What to Say in Nepali at the Doctor: Symptoms, Timing and an Exam Request
For a Nepali doctor visit, start with a greeting, then state one symptom, ask for an examination, and clarify timing with the examples. They let you communicate a few common problems without pretending to have a complete doctor-patient conversation.
Start with these expressions
| English | Transliteration | Native script |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | namaste | नमस्ते |
| I have a fever. | malai joro aayo. | मलाई ज्वरो आयो। |
| I have a cold | malai ruga lagyo | मलाई रुघा लाग्यो |
| I have a cough | malai khoki lagyo | मलाई खोकी लाग्यो |
| My stomach hurts | mero pet dukhchha | मेरो पेट दुख्छ |
| Please examine me | kripaya malai jaanch garidinuhos | कृपया मलाई जाँच गरिदिनुहोस् |
| Since yesterday | hijodekhi | हिजोदेखि |
| Since when? | kahiledekhi | कहिलेदेखि |
Use complete symptom statements, then add timing
Open with the standalone greeting. The dictionary records this expression for both hello and goodbye, so it fits the start of a clinic visit and can also close the interaction [1].
For the problem itself, choose one complete symptom statement: fever, a cold, a cough or stomach pain. The fever wording includes the documented Nepali term for fever [2]. Follow that with the request for an examination when you want the doctor to check you.
The key distinction is between a symptom statement and a time expression. A symptom statement tells the doctor what is wrong. The phrase meaning since yesterday gives a starting point, while the short questions about when or how long ask for timing. Do not use a timing expression on its own to report a symptom. Keeping these jobs separate makes a short clinic exchange clearer.
Stay within what you can communicate confidently. A health-learning resource describes confusion when a patient does not understand medical information, so do not treat a nod or a general acknowledgement as proof that you understood instructions [3]. The phrases here cover basic symptoms, an examination request and timing; they do not provide medicine, diagnosis or follow-up language.
[1] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[2] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[3] Source: www.cal.org.
Try it
At the clinic, the doctor asks what is wrong. You have a fever. Which phrase should you choose?
Choose your answer before reading on.
Check your answer:
Use expression 2 in the table above.
Choose the complete fever statement because it directly reports your symptom. The timing expressions only indicate when something began or ask about duration; they do not tell the doctor that you have a fever.
Practise a three-part sequence: greet the doctor, report one symptom, then add when it began. After that, use the examination request before discussing any advice.
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