Common symptoms

❃ Common symptoms

ผม/ฉันมีไข้ครับ/ค่ะ [ phom/chan mii khai khrap/kha ]: I have a fever
ผม/ฉันไอครับ/ค่ะ [ phom/chan ai khrap/kha ]: I have a cough
เจ็บคอครับ/ค่ะ [ jep kho khrap/kha ]: I have a sore throat
มีน้ำมูกครับ/ค่ะ [ mii nam-muuk khrap/kha ]: I have a runny nose
รู้สึกคลื่นไส้ครับ/ค่ะ [ ruu-suek khluen-sai khrap/kha ]: I feel nauseous
อ้วก/อาเจียนครับ/ค่ะ [ uak / aa-jian khrap/kha ]: I vomited
ปวดท้องครับ/ค่ะ [ puat thong khrap/kha ]: I have a stomachache
ท้องเสียครับ/ค่ะ [ thong sia khrap/kha ]: I have diarrhea
อาหารเป็นพิษแน่เลยครับ/ค่ะ [ aa-haan pen phit nae loei khrap/kha ]: I must have food poisoning
ปวดหัวครับ/ค่ะ [ puat hua khrap/kha ]: I have a headache
เป็นหวัดครับ/ค่ะ [ pen wat khrap/kha ]: I have a cold/flu
หนาวสั่นครับ/ค่ะ [ nao san khrap/kha ]: I feel chilly/shivering
หายใจไม่ออกครับ/ค่ะ [ haai-jai mai ok khrap/kha ]: I can't breathe well
มีผื่นขึ้นครับ/ค่ะ [ mii phuen khuen khrap/kha ]: I have a rash
คันมากครับ/ค่ะ [ khan maak khrap/kha ]: It's very itchy
คัดจมูกครับ/ค่ะ [ khat ja-muuk khrap/kha ]: My nose is stuffed
เป็นตั้งแต่เมื่อวานครับ/ค่ะ [ pen tang-tae muea-waan khrap/kha ]: I've been like this since yesterday
เริ่มเป็นเมื่อเช้าครับ/ค่ะ [ roem pen muea chao khrap/kha ]: It started this morning
อาการแย่ลงครับ/ค่ะ [ aa-kaan yae long khrap/kha ]: It's getting worse
รู้สึกดีขึ้นแล้วครับ/ค่ะ [ ruu-suek dii khuen laew khrap/kha ]: I feel a bit better

Cultural notes

When traveling in Thailand, the two most common ailments tourists face are related to the extreme temperature changes and the local cuisine. Going from the sweltering 35-degree Celsius heat into freezing, heavily air-conditioned shopping malls or trains often leads to the common cold. If you catch a cold, you say เป็นหวัด (pen wat). You might also develop a fever, which is ผม/ฉันมีไข้ (phom/chan mi khai - "I have a fever"), accompanied by a cough, or ไอ (ai), and a runny nose, มีน้ำมูก (mi nam-muk). The second and perhaps more notorious challenge is the "Bangkok Belly." While Thai street food is incredibly delicious and generally safe, your stomach might not be accustomed to the intense spices, unfamiliar bacteria, or the rich coconut milk. If you experience an upset stomach, you say ปวดท้อง (puat thong - "I have a stomachache"). If it progresses to diarrhea, the term is ท้องเสีย (thong sia). However, if you are experiencing severe symptoms like vomiting, or อ้วก (uak), alongside fever and chills, it is likely food poisoning, a situation you describe as อาหารเป็นพิษ (ahan pen phit). It is crucial to clearly state อาหารเป็นพิษแน่เลย (ahan pen phit nae loei - "It must be food poisoning") so locals or medical professionals understand the severity of your condition. Thais are very sympathetic to foreigners falling ill from local food, often joking about it gently while rushing to help. If your symptoms get worse, you should say อาการแย่ลง (a-kan yae long - "The symptoms are getting worse") to indicate that you might need a doctor rather than just rest. Knowing exactly how to articulate whether you have a simple cold from the AC or a severe stomach bug from the night market will drastically speed up your recovery process.

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