Health & the Body in Russian

Nobody plans to need this lesson — which is exactly why you learn it in advance. One pattern (у меня болит…) plus twenty words covers the pharmacy, the clinic and the sympathetic neighbour.

The Body

What Hurts

The having pattern plus one verb — the whole complaint:

How You Feel

At the аптека

Doctors speak in вы-imperatives — recognize the -йте:

Common Mistakes

• болит for plurals. Teeth hurt in the plural: болят зубы.
• «Я плохо». Feelings are dative: мне плохо.
• рука ≠ only hand. Рука is arm-and-hand, нога is leg-and-foot. Russian doesn't split them.

What You Can Do Now

You can describe symptoms, get the right medicine at a pharmacy, follow a doctor's instructions — and report the happy ending: мне лучше!