Thai Medical Vocabulary: Body Parts and Symptoms

You’re in Chiang Mai. You ate something questionable from a night market stall six hours ago. Your stomach is in open revolt. You need medicine, or possibly a doctor, and you need to describe what’s wrong in a language where you can barely order coffee.

This is the scenario nobody prepares for. You memorized food words and taxi directions, but not the word for “diarrhea.” And Google Translate is offering you sentences so stilted that the pharmacist is squinting at your phone screen like you’ve shown her an alien artifact.

Medical Thai isn’t hard. It runs on a small set of patterns, a short list of body parts, and a few symptom words. If you can say “want + pad thai + not spicy,” you can say “have + stomachache + three days.” The structure is the same.

The Pain Formula: ปวด + Body Part

Thai has one core pattern for describing pain, and it works for almost every situation where something hurts.

pùatปวดto ache, to have pain (dull/throbbing)

Take ปวด, attach a body part, and you have a complete medical complaint. No conjugation, no articles, no tense markers. Just pain + location.

ปวดหัว(pùat hǔa) --- head hurts
ปวดท้อง(pùat thɔ̂ɔng) --- stomach hurts
ปวดฟัน(pùat fàn) --- tooth hurts
ปวดหลัง(pùat lǎng) --- back hurts
ปวดคอ(pùat khɔɔ) --- throat/neck hurts

That’s it. Five phrases, and you’ve covered the most common pain complaints foreigners bring to Thai pharmacies. The formula never changes: ปวด + body part.

To add duration, bolt on the time: ปวดหัวสองวัน(pùat hǔa sɔ̌ɔng wan). To add intensity, add มาก(mâak): ปวดท้องมาก(pùat thɔ̂ɔng mâak).

ปวด vs. เจ็บ: Two Kinds of Pain

Thai makes a distinction that English handles clumsily. Where English uses “pain” for everything and relies on adjectives to clarify (“sharp pain,” “dull pain,” “aching pain”), Thai gives you two separate verbs.

pùatปวดdull, aching, throbbing pain jèpเจ็บsharp, stinging, acute pain

The difference matters medically. ปวด(pùat) is the headache that sits behind your eyes for hours. The lower back pain that won’t quit. The stomachache after bad food. It’s internal, diffuse, lingering.

เจ็บ(jèp) is the knife cut on your finger. The sharp stab in your knee when you step wrong. The sore throat that stings every time you swallow. It’s acute, localized, often on or near the surface.

A Thai doctor hearing เจ็บหน้าอก(jèp nâa-òk) thinks differently than hearing ปวดหน้าอก(pùat nâa-òk). The first suggests something sudden and potentially urgent. The second suggests something ongoing. Using the right word gives the doctor a head start.

For injuries and surface-level pain, there’s a third word worth knowing:

เจ็บ(jèp) also works as a general “it hurts” --- เจ็บตรงนี้(jèp dtrong níi) while pointing at the spot is perfectly clear and is probably the single most useful medical phrase you can learn.

15 Body Parts: Head to Toe

These fifteen words cover the vast majority of what you’d need to describe at a pharmacy, clinic, or hospital emergency room. Learn the first eight and you have most common complaints handled.

Essential Body Part Vocabulary

Thai	Romanization	Meaning	Common Complaint
หัว	hǔa	head	ปวดหัว (headache)
ตา	dtaa	eyes	ตาแดง (red eyes), เจ็บตา (eye pain)
หู	hǔu	ears	ปวดหู (earache)
จมูก	jà-mùuk	nose	คัดจมูก (stuffy nose)
ปาก	bpàak	mouth	แผลในปาก (mouth sore)
ฟัน	fàn	teeth	ปวดฟัน (toothache)
คอ	khɔɔ	throat / neck	เจ็บคอ (sore throat)
ไหล่	lài	shoulders	ปวดไหล่ (shoulder pain)
แขน	khǎaen	arms	เจ็บแขน (arm pain)
มือ	mʉʉ	hands	เจ็บมือ (hand pain)
หลัง	lǎng	back	ปวดหลัง (backache)
ท้อง	thɔ̂ɔng	stomach / belly	ปวดท้อง (stomachache)
หน้าอก	nâa-òk	chest	เจ็บหน้าอก (chest pain)
ขา	khǎa	legs	ปวดขา (leg pain)
เท้า	tháo	feet	เจ็บเท้า (foot pain)

A few pronunciation notes that actually matter in a medical setting:

หัว (hǔa, head) carries a rising tone. Getting this wrong is unlikely to cause confusion---context makes it clear---but the rising tone is what Thai ears expect.

