂਸ | — |
| Interpreter | Dubhaashia | ਦੁਭਾਸ਼ੀਆ | du-BHAA-shee-aa |
English medical words — doctor, test, x-ray, tablet, BP, sugar — are used freely by Punjabi speakers everywhere, so don't hunt for a "pure" word when the English one is what your grandmother says.
Phrases for the Appointment
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it hurt? | Tuhanu kithe dard hai? | ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕਿੱਥੇ ਦਰਦ ਹੈ? |
| It hurts here | Mainu ethe dard hai | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇੱਥੇ ਦਰਦ ਹੈ |
| Since when? | Kadon ton? | ਕਦੋਂ ਤੋਂ? |
| For two days | Do din ton | ਦੋ ਦਿਨ ਤੋਂ |
| I have a fever | Mainu bukhaar hai | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਬੁਖ਼ਾਰ ਹੈ |
| I'm not feeling well | Mainu changa nahi lag riha | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚੰਗਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਲੱਗ ਰਿਹਾ |
| I feel dizzy | Mainu chakkar aa rahe han | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਚੱਕਰ ਆ ਰਹੇ ਹਨ |
| I get breathless | Mainu saah chadhda hai | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਸਾਹ ਚੜ੍ਹਦਾ ਹੈ |
| I can't sleep | Mainu neend nahi aundi | ਮੈਨੂੰ ਨੀਂਦ ਨਹੀਂ ਆਉਂਦੀ |
| Do you take any medicine? | Ki tusi koi davaai lainde ho? | ਕੀ ਤੁਸੀਂ ਕੋਈ ਦਵਾਈ ਲੈਂਦੇ ਹੋ? |
| Are you allergic to anything? | Tuhanu kise cheez ton allergy hai? | ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਕਿਸੇ ਚੀਜ਼ ਤੋਂ ਐਲਰਜੀ ਹੈ? |
| Take this medicine twice a day | Eh davaai din vich do vaar lao | ਇਹ ਦਵਾਈ ਦਿਨ ਵਿੱਚ ਦੋ ਵਾਰ ਲਓ |
| After food / before food | Khaane ton baad / khaane ton pehlaan | ਖਾਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ / ਖਾਣੇ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ |
| One tablet in the morning, one at night | Ik goli savere, ik raat nu | ਇੱਕ ਗੋਲੀ ਸਵੇਰੇ, ਇੱਕ ਰਾਤ ਨੂੰ |
| Drink plenty of water | Paani bahut peeo | ਪਾਣੀ ਬਹੁਤ ਪੀਓ |
| Rest | Aaram karo | ਆਰਾਮ ਕਰੋ |
| You'll need a blood test | Khoon da test karaana pavega | ਖ਼ੂਨ ਦਾ ਟੈਸਟ ਕਰਾਉਣਾ ਪਵੇਗਾ |
| Nothing to worry about | Fikar wali koi gall nahi | ਫ਼ਿਕਰ ਵਾਲੀ ਕੋਈ ਗੱਲ ਨਹੀਂ |
| Let's go to the doctor | Daaktar kol chaliye | ਡਾਕਟਰ ਕੋਲ ਚੱਲੀਏ |
| Call an ambulance | Ambulance bulao | ਐਂਬੂਲੈਂਸ ਬੁਲਾਓ |
| Please speak slowly | Hauli hauli bolo ji | ਹੌਲੀ ਹੌਲੀ ਬੋਲੋ ਜੀ |
If you interpret for a parent: speak to them, not about them — "Daaktar puchh rahe han, dard kadon ton hai?" (the doctor is asking, since when is the pain?) — and ask the clinic whether a Punjabi interpreter is available; many hospitals and GP practices in Canada and the UK provide one by phone, which takes the pressure off you for anything serious.
