a headache
Dolor de cabeza
“I've had a headache since this morning.”
English toolkit / B2.2 vocabulary / review draft 01
HEALTH & DIET.
Symptoms, healthcare, recovery and food: practical language for explaining experiences and discussing wellbeing.
135 entries16 topic areas27 consolidate · 108 extend
Consolidate Revisit familiar languageExtend Build your rangeEssentials first, then extensions within every section.
Exam focus · based on the analysed local sample
Health: 11/55 oral mediation/production cards and 4/26 interaction tasks. The analysis covers 2025 A, 2025 B and 2026 B; sleep appears in all three oral papers. Recurring areas include sleep, healthy ageing, diet/hydration, memory, healthy habits, stress and mental wellbeing.
Exam-linked marks our vocabulary choices for discussing those observed themes. It does not mean that these exact words appeared in the papers or predict future exam questions. Mediation and production counts refer to the same 55 cards, not 110 independent topics.
How you feel · symptoms
Explaining what is wrong
a sore throat
Dolor o irritación de garganta
“I have a sore throat and it hurts to swallow.”
a cough
Tos
“The cough kept me awake last night.”
feel sick
Tener náuseas; en inglés británico suele indicar ganas de vomitar
“I felt sick during the bus journey.”
a high temperature / a fever
Fiebre; temperatura corporal más alta de lo normal
“She stayed at home because she had a fever.”
dizzy
Mareado/a; con sensación de giro o inestabilidad
“I felt dizzy when I stood up.”
short of breath
Con falta de aire o dificultad para respirar con normalidad
“He felt short of breath after climbing the stairs.”
a rash
Erupción cutánea; zona de piel con cambios como manchas o granitos
“I noticed a rash on my arm yesterday.”
swollen
Hinchado/a; de mayor tamaño por inflamación o acumulación de líquido
“My ankle was swollen after the fall.”
have trouble sleeping
Tener dificultades para dormir
“I've been having trouble sleeping this week.”
Common illnesses & conditions
Everyday names and useful distinctions
a cold
Resfriado; infección respiratoria común
“I caught a cold last week.”
the flu / flu
Gripe; infección causada por virus de la gripe
“She missed several days of work with the flu.”
a stomach bug
Infección o enfermedad gastrointestinal, en lenguaje informal
“Several guests had a stomach bug after the trip.”
food poisoning
Enfermedad causada por ingerir comida o bebida contaminada
“They suspected food poisoning after several diners became ill.”
asthma
Asma; enfermedad que afecta a las vías respiratorias
“He has asthma and carries the inhaler his doctor prescribed.”
diabetes
Diabetes; enfermedad que afecta a la regulación de la glucosa en sangre
“She has regular appointments to help manage her diabetes.”
high blood pressure
Hipertensión; presión de la sangre persistentemente elevada
“The nurse checked whether I had high blood pressure.”
cardiovascular disease
Enfermedad que afecta al corazón o a los vasos sanguíneos
“The article discusses ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.”
Infection, allergies & prevention
Catching, passing on and reacting to something
catch an infection
Contraer una infección; catch es más cotidiano que contract
“I was worried about catching an infection while travelling.”
pass an infection on
Transmitir una infección a otra persona
“He stayed away from the gathering because he didn't want to pass the infection on.”
contagious
Contagioso/a; que puede transmitirse entre personas
“I asked the doctor whether the illness was contagious.”
an allergy / be allergic to
Alergia / tener una reacción alérgica a una sustancia
“I'm allergic to peanuts, so I always ask about the ingredients.”
a food intolerance
Problema al consumir ciertos alimentos que no es una alergia; no implica la misma reacción inmunitaria
“Lactose intolerance and a milk allergy are not the same thing.”
a vaccine
Vacuna; preparación que ayuda al sistema inmunitario a desarrollar protección frente a una enfermedad
“The nurse explained what the vaccine was for.”
get vaccinated against
Vacunarse contra una enfermedad
“I asked whether I needed to get vaccinated against anything before the trip.”
prevent the spread of
Evitar o reducir la propagación de algo, como una infección
“The poster explained how to help prevent the spread of infection.”