คอ (khɔɔ) means both “throat” and “neck.” If you need to specify throat pain versus neck pain, context usually handles it. เจ็บคอ(jèp khɔɔ) almost always means the inside of the throat (as in it hurts to swallow), while ปวดคอ(pùat khɔɔ) more often refers to the neck muscles.

ท้อง (thɔ̂ɔng) has a falling tone and means stomach or belly in medical contexts. It appears in other compounds too---ท้องเสีย(thɔ̂ɔng sǐa) (literally “stomach spoiled”) is one you’ll want handy.

Beyond Pain: Symptom Descriptions

Not everything that goes wrong is pain. Fevers, diarrhea, dizziness, nausea---these all have their own vocabulary, and they follow a simple subject + symptom pattern.

Fever

bpen khâiเป็นไข้to have a fever

The verb เป็น(bpen) pairs with many illness words. เป็นไข้(bpen khâi) is the most common. Thai pharmacists hear this one constantly and will immediately reach for paracetamol (which Thais call พาราเซตามอล(phaa-raa-see-dtaa-mɔɔn) or sometimes just ยาลดไข้(yaa lót khâi)).

Digestive Issues

thɔ̂ɔng sǐaท้องเสียdiarrhea (lit. stomach spoiled) khlʉ̂ʉn sâiคลื่นไส้nauseous aa-jianอาเจียนto vomit

Digestive problems are the number one medical issue for travelers in Thailand. ท้องเสีย(thɔ̂ɔng sǐa) literally means “stomach spoiled”---a useful compound because ท้อง (stomach) and เสีย (broken/spoiled) are both common words you’ll encounter elsewhere. คลื่นไส้(khlʉ̂ʉn sâi) is harder to pronounce but worth knowing because nausea often comes with the territory.

Respiratory Symptoms

aiไอto cough nám mûuk lǎiน้ำมูกไหลrunny nose (lit. nasal mucus flows) jèp khɔɔเจ็บคอsore throat

ไอ(ai) is mercifully short---one syllable, mid tone. Easy to say even when you’re coughing. น้ำมูกไหล(nám mûuk lǎi) is literally “nasal mucus flows,” which is graphic but precise. For a stuffy nose instead of a runny one: คัดจมูก(khát jà-mùuk).

Dizziness and Weakness

wian hǔaเวียนหัวdizzy (lit. spinning head) ɔ̀ɔn phliaอ่อนเพลียweak, fatigued

เวียนหัว(wian hǔa) literally means “spinning head.” If you feel faint or the room is moving, this is what you say. Combined with other symptoms---fever plus dizziness, for instance---it helps a pharmacist or doctor narrow things down fast.

Common Symptom Phrases

Thai	Romanization	Meaning
เป็นไข้	bpen khâi	have a fever
ท้องเสีย	thɔ̂ɔng sǐa	diarrhea
คลื่นไส้	khlʉ̂ʉn sâi	nauseous
อาเจียน	aa-jian	vomit
ไอ	ai	cough
น้ำมูกไหล	nám mûuk lǎi	runny nose
คัดจมูก	khát jà-mùuk	stuffy nose
เวียนหัว	wian hǔa	dizzy
ผื่น	phʉ̀ʉn	rash
บวม	buam	swollen
มีแผล	mii phlǎae	have a wound

The Pharmacy Dialogue Pattern

Thai pharmacies are a first line of defense that many foreigners underuse. For minor ailments---colds, traveler’s diarrhea, headaches, minor infections---a Thai pharmacist can examine you, recommend medicine, and sell it to you over the counter. No appointment, no waiting room, no hospital bill. Many medicines that require prescriptions in Western countries are available over the counter in Thailand.

The conversation follows a predictable pattern.

