Health & Hospital

1. Mi ta malu

   Mi ta ma-lu

   I am sick

   Usage

   Basic phrase to say you are sick

   Grammar Note

   "malu" from Portuguese "mal/mau" (bad/sick); "ta" is the stative auxiliary

2. Mi kabes ta dòl

   Mi ka-bes ta dòl

   I have a headache

   Usage

   Express a headache

   Grammar Note

   "kabes" comes from Spanish "cabeza" (head) with final z becoming s; "dòl" from Portuguese "dói" (it hurts)

3. Unda tin un dòkter?

   Un-da tin un dòk-ter

   Where is there a doctor?

   Usage

   Ask for a doctor's location in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   dòkter comes from Dutch dokter. reseta di dòkter means "doctor’s prescription". Papiamentu medical vocabulary draws on Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese.

4. Mi mester bai hospital

   Mi mes-ter bai hos-pi-tal

   I need to go to the hospital

   Usage

   Urgently request transport to a hospital

   Grammar Note

   "mester" is the modal verb "must/need to", of Iberian origin (cf. Spanish "menester", Portuguese "mister")

5. Mi tin alergia na esaki

   Mi tin a-ler-gia na e-sa-ki

   I am allergic to this

   Usage

   Inform medical staff about an allergy

   Grammar Note

   The spelling is "alergia"; "na" is the preposition "to/at/regarding"

6. Mi tin keintura

   Mi tin kein-tu-ra

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Report having a fever

   Grammar Note

   Fever is keintura. Remedi pa keintura means "fever medicine". Dutch-derived fjèber is also used.

7. Unda ta e farmasia?

   Un-da ta e far-ma-sia

   Where is the pharmacy?

   Usage

   Find the pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "farmasia" from Spanish "farmacia"; English and Dutch are spoken in most Aruban pharmacies

8. Mi ta bai serka un dòkter

   Mi ta bai ser-ka un dòk-ter

   I am seeing a doctor

   Usage

   Communicate that you are currently receiving medical care

   Grammar Note

   "Bai serka un dòkter" literally "go to a doctor" is how you say you are seeing one. "Kua" is the interrogative "which" and is never a preposition.

9. Mi tin un alergia na solo

   Mi tin un a-ler-gia na so-lo

   I have a sun allergy

   Usage

   Communicate sun sensitivity — Aruba has sunshine year-round

   Grammar Note

   "solo" from Spanish "sol" (sun); sunscreen is essential in Aruba's strong tropical sun

10. Yama ambulancia, por fabor

    Ya-ma am-bu-lan-cia por fa-bor

    Please call an ambulance

    Usage

    Request an ambulance in a medical emergency

    Grammar Note

    "yama" is the imperative of "call/shout"; "ambulancia" is a Spanish loanword

11. Mi ta na estado

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Show this before any medicine, X-ray, or procedure

12. Mi tin asma

    I have asthma

    Usage

    Declare the condition; also usable when an attack stops you talking

13. Mi tin diabetes

    I have diabetes

    Usage

    Affects food, medication, and how fainting is treated

14. Mi tin preshon haltu

    I have high blood pressure

    Usage

    Tell this before anything is prescribed

15. Mi tin malesa di kurason

    I have a heart condition

    Usage

    Show it together with chest pain

16. Mi tin epilepsia

    I have epilepsy

    Usage

    Lets bystanders understand a seizure

17. Seguro

    Insurance

    Usage

    At a clinic or counter, to ask about or show insurance

18. Mi a kibra un wesu

    I broke a bone

    Usage

    After a fall or crash; point at the limb you cannot move

19. Mi no por hala rosea

    I can't breathe properly

    Usage

    Top priority at altitude, in asthma, or in an allergic reaction

20. Mi kabes ta drai

    I feel dizzy

    Usage

    For altitude sickness, dehydration, or low blood pressure

21. Mi ta sangra

    I am bleeding

    Usage

    Point at the bleeding spot while showing it

22. Mi a kima

    Burn

    Usage

    For scalds, exhaust-pipe burns, or bad sunburn

23. Herida

    Wound

    Usage

    When asking to have a cut or graze treated

24. Orea

    Ear

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

25. Nèk

    Neck

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

26. Skouder

    Shoulder

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

27. Rudia

    Knee

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

28. Dede

    Finger

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

29. Kueru

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes, itching, or sunburn

30. Brasa

    Arm

    Usage

    A body part to point at when something hurts

31. Nanishi

    Nose

    Usage

    For a nosebleed or a blocked nose

32. Tos

    Cough

    Usage

    Also works at a pharmacy when asking for cough medicine

33. Mi tin mi menstruashon

    I am on my period

    Usage

    When buying supplies or medicine, and before any procedure

34. Ferkout

    Common cold

    Usage

    The ordinary cold, kept distinct from influenza (grip)

35. Yama un dòkter, por fabor

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    dòkter means "doctor" and ambulancia means "ambulance". Ask someone to call a doctor with the pattern of "Yama ambulancia, por fabor".

36. Akinan ta dòl.

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Akinan (here) with ta dòl (hurts); point at the spot while showing it

37. Mi kurpa ta kansá.

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    The "Mi + body part + ta + adjective" frame with kurpa (body) and kansá (weary)

38. Mi a arohá.

    I have vomited

    Usage

    The "Mi a + verb" perfect with arohá (to vomit)

39. Mester deskansá?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    The "Mester + verb?" frame with deskansá (to rest)

40. Diarea

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    A symptom word to point at for a doctor or pharmacist.

41. Pupu

    Poop

    Usage

    An everyday word for stool, usable with a child or when talking about bowel movements at a check-up. Used both as a noun (stool) and as a verb (to defecate)

42. Orina

    Pee

    Usage

    orina is a neutral medical word for urine, used when talking about urine at a check-up.

43. Mi tin diarea

    Mi tin diar-ea

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist you have diarrhea

    Grammar Note

    The "Mi tin + noun" frame "Mi tin keintura" and "Mi tin asma".

44. Mi mester pupu

    Mi mes-ter pu-pu

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need the toilet

    Grammar Note

    The "Mi mester + verb" frame "Mi mester bai hospital" and "Mester deskansá?". pupu as a verb means "to defecate".

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