Doctor and patient conversation in English: dialogues and phrases

Four short doctor and patient dialogues you can read or act out, plus the exact phrases to book an appointment, describe your symptoms clearly, ask the doctor to repeat things, and collect medicine at the pharmacy. It is written for English learners, whether you have a class task or a real appointment.

By The YoFluent teamUpdated 6 October 202610 min read

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The 5 steps of a doctor’s visit
4 doctor and patient dialogues (with audio)
How to describe symptoms: 5 questions
What to say when you don’t understand
Common mistakes learners make
Emergencies: don’t wait, call
Practise it out loud
FAQ
Sources

The 5 steps of a doctor’s visit

Step	What happens	Useful sentence
1. Booking	You phone or book online and say why you need to be seen.	“I’d like to make an appointment, please. I’ve had a cough for a week.”
2. Opening	The doctor greets you and asks what is wrong.	“What brings you in today?” → “I’ve been having headaches.”
3. Symptoms	You describe the problem; the doctor asks follow-up questions and may examine you.	“It started three days ago, and it’s worse at night.”
4. Advice	The doctor explains what they think it is and what to do.	“Could you explain that more simply, please?”
5. After	A prescription, tests, a follow-up visit, or advice to rest.	“How often should I take it, and for how long?”

4 doctor and patient dialogues (with audio)

Press Listen to hear each one, read it aloud, then swap roles. Then change the details (the symptom, the days, the medicine) so it becomes your own conversation. These are model dialogues to learn from, not medical advice.

1.Booking an appointment by phone

A patient phones the clinic.

Receptionist: Good morning, Riverside Clinic. How can I help you?
Patient: Hello. I’d like to make an appointment to see a doctor, please.
Receptionist: Of course. Can I ask what it’s about?
Patient: I’ve had a bad cough for about a week, and now I have a temperature too.
Receptionist: I see. We have an appointment tomorrow at ten past nine, or on Thursday afternoon. Which is better for you?
Patient: Tomorrow morning would be great. Could you repeat the time, please?
Receptionist: Ten past nine, with Dr Evans. Please arrive ten minutes early and bring your ID.
Patient: Ten past nine, ten minutes early, and my ID. Thank you very much.

Notice: “Could you repeat that, please?” is always polite. Say it whenever you miss a time, a name or a number.

2.A cough and a fever

The check-up the next morning.

Doctor: Good morning. Please take a seat. What brings you in today?
Patient: I’ve had a cough for a week, and since yesterday I’ve had a fever.
Doctor: I’m sorry to hear that. Is it a dry cough, or are you coughing anything up?
Patient: It’s mostly dry, but it’s worse at night. It keeps me awake.
Doctor: Do you have any other symptoms, like a sore throat or pain when you breathe?
Patient: My throat is a bit sore, and my chest feels tight when I cough.
Doctor: Let me listen to your chest. Take a deep breath in, and out. Again, please.
Doctor: It sounds like a chest infection. I’d like you to rest, drink plenty of water, and take this medicine twice a day for five days.
Patient: Sorry, could you explain that more slowly? Twice a day, before or after food?
Doctor: After food, morning and evening. If you’re not better in a week, or if it gets harder to breathe, come back straight away.
Patient: I understand. Thank you, Doctor.

Notice: Notice how the patient asks about the exact instructions (“before or after food?”). Always check how much, how often and for how long.

3.Pain in the stomach

Another patient describes pain in detail.

Doctor: What seems to be the problem?
Patient: I’ve had pain in my stomach since Sunday. It’s here, on the right side.
Doctor: What kind of pain is it? Sharp, dull, burning?
Patient: It’s a dull, aching pain, but sometimes it becomes sharp. I’d say it’s five out of ten.
Doctor: Does anything make it better or worse?
Patient: It’s worse after I eat, and a bit better when I lie down.
Doctor: Have you been sick, or had a temperature?
Patient: I felt sick yesterday, but I haven’t actually been sick. No temperature.
Doctor: Are you allergic to any medicines, and are you taking anything at the moment?
Patient: I’m allergic to penicillin. I’m not taking anything regularly, just paracetamol twice for the pain.
Doctor: Thank you, that’s very helpful. I’d like to examine your stomach, and then we’ll arrange a blood test.

Notice: “I’m allergic to…” is the most important sentence in a medical visit. Learn it, and the English name of your medicines.

4.At the pharmacy

The patient collects the medicine.

Pharmacist: Hello. Can I help you?
Patient: Hi. I have a prescription from Dr Evans.
Pharmacist: Thank you. Just a moment. … Here you are. Take one tablet twice a day, after food, for five days.
Patient: Can I take it with other medicines? I sometimes take ibuprofen for headaches.
Pharmacist: It’s best to check with the doctor, but please don’t take them together without asking. Some people feel sick with this one, so don’t take it on an empty stomach.
Patient: What should I do if I forget a tablet?
Pharmacist: Take it as soon as you remember, but don’t take two at once. Please finish the whole course, even if you feel better.
Patient: Understood. Thank you for your help.