Step 1: State Your Problem

Walk in and describe the symptom. You don’t need to greet or build up to it.

mii yaa gâae pùat hǔa mǎiมียาแก้ปวดหัวไหมDo you have medicine for a headache?

The formula: มียา(mii yaa) + แก้(gâae) + symptom + ไหม(mǎi).

More examples:

มียาแก้ท้องเสียไหม(mii yaa gâae thɔ̂ɔng sǐa mǎi)
มียาแก้ไอไหม(mii yaa gâae ai mǎi)
มียาลดไข้ไหม(mii yaa lót khâi mǎi)

Step 2: Answer the Follow-Up Questions

The pharmacist will typically ask two things:

naan thâo rài láaeoนานเท่าไหร่แล้วHow long has it been?

Answer with a number + time unit: สองวัน(sɔ̌ɔng wan), ตั้งแต่เมื่อวาน(dtâng dtàae mʉ̂a waan), วันนี้(wan níi).

phâe yaa à-rai mǎiแพ้ยาอะไรไหมAre you allergic to any medicine?

This is the critical question. If you have no allergies: ไม่แพ้(mâi phâe). If you are allergic to something, see the allergy section below.

Step 3: Get Dosage Instructions

The pharmacist will explain how to take the medicine. Listen for these numbers and time words:

วันละสองครั้ง(wan lá sɔ̌ɔng khráng)
หลังอาหาร(lǎng aa-hǎan)
ก่อนนอน(gɔ̀ɔn nɔɔn)
ทุกแปดชั่วโมง(thúk bpàaet chûa moong)

If you don’t catch the instructions, ask them to write it down: เขียนให้หน่อยได้ไหม(khǐan hâi nɔ̀i dâai mǎi). Most pharmacists can write basic dosage instructions in English.

Allergy Language: The Vocabulary That Could Save Your Life

If there’s one Thai medical word you commit to long-term memory, make it this one:

phâeแพ้to be allergic to

The pattern is straightforward: แพ้ + the thing you’re allergic to.

แพ้ถั่ว(phâe thùa)
แพ้อาหารทะเล(phâe aa-hǎan thá-lee)
แพ้เพนนิซิลิน(phâe phen-ní-sí-lin)
แพ้ยาแอสไพริน(phâe yaa àaet-phai-rin)

For severe allergies, know this phrase: แพ้มาก อาจเป็นอันตราย(phâe mâak àat bpen an-dtà-raai).

If you carry an EpiPen or have anaphylaxis-level allergies, consider carrying a card in Thai that states your allergy clearly. A handwritten note reading แพ้ถั่วรุนแรง ห้ามใส่ถั่วทุกชนิด(phâe thùa run-raaeng hâam sài thùa thúk chá-nít) is cheap insurance. Any Thai person can read it, and it removes pronunciation from the equation entirely.

Common Allergens in Thai

How to State Your Allergies

Thai	Romanization	Allergen
แพ้ถั่ว	phâe thùa	peanuts/nuts
แพ้กุ้ง	phâe gûng	shrimp
แพ้อาหารทะเล	phâe aa-hǎan thá-lee	seafood
แพ้นม	phâe nom	dairy/milk
แพ้ไข่	phâe khài	eggs
แพ้กลูเตน	phâe gluu-dten	gluten
แพ้เพนนิซิลิน	phâe phen-ní-sí-lin	penicillin
แพ้ยาแอสไพริน	phâe yaa àaet-phai-rin	aspirin
แพ้แมลงกัดต่อย	phâe ma-laaeng gàt dtɔ̀i	insect stings

Hospital Register: Why You Shift Your Thai at the Door

If you’ve read our guide on Thai politeness levels, you know that Thai operates on distinct registers---casual, polite, formal, and royal. Street food stalls run on casual Thai. Hospitals run on polite-to-formal Thai. The shift matters.

At a hospital, add ครับ(khráp) or ค่ะ(khâ) to every sentence. Not optional. Not “nice to have.” Expected. A nurse hears the register you use and makes immediate judgments about how to interact with you.