Injuries & accidents
Describing what happened to your body
hurt
Doler o hacer daño; hurt–hurt–hurt
“My knee hurts when I bend it.”
a cut / cut yourself
Herida producida por un corte / cortarse
“I cut myself while preparing dinner.”
a bruise / bruise
Moratón / producir o sufrir un moratón
“I had a large bruise on my leg after the fall.”
a burn / burn yourself
Quemadura / quemarse
“She burned herself on the hot tray.”
sprain your ankle
Torcerse el tobillo lesionando los ligamentos
“I sprained my ankle while walking on uneven ground.”
pull a muscle
Sufrir una distensión o tirón muscular
“He pulled a muscle during the match.”
break a bone / fracture a bone
Romperse un hueso; fracture es el término más médico
“She broke a bone in her wrist when she fell.”
first aid
Primeros auxilios; ayuda inicial ante una lesión o enfermedad repentina
“I'd like to take a first-aid course.”
Getting care & recovering
Useful verbs for appointments, treatment and recovery
make an appointment
Pedir o concertar una cita
“I made an appointment with my doctor.”
take medicine
Tomar medicación
“I take the medicine exactly as prescribed.”
describe your symptoms
Explicar lo que se siente o los signos de una enfermedad
“It helps to write things down before describing your symptoms.”
diagnose
Diagnosticar; identificar una enfermedad o problema
“The doctor diagnosed a chest infection.”
prescribe
Recetar un tratamiento o medicamento
“The doctor prescribed a cream for the rash.”
treat
Tratar una enfermedad o lesión; no implica necesariamente curarla
“The clinic treats a range of skin conditions.”
recover from
Recuperarse de una enfermedad, lesión o intervención
“She's recovering from an operation.”
heal
Cicatrizar o sanar un tejido o una lesión
“The cut took a few days to heal.”
get over an illness
Recuperarse de una enfermedad; expresión cotidiana
“It took me a while to get over the flu.”
Treatment, tests & medicines
The main things you may need to discuss
a blood test
Análisis de sangre
“The doctor arranged a blood test.”
a prescription
Receta médica; no equivale a recipe
“I took the prescription to the pharmacy.”
a painkiller
Analgésico; medicamento para aliviar el dolor
“I asked the pharmacist about a suitable painkiller.”
antibiotics
Antibióticos; medicamentos utilizados contra ciertas infecciones bacterianas
“The doctor explained why antibiotics would not help with the flu.”
side effects
Efectos no deseados de un tratamiento
“I asked about possible side effects before starting the medicine.”
an X-ray
Radiografía; imagen obtenida mediante rayos X
“They took an X-ray to check for a broken bone.”
have an operation / have surgery
Someterse a una intervención quirúrgica; surgery es incontable en este sentido
“He had an operation on his knee last year.”
a check-up
Revisión médica o dental
“I booked a dental check-up.”
People in healthcare
Who helps, advises and receives care
a patient
Paciente; persona que recibe atención sanitaria
“Patients can ask questions about their treatment.”
a nurse
Enfermero/a
“The nurse explained how the appointment would work.”
a dentist
Dentista
“I went to the dentist because a tooth was hurting.”
a GP / a family doctor
Médico/a de atención primaria; GP significa general practitioner
“My GP referred me to a specialist.”
a pharmacist
Farmacéutico/a
“The pharmacist checked whether the medicine was suitable for me.”
a surgeon
Cirujano/a; médico/a que realiza operaciones
“The surgeon explained what the operation involved.”
a physiotherapist
Fisioterapeuta; profesional que ayuda a recuperar o mantener movimiento y función
“The physiotherapist showed me exercises for my shoulder.”
a dietitian
Dietista; profesional especializado en alimentación y nutrición, también en contextos clínicos
“A dietitian helped him adapt his meals to his health needs.”
a psychologist
Psicólogo/a; profesional que estudia o trabaja con la conducta y los procesos mentales
“She sees a psychologist to help manage her anxiety.”
