Health & Medical Phrases in Bisaya
How to describe illness, pain, and talk to a doctor or pharmacist in Cebuano
Overview
Being able to describe health problems in Bisaya is essential — especially when visiting local clinics, pharmacies, or talking to older relatives who may not speak English. DESCRIBING PAIN: • Sakit — pain, it hurts (general) • Masakit kaayo — very painful • Nagkurog — shivering / having chills • Nanghupaw — feeling dizzy / lightheaded • Nag-ubo — coughing • Sipon — cold / runny nose • Hilanat — fever • Suka — vomit / nausea (also means "to vomit") • Pagkaon — food (relevant for food-related illness) • Alerdyi — allergy USEFUL HEALTH SENTENCES: • Dili ko maayo. — I'm not feeling well. • Nagpaayo ko. — I'm getting better. • Kinahanglan ko og doktor. — I need a doctor. • Asa ang ospital? — Where is the hospital? • Palihog tawagi ang ambulansya. — Please call an ambulance. • Unsa ang imong sintomas? — What are your symptoms? AT THE PHARMACY (Botica): • Palit ko og gamot. — I'll buy medicine. • Aduna bay pain reliever? — Do you have a pain reliever? • Unsa ang tambal ani? — What's the medicine for this?
Examples
Dili ko maayo, naghilanat ko.
I'm not well, I have a fever.
💡 Naghilanat = having fever (ongoing)
Sakit kaayo ang akong tiyan.
My stomach hurts a lot.
💡 Kaayo intensifies the pain: very painful
Maayo naman ko karon.
I'm already better now.
💡 Naman = already, indicates change in state
Kinahanglan ko og gamot para sa akong ubo.
I need medicine for my cough.
💡 Para sa = for (purpose), ubo = cough
Pila ka adlaw na ka nag-ubo?
How many days have you been coughing?
💡 Pila ka adlaw = how many days
Dili ko makakaon, nausab ang akong tiyan.
I can't eat, my stomach is upset.
💡 Nausab ang tiyan = stomach turned / upset
Aduna bay doktor dinhi?
Is there a doctor here?
💡 Aduna bay = is there a [noun]?
💡 Tips to Remember
- •Sakit = noun (pain) AND adjective (painful) — context tells you which: 'Sakit ang ulo ko' vs 'Unsa ang imong sakit?'
- •Hilanat = fever as a noun; Naghilanat = currently having fever (verb form with nag-).
- •At local clinics, staff will often switch to English if you start in English, but knowing these phrases helps with older or rural practitioners.
- •Botica = pharmacy — this is the word used in everyday Bisaya, not 'parmasya'.
- •In emergencies: 'Tabang!' = Help! — short and universally understood.