Casual vs. Hospital Thai

Compare these:

At a pharmacy (casual is fine):

ปวดหัวมาก มียาไหม(pùat hǔa mâak · mii yaa mǎi)

At a hospital (use polite register):

ปวดหัวมากครับ มียาแก้ปวดไหมครับ(pùat hǔa mâak khráp · mii yaa gâae pùat mǎi khráp)

The information is the same. The register is different. At the hospital, you’re interacting with professionals in a formal setting, and Thai social expectations shift accordingly.

Useful Hospital Phrases

khɔ̌ɔ phóp mɔ̌ɔ khráp/khâขอพบหมอครับ/ค่ะI'd like to see a doctor (polite) mâi sà-baai khráp/khâไม่สบายครับ/ค่ะI'm not feeling well (polite)

ห้องฉุกเฉิน(hɔ̂ɔng chùk-chə̌ən) --- for when you need to ask directions inside the hospital.

ห้องน้ำอยู่ที่ไหนครับ/ค่ะ(hɔ̂ɔng nám yùu thîi nǎi khráp/khâ) --- because when you have ท้องเสีย, you need this one fast.

What the Doctor Will Ask

At a hospital visit, expect these questions:

เป็นอะไรครับ/คะ(bpen à-rai khráp/khá) --- the standard opening
เจ็บตรงไหน(jèp dtrong nǎi) --- point and describe
เป็นมานานเท่าไหร่(bpen maa naan thâo rài)
มีโรคประจำตัวไหม(mii rôok bprà-jam dtua mǎi)
กินยาอะไรอยู่ไหม(gin yaa à-rai yùu mǎi)
แพ้ยาอะไรไหม(phâe yaa à-rai mǎi)

You don’t have to answer in complete Thai sentences. “Two days” in English while holding up two fingers works. “Paracetamol” is understood internationally. The key phrases are the ones you initiate with---describing what’s wrong and where it hurts---because those set the diagnostic direction before the doctor starts asking questions.

Putting It Together: Three Scenarios

Scenario 1: Pharmacy Visit for Traveler’s Diarrhea

You walk into a pharmacy. The pharmacist looks up.

You: ท้องเสียครับ มียาไหม(thɔ̂ɔng sǐa khráp · mii yaa mǎi)

Pharmacist: นานเท่าไหร่แล้ว(naan thâo rài láaeo)

You: ตั้งแต่เมื่อวาน(dtâng dtàae mʉ̂a waan)

Pharmacist: มีไข้ไหม(mii khâi mǎi)

You: ไม่มีครับ(mâi mii khráp)

Pharmacist: แพ้ยาอะไรไหม(phâe yaa à-rai mǎi)

You: ไม่แพ้ครับ(mâi phâe khráp)

The pharmacist gives you medicine and explains dosage. Total interaction: under two minutes. Total cost: 30-100 baht.

Scenario 2: Describing Multiple Symptoms at a Clinic

You: ปวดท้องมากครับ แล้วก็มีไข้ด้วย(pùat thɔ̂ɔng mâak khráp · láaeo gɔ̂ɔ mii khâi dûai)

The word แล้วก็...ด้วย(láaeo gɔ̂ɔ ... dûai) lets you chain symptoms together. Stomachache and also fever. This tells the doctor more than listing symptoms separately.

Scenario 3: Pointing and Describing at a Hospital

You: Point to your knee. เจ็บตรงนี้ครับ บวมด้วย(jèp dtrong níi khráp · buam dûai)

Sometimes you don’t know the body part word. That’s fine. Point and say เจ็บตรงนี้(jèp dtrong níi). The pointing does the work. Add บวม(buam) or แดง(daaeng) or ร้อน(rɔ̂ɔn) as needed. Medicine is visual. You don’t need poetry---you need location and description.

Build Your Medical Thai Before You Need It

The worst time to learn medical vocabulary is when you’re sick. These words are easy to pick up when you’re healthy, and they sit in memory ready for the one time you actually need them. That’s the nature of safety vocabulary---it’s boring to study and invaluable to have.

Spaced repetition is particularly well-suited for this kind of “learn now, use later” vocabulary. The whole point is keeping words accessible in long-term memory without daily use. Start free with Jam Kham and build a medical vocabulary set that stays ready when your stomach---or anything else---decides to test you.