Notice: Good questions at the pharmacy: “Are there any side effects?”, “What if I miss a dose?”, “Can I drink alcohol with this?”

How to describe symptoms: 5 questions

Doctors ask almost the same questions every time. If you prepare five short answers, you can say everything important, even with limited English.

Question	What to say	Example
Where?	My… hurts / I have a pain in my…	“I have a pain in my lower back.”
What kind?	sharp, dull, burning, throbbing, aching, tight	“It’s a sharp pain when I bend over.”
Since when?	It started… ago / I’ve had it since…	“It started three days ago.” “I’ve had it since Monday.”
How bad?	mild, moderate, severe, or a number from 1 to 10	“It’s about seven out of ten.”
Better or worse?	It’s worse when… / It gets better when…	“It’s worse at night and better when I rest.”

Common symptoms: how to say them

You want to say	Say this
I have a high temperature.	“I have a fever.” / “I have a temperature.”
My head hurts.	“I have a headache.” / “My head hurts.”
I feel like vomiting.	“I feel sick.” / “I feel nauseous.”
I can’t stop going to the toilet.	“I have diarrhoea.”
My nose is blocked and I sneeze.	“I have a cold.” / “I have a runny nose.”
I’m very tired all the time.	“I’ve been feeling exhausted lately.”
I can’t breathe well.	“I’m short of breath.” / “I find it hard to breathe.”
I feel the room moving.	“I feel dizzy.”

British spelling. American English writes “diarrhea”.

What to say when you don’t understand

Medical English can be fast and full of unfamiliar words. Doctors expect questions, so ask them. These sentences keep you in control of the conversation.

“Sorry, could you say that again, please?”
“Could you speak a little more slowly?”
“Could you explain that in simpler words?”
“What does ‘prescription’ mean?” / “How do you spell that?”
“Could you write that down for me?”
“Let me check I understood: I take one tablet, twice a day, after food. Is that right?”

The last sentence, where you repeat the instructions back, is the most useful of all. It catches mistakes before you leave the room. For more practice with phrases like these, see English speaking practice.

Common mistakes learners make

Often said	Better	Why
I have cold.	I have a cold.	Illnesses like “a cold”, “a headache” and “a fever” need “a”. Some, like “flu” and “asthma”, need “the” or nothing.
I have pain in the head.	I have a headache. / My head hurts.	Many pains have one word (headache, toothache, stomach ache).
I am constipated (about a blocked nose).	My nose is blocked. / I’m congested.	“Constipated” only describes the bowels. In some languages a similar word is used for a blocked nose.
I take medicine since three days.	I’ve been taking medicine for three days.	Use “for” + a length of time and “since” + a starting point (since Monday).
My stomach is hurting me a lot since yesterday.	I’ve had stomach pain since yesterday.	Present perfect (“I’ve had”) is natural for symptoms that started in the past and continue.
I am allergic of penicillin.	I’m allergic to penicillin.	“Allergic to” is the only correct form.

Emergencies: don’t wait, call

A serious emergency is not the time to practise English. In the US and Canada call 911. In the UK call 999 (112 also works). In Australia call 000. Say your location first, then the problem: “There’s been an accident. I’m at 12 Oak Street. A man isn’t breathing.” Speak slowly, and stay on the line.

In England, if you aren’t sure whether it is an emergency, NHS 111 can check your symptoms and tell you what to do. The NHS says 999 is for life-threatening emergencies, such as serious road accidents, strokes and heart attacks.

Practise it out loud

Reading a dialogue is not the same as speaking it. The best preparation is to answer the doctor’s questions out loud, with your own symptoms, until the sentences come without thinking. An AI tutor can play the doctor, ask follow-up questions, and give feedback on your grammar and pronunciation. See how an AI tutor call works. For another real-life situation, try ordering at a restaurant.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start a conversation with a doctor in English?

Greet the doctor, then say why you came in one sentence: “I’ve had a cough for a week” or “I’ve been having headaches.” Doctors usually begin with “What brings you in today?” or “What seems to be the problem?”.

How do I describe pain to a doctor in English?

Answer five questions: where it hurts, what kind of pain it is (sharp, dull, burning, throbbing), since when, how bad it is from 1 to 10, and what makes it better or worse. For example: “I have a sharp pain in my lower back. It started three days ago and it’s worse when I bend over.”

What do I say if I don’t understand the doctor?

Say so politely and ask for help: “Could you say that again, please?”, “Could you explain that in simpler words?” or “Could you write that down?”. Then repeat the instructions back to check you understood.

What questions does a doctor ask a patient?

Common questions are: What brings you in today? How long have you had this? Where does it hurt? Is the pain sharp or dull? Do you have any other symptoms? Are you allergic to any medicines? Are you taking any medicines at the moment?

What should I say at the pharmacy?

Say you have a prescription, then check how many tablets to take, how often, for how long, and whether to take them before or after food. Useful questions are “Are there any side effects?” and “What should I do if I miss a dose?”.

Is this medical advice?

No. These dialogues are language practice. For any health problem, speak to a qualified doctor or pharmacist, and call your local emergency number in an emergency.

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Sources

When to call 999, NHS (nhs.uk)