University Saint Thomas Aquinas (USTA)

Medical and Pharmaceutical English (L2) 2022-2023

Lecturer: Mr. Tegawende Stephane Ouedraogo

Medical English Vocabulary

Abnormal /abˈnɔːm(ə)l/ : This word will often be used to describe something that is wrong,
or unusual. ‘Normal’ means ‘as expected’ and ‘abnormal’ is its antonym, or opposite. A
typical sentence using the word might be: ‘We need to do some tests as your blood pressure is
abnormal.’
Ache /eɪk/: This is a general term used to describe a level of discomfort. For example: ‘I have
a stomach ache.’ An ache hurts, but it can be hard to describe the pain precisely.
Allergy or Allergic /ˈalədʒi/ or /əˈləːdʒɪk/: Allergy is the noun, and allergic is the adjective.
These are very important medical terms, and will regularly be used by medical personnel. An
allergy is an adverse reaction to a food, medication or some kind of environmental substance.
For example, doctors often ask: ‘Do you have an allergy to penicillin?’ or using the adjectival
form: ‘Does penicillin give you an allergic reaction?’
Ambulance /ˈambjʊl(ə)ns/: The name of the van driven by paramedics that attends people in
an emergency to offer immediate treatment and transport to a hospital. In Britain, an
ambulance can be summoned by dialling the number 999 on a phone. An operator asks which
emergency service is required (ambulance, fire, police and sometimes coastguard), then puts
you through to an operative who is trained to help you cope with an emergency and send the
relevant help to you.
Biopsy /ˈbʌɪɒpsi/ :This is a small operation whereby tissue is removed for testing. For
example, a doctor might say: ‘I am sending you for a biopsy on that mole.’
Dislocated, comes from to dislocate/ˈdɪsləkeɪt/, /ˈdɪsləkeɪtəd/ :This medical term is applied
to a bone becoming separated from its joint. ‘You have dislocated your shoulder when you
fell from the wall.’
Family History – A medical term which means the background of a person’s family. For
example: ‘Do you have a family history of high blood pressure?’
Fever /ˈfiːvə/ – A high temperature.
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) – The centre in a hospital where the most serious emergencies are
addressed. A paramedic may take a patient straight to the ICU.
Light-headed – The condition where a person feels dizzy, as though they are about to lose
consciousness. ‘I felt light headed when I stood up suddenly.’

Most Common Diseases

Cancer /ˈkansə/:The general term for a tumour in the body. Cancer can be ‘benign’ (not
harmful) or ‘malignant’ (harmful and potentially life threatening.)
Heart Attack – The medical term for a major heart problem with can be fatal.
Stroke /strəʊk/: Loss of blood supply to the brain. Treatment is needed quickly or the
condition can kill.
Dementia /dɪˈmɛnʃə/, Senility /sɪˈnɪlɪti/ , Alzheimer’s /ˈaltshʌɪməz/ – These are all varieties
of the same thing. They are the names of the degenerative condition of the brain that affects
some, mostly older, people.

Measles /ˈmiːz(ə)lz/ – A mostly childhood disease where the patient develops a fever and
rash. Usually it passes with no lasting damage, but must be treated as rarely death does occur.
Chickenpox /ˈtʃɪkɪnpɒks/ – Another childhood disease whereby itchy blisters develop on the
body. The adult version is more serious, and is called ‘shingles’.
Flu /fluː/ – The debilitating and occasionally dangerous condition which hits in minor
epidemics most years. Symptoms include headache, fever and tiredness.
Norovirus /ˈnɔːrəvʌɪrəs/ – A regular and highly contagious stomach disorder.

CHEMIST’S SHOP
Vocabulary: translate into French
Chemist’s department:…
Cold:………………. ? Cough:…………………….. ?
Dispensing pharmacist:…………………………? Flu:………………………….. ?
Headache:……………………. ? Immediate:………………………? Manager:……………?
Medication:……………….? prescription:………………….? Department:…………………?
Replenish:………………..? Therapeutic:………………………? Tools:…………………….?
To affect:……………………..? to compound:…………………? to dispense:……….………?
To store:………………..? Medicines:…………….…? Tablet:…………………………….?
Ointment:………………….? Bandage:……………………? Shot:……………………….?
Water bottle:…………………………...? Cotton wool:…………………………….?
Mustard plaster:…………………….…? Tincture:…………………………………?