Main medical specialties
Useful names without a long technical catalogue
a specialist
Médico/a especializado/a en un área concreta
“I'm waiting for an appointment with a specialist.”
a cardiologist
Cardiólogo/a; especialista en el corazón
“The cardiologist reviewed the test results.”
a dermatologist
Dermatólogo/a; especialista en la piel
“The dermatologist examined the rash.”
a paediatrician
Pediatra; especialista en la salud de bebés, niños y adolescentes
“The paediatrician answered our questions about the baby's development.”
a gynaecologist
Ginecólogo/a; especialista en la salud del aparato reproductor femenino
“She made an appointment with a gynaecologist.”
a psychiatrist
Psiquiatra; médico/a especializado/a en salud mental
“The psychiatrist discussed the treatment options with the patient.”
The healthcare system
Public and private care, access and appointments
a hospital / a clinic
Hospital / clínica o centro de consultas y tratamientos
“The clinic offers appointments, while the hospital has an emergency department.”
public healthcare / private healthcare
Atención sanitaria financiada públicamente / atención prestada de forma privada
“We compared access to public and private healthcare.”
health insurance
Seguro de salud
“I checked which services my health insurance covered.”
a waiting list
Lista de espera para acceder a una consulta, prueba o tratamiento
“She's on a waiting list for an operation.”
a referral
Derivación de un profesional a otro servicio o especialista
“I needed a referral to see the specialist.”
an emergency department / A&E
Servicio de urgencias; A&E es habitual en el Reino Unido
“He was treated in the emergency department after the accident.”
access to healthcare
Acceso a la atención sanitaria; access aquí es un sustantivo
“People in remote areas may have limited access to healthcare.”
Everyday wellbeing
Movement, sleep and managing daily demands
get enough sleep
Dormir lo suficiente
“I find it harder to concentrate when I don't get enough sleep.”
stay active
Mantenerse físicamente activo/a
“I try to stay active even when I can't get to the gym.”
a sedentary lifestyle
Forma de vida con mucho tiempo sentado y poca actividad física
“Working at a desk can contribute to a sedentary lifestyle.”
build up your strength
Aumentar la fuerza de forma gradual
“She is building up her strength after the injury.”
manage stress
Gestionar el estrés
“He has found a few routines that help him manage stress.”
mental health
Salud mental; bienestar y funcionamiento psicológico y emocional
“The school wants students to feel comfortable talking about mental health.”
seek professional help
Buscar ayuda profesional
“The campaign encourages people to seek professional help when they need it.”
Sleep, rest, memory & healthy ageing
Sleep habits, rest, memory and later life; new additions are not exam-frequency claims
fall asleep / wake up
Quedarse dormido/a / despertarse
“I fall asleep easily, but I sometimes wake up during the night.”
a lack of sleep
Falta de sueño
“A lack of sleep makes it harder for me to concentrate.”
stick to a sleep routine
Mantener una rutina de sueño
“It's difficult to stick to a sleep routine when my shifts change.”
limit screen time
Limitar el tiempo que se pasa usando pantallas
“I'm trying to limit screen time in the evening.”
improve your memory
Mejorar la memoria
“The leaflet suggests activities that may help people improve their memory.”
stay mentally active
Mantener la mente activa
“My grandfather enjoys learning languages to stay mentally active.”
maintain your independence
Conservar la autonomía para desenvolverse y tomar decisiones
“Maintaining their independence matters to many older adults.”
stay up late
Acostarse tarde o quedarse despierto hasta tarde
“I stayed up late watching a series and regretted it in the morning.”
take / have a nap
Echarse una siesta
“My dad has a short nap after lunch, but I cannot sleep during the day.”
oversleep
Quedarse dormido más tiempo del previsto, a menudo hasta llegar tarde
“I overslept and missed the first bus.”
have a lie-in
Quedarse en la cama más tarde de lo habitual por la mañana; uso británico
“On Sundays, I like to have a lie-in instead of setting an alarm.”
