Health vocabulary is genuinely essential, describing symptoms to a doctor accurately, booking an appointment, or talking about your fitness routine all depend on it. This guide covers real, practical vocabulary for GP visits, illness, exercise and healthy habits.
2. GP Visits & Appointments
Word / Phrase
Meaning
GP (general practitioner)
your regular local doctor
appointment
a scheduled meeting with a doctor
check-up
a routine appointment to confirm general health
prescription
a doctor's written instruction for medicine
referral
being sent to see a specialist doctor
surgery
a GP's medical practice/building (British English)
3. Symptoms & Illness
Word
Meaning / Note
symptom
a sign that something is wrong (headache, cough)
condition
the underlying medical issue itself
to feel under the weather
to feel slightly unwell
to catch a cold
to become infected with a cold
to recover
to get better after an illness
side effect
an unwanted effect caused by medicine
4. Exercise & Fitness
Word / Phrase
Meaning
to work out
to exercise, especially at a gym
to warm up / cool down
light exercise before/after the main workout
stamina
the ability to sustain physical effort over time
to stay in shape
to maintain good physical fitness
personal trainer
a professional who guides your fitness programme
5. Healthy Habits
Phrase
Example
a balanced diet
I try to eat a balanced diet with plenty of vegetables.
to cut down on
I'm cutting down on sugar this year.
to get enough sleep
Getting enough sleep really affects my mood.
stress relief
Yoga is great for stress relief.
6. Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect
✅ Correct
Why
I have an appointment with the medicine.
I have an appointment with the doctor.
"Medicine" refers to the substance you take, not the doctor.
I do sport in the gym.
I work out at the gym.
"Work out" is the natural collocation for gym exercise.
I am feeling me sick.
I feel sick.
"Feel" doesn't need a reflexive pronoun in this structure.
7. Exercises
A. Gap Fill — Complete correctly (8 questions)
1. I need to book an ___ with my GP. (appointment)
2. The doctor gave me a ___ for antibiotics. (prescription)
3. I'm feeling a bit under the ___ today. (weather)
4. I try to ___ out three times a week. (work)
5. Always ___ up before exercising. (warm)
6. I'm ___ down on sugar this year. (cutting)
7. The doctor gave me a ___ to see a specialist. (referral)
8. A headache is a ___ , not a condition. (symptom)
1. Your regular local doctor is your... (a) GP (b) surgery
2. "To exercise at a gym" is to... (a) work out (b) work up
3. An unwanted effect from medicine is a... (a) side effect (b) symptom
4. "To feel slightly unwell" is to feel... (a) under the weather (b) in shape
5. The ability to sustain effort is... (a) stamina (b) referral
Show Answers (B)
1.a 2.a 3.a 4.a 5.a
C. Error Correction (3 questions)
1. I have an appointment with the medicine.
2. I do sport in the gym.
3. I am feeling me sick.
Show Answers (C)
1. I have an appointment with the doctor. 2. I work out at the gym. 3. I feel sick.
D. Freer Practice — Write Your Own Sentences (2 tasks)
1. Describe your own exercise routine, using at least two vocabulary words from this page.
2. Write a sentence describing symptoms you might tell a doctor about.
Show Answers (D)
Model answers will vary. Examples: 1. "I try to work out twice a week and always warm up first." 2. "I've had a sore throat and a headache since yesterday."
8. Mini Quiz
9. Exam Focus — Cambridge, IELTS, SELT
Exam
How This Is Tested
Sample Question
Cambridge B1 Preliminary / B2 First
Health dialogues (GP visits, pharmacy) are common in Listening and Reading.
A listening task involving a patient describing symptoms.
IELTS Speaking & Writing
Health and fitness are common Part 1/3 topics and Writing Task 2 themes.
"How do you stay healthy?" "Should governments promote exercise?"
Trinity GESE/ISE (SELT)
Describing your health and fitness habits is a natural, common topic.
"Do you exercise regularly?" "How do you stay healthy?"
10. Frequently Asked Questions
An appointment is any scheduled meeting with a doctor for a specific reason; a check-up is a routine appointment to confirm you're generally healthy, not for a specific problem.
"I'd like to book an appointment to see a doctor" is the standard, natural phrase used when calling or visiting a GP surgery.
A symptom is a sign that something is wrong (a headache, a cough); a condition is the underlying medical issue causing the symptoms (the flu, asthma).
To exercise, especially at a gym: "I work out three times a week" means regular exercise sessions.
"Fit" specifically describes physical exercise capability and strength; "healthy" is broader, covering overall wellbeing, diet and lifestyle, not just fitness.
Yes — describing your health, fitness habits and any medical needs is a common, practical everyday conversation topic.
Reading a vocabulary list takes you part of the way. Real fluency comes from using these words in conversation, with a tutor who corrects you immediately. Book a free level test with Elite Language Solutions and find out exactly where you are.