Get Well Soon in Punjabi
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Get well soon | Jaldi theek ho jao | ਜਲਦੀ ਠੀਕ ਹੋ ਜਾਓ |
| May God give you health | Rabb tuhanu sehat deve | ਰੱਬ ਤੁਹਾਨੂੰ ਸਿਹਤ ਦੇਵੇ |
| Take care of yourself | Apna khayal rakho | ਆਪਣਾ ਖ਼ਿਆਲ ਰੱਖੋ |
| We're praying for your health | Tuhadi sehat layi ardaas kar rahe haan | ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਸਿਹਤ ਲਈ ਅਰਦਾਸ ਕਰ ਰਹੇ ਹਾਂ |
| Keep your spirits up | Chardi kala vich raho | ਚੜ੍ਹਦੀ ਕਲਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹੋ |
| How are you feeling now? | Hun kiven ho? | ਹੁਣ ਕਿਵੇਂ ਹੋ? |
| Take your medicine on time | Davaai time te laina | ਦਵਾਈ ਟਾਈਮ 'ਤੇ ਲੈਣਾ |
| Rest, don't do any work | Aaram karo, koi kamm na karo | ਆਰਾਮ ਕਰੋ, ਕੋਈ ਕੰਮ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ |
Body Parts to Point At
| English | Punjabi | Gurmukhi |
|---|---|---|
| Head | Sir | ਸਿਰ |
| Eye / ear / nose | Akkh / kann / nakk | ਅੱਖ / ਕੰਨ / ਨੱਕ |
| Throat | Gala | ਗਲਾ |
| Tooth | Dand | ਦੰਦ |
| Chest | Chhaati | ਛਾਤੀ |
| Heart | Dil | ਦਿਲ |
| Stomach | Pet | ਪੇਟ |
| Back / lower back | Pitth / lakk | ਪਿੱਠ / ਲੱਕ |
| Arm / hand | Baanh / haath | ਬਾਂਹ / ਹੱਥ |
| Leg / knee / foot | Latt / godda / pair | ਲੱਤ / ਗੋਡਾ / ਪੈਰ |
The complete list is in body parts in Punjabi; for the feelings that come with being ill — tired, worried, fed up — see emotions in Punjabi, and for the time words in dosing instructions (savere, raat nu, har roz), telling time in Punjabi.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say get well soon in Punjabi?
Jaldi theek ho jao (ਜਲਦੀ ਠੀਕ ਹੋ ਜਾਓ). Warmer options: Rabb tuhanu sehat deve (may God give you health) and apna khayal rakho (take care of yourself).
How do you say pain in Punjabi?
Dard (ਦਰਦ). "It hurts here" is mainu ethe dard hai; headache is sir dard, stomach ache pet dard.
How do you say "I am sick" in Punjabi?
Main bimaar haan (ਮੈਂ ਬਿਮਾਰ ਹਾਂ), or mainu changa nahi lag riha — I'm not feeling well. "I have a fever" is mainu bukhaar hai.
How do you say medicine in Punjabi?
Davaai (ਦਵਾਈ). A tablet is goli, an injection teeka, a prescription parchi, and "take the medicine twice a day" is davaai din vich do vaar lao.
Be the Family's Translator, Not Just the Driver
The appointment goes better when you can follow it in both languages. Alfaazo teaches everyday Punjabi with native audio, the Gurmukhi script and bite-sized lessons you can finish in five minutes a day. Free on iOS and Android.
Keep reading
Weather in Punjabi: It's Cold, It's Raining, Snow, Heat and Every Season (With Gurmukhi)
Weather in Punjabi is mausam. It's cold is thand hai, it's hot is garmi hai, it's raining is meenh pai riha hai, it's snowing is baraf pai rahi hai. All the weather words and seasons with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, plus the small-talk lines Punjabi families actually use, in Brampton, Birmingham and Ludhiana alike.
25 Punjabi Proverbs (Akhaan) and What They Mean: The Sayings Every Grandparent Uses
Punjabi proverbs — akhaan — with Gurmukhi, literal translation and real meaning: oonth de mooh vich zeera (a drop in the ocean), nachna na aave vehda tedha (a bad workman blames his tools), ghar da jogi jogda (no one is a prophet at home), dudh da sadia lassi nu phookaan maar ke peenda (once bitten, twice shy), and 21 more, with when to use each.
Punjabi Phrases for Travellers: 60 Essential Phrases for a Trip to Punjab (Airport, Taxi, Hotel, Dhaba, Golden Temple)
The essential Punjabi phrases for a first-time traveller to Punjab — arriving at Amritsar or Chandigarh airport, taking a taxi or auto, checking into a hotel, ordering at a dhaba, bargaining in the bazaar, visiting the Golden Temple, asking for help and handling emergencies — with Gurmukhi and pronunciation, plus the etiquette that makes locals warm to you instantly.