doze off
Quedarse dormido, a menudo sin querer y durante poco tiempo
“I dozed off on the sofa before the film ended.”
toss and turn
Dar vueltas en la cama sin poder dormir bien
“I tossed and turned all night because the room was too hot.”
snore
Roncar
“My partner snores, so I sometimes wear earplugs.”
a light sleeper / a heavy sleeper
Persona que se despierta fácilmente / a la que cuesta despertar
“I am a light sleeper, but my flatmate sleeps through almost anything.”
tired / well-rested
Cansado / descansado; contraste referido al descanso
“I felt tired yesterday, but after a quiet night I feel well-rested.”
take a break / have a rest
Hacer una pausa / descansar; no implican necesariamente dormir
“When I finish marking, I take a break and sit outside for a while.”
Nutrients & food groups
Understanding the main nutrition terms
a nutrient
Nutriente; sustancia que el cuerpo necesita para funcionar
“Different foods provide different nutrients.”
macronutrients
Macronutrientes; en nutrición, principalmente carbohidratos, proteínas y grasas
“The article explains the roles of the three main macronutrients.”
micronutrients
Micronutrientes; vitaminas y minerales que se necesitan en cantidades pequeñas
“A varied diet can provide a range of micronutrients.”
carbohydrates / carbs
Carbohidratos; carbs es la forma informal
“Bread, rice and potatoes are common sources of carbohydrates.”
protein
Proteína; nutriente necesario para numerosas funciones, incluido el mantenimiento de tejidos
“Beans, eggs and fish can all provide protein.”
saturated / unsaturated fats
Grasas saturadas / insaturadas; dos tipos de grasas presentes en los alimentos
“Food labels can help you compare the saturated fat in different products.”
fibre
Fibra alimentaria; componentes vegetales que no se digieren por completo
“Wholegrain foods and pulses are sources of fibre.”
vitamins and minerals
Vitaminas y minerales; grupos de micronutrientes
“The leaflet explains why we need a variety of vitamins and minerals.”
pulses
Legumbres secas comestibles, como lentejas, garbanzos o alubias
“We add pulses to soups and salads.”
wholegrain / wholegrain foods
Integral / alimentos elaborados con el grano completo
“I prefer wholegrain bread because I like its flavour and texture.”
dairy products / dairy alternatives
Productos lácteos / alternativas a los lácteos
“The menu includes dairy products and several dairy alternatives.”
Dietary habits & intake
Talking about what, how much and how often you eat
a balanced diet
Alimentación que aporta variedad y cantidades adecuadas de nutrientes
“I aim for a balanced diet without expecting every meal to be perfect.”
skip a meal
Saltarse una comida
“I sometimes skip a meal when I'm very busy.”
dietary habits
Hábitos alimentarios
“Our dietary habits changed when we started working different hours.”
your daily intake
Cantidad de un alimento, nutriente o sustancia que se consume al día
“The label shows how much sugar one serving adds to your daily intake.”
reduce your salt intake
Reducir la cantidad de sal que se consume
“She is looking for ways to reduce her salt intake without losing flavour.”
watch your portion sizes
Prestar atención al tamaño de las raciones
“I try to watch my portion sizes without turning every meal into a calculation.”
snack on
Comer algo entre comidas
“I often snack on fruit or nuts in the afternoon.”
stay hydrated
Mantener una hidratación adecuada
“I keep water nearby to help me stay hydrated during the day.”
Food labels, diets & claims
Vocabulary for discussing choices critically
a fad diet
Dieta de moda que suele prometer resultados rápidos y puede basarse en restricciones o afirmaciones poco fundamentadas
“The advert sounded like another fad diet promising instant results.”
a dietary supplement
Complemento alimenticio, como un producto con vitaminas o minerales
“I asked a health professional whether I needed a dietary supplement.”
added sugar
Azúcar añadido durante la preparación o fabricación de un producto
“I'm learning to recognise added sugar on ingredient lists.”
processed food
Alimento que ha sido modificado mediante procesos como cocción, congelación o envasado; categoría muy amplia
“Not all processed food has the same nutritional value.”
check the ingredients
Consultar los ingredientes de un alimento
“I check the ingredients because of my food allergy.”
a health claim
Afirmación sobre un supuesto beneficio para la salud
“I want to know what evidence supports the health claim on the packet.”
