Nailing down a few keywords in a second language can make a number of everyday activities and important matters that much easier and stress-free, as well as helping you put your existing skills and proficiency to good use.
Communicating with doctors, nurses, and medical professionals is one of the many situations where knowing a few essential technical words can really complement your existing conversational ability.
We’ve put together an outline of some of these words, their meanings and the context in which you might use them. If there’s anything important you think we’ve missed, let us know.
Legetime
This most literally means “doctors hour” but more accurately translates to a doctors appointment. The current GP scheme in Norway allows everyone to choose their own doctor, who acts as patients’ main point of contact with the health service. Your GP is also responsible for your primary medical needs, and you are allowed to change your doctor twice a year.
Resept
Not to be confused with the English word receipt, which is kvittering in Norwegian, resept means prescription.
If you’re asked about medications by a doctor or pharmacist, this word will be one to keep a keen ear out for or use yourself.
Symptomer
Symptomer is the plural of symptoms in Norwegian, and you’ll be asked about this when seeing a doctor.
Here’s a list of common symptoms in Norway that you can use so you and your doctor can pinpoint issues more specifically.
Hodpine- headache
Hoste- cough
Feber- fever
Utslett- rash
Svimmel– dizzy
Smerte– pain
Kvalme– nausea