Useful adjectives & descriptions
Describing symptoms, conditions and food
painful
Doloroso/a; que causa dolor
“The injury was painful at first.”
mild / severe
Leve / intenso o grave, según el contexto
“The doctor asked whether the pain was mild or severe.”
chronic
Crónico/a; persistente o de larga duración, no necesariamente grave
“She lives with a chronic condition that needs ongoing care.”
nutritious
Nutritivo/a; que aporta nutrientes útiles
“A nutritious meal can be simple and inexpensive.”
filling
Saciante; que deja sensación de haber comido suficiente
“I find soup with lentils quite filling.”
overweight
Con un peso superior al considerado saludable según una evaluación; no describe por sí solo toda la salud de alguien
“The article explains why being overweight does not tell you everything about a person's health.”
underweight
Con un peso inferior al considerado saludable según una evaluación
“The report discusses the needs of patients who are underweight.”
lactose-free / gluten-free
Sin lactosa / sin gluten; no son categorías equivalentes a más saludable para todo el mundo
“The café labels its lactose-free and gluten-free options separately.”
Five useful idioms
Natural expressions for everyday health conversations
feel under the weather
Encontrarse algo indispuesto/a
“I'm feeling a bit under the weather, so I'll stay at home tonight.”
be back on your feet
Estar recuperado/a o suficientemente bien para retomar la actividad
“I hope you're back on your feet soon.”
be run down
Estar agotado/a y bajo/a de energía o salud
“I felt run down after several weeks of poor sleep.”
have a lot on your plate
Tener muchas responsabilidades o asuntos que atender
“She's got a lot on her plate, so we're sharing some of the work.”
be a couch potato
Ser muy sedentario/a y pasar mucho tiempo sentado, especialmente viendo la televisión; tono informal o de broma
“I was a bit of a couch potato last winter, but now I walk most evenings.”
Teacher review · possible trims
These five candidates remain in the glossary pending your decision. They are lower priorities, not incorrect or unusable language.
- a gynaecologist — Useful for real life, but a lower speaking priority than GP, nurse and specialist.
- a paediatrician — Useful recognition vocabulary; could share a compact specialties reference if the bank needs trimming.
- macronutrients — Requested and useful for understanding nutrition; carbohydrates, protein and fat are more immediately productive.
- micronutrients — Requested, but vitamins and minerals may be enough for many B2 answers.
- cardiovascular disease — Useful umbrella term; heart disease is a simpler option in many general discussions.
Counting rule: one card is one entry. Paired forms such as mild / severe count as one entry, so this is not a count of individual words.
Optional visual review · 16 fruit and vegetable words
Basic vocabulary support, separate from the 125 core entries. Look at each picture and name the food; reveal the words to check.
an apple — manzana — “I packed an apple for lunch.”
a banana — plátano — “I sliced a banana into my porridge.”
a pear — pera — “This pear is ripe.”
an orange — naranja — “I had an orange after lunch.”
a lemon — limón — “I added a little lemon to the dressing.”
grapes — uvas — “I washed the grapes before serving them.”
strawberries — fresas — “We bought strawberries at the market.”
watermelon — sandía — “I cut the watermelon into slices.”
a tomato — tomate — “I added a tomato to the salad.”
a carrot — zanahoria — “I grated a carrot for the salad.”
broccoli — brócoli — “We had broccoli with dinner.”
a potato — patata — “I baked a potato for lunch.”
an aubergine / an eggplant — berenjena — “I roasted an aubergine with some peppers.”
a cucumber — pepino — “I sliced a cucumber for the salad.”
mushrooms — setas o champiñones, según la variedad — “I cooked mushrooms with rice.”
an avocado — aguacate — “I added an avocado to the salad.”