
At the clinic and the pharmacy
A pharmacy is an "apotek", and it sells nearly everything, including what needs a prescription at home. The pharmacist is often the first line: simple food poisoning or a rash goes there, not to a clinic.
The word to know is "sakit": hurts, painful, ill. "Perut saya sakit" — my stomach hurts. The body part is the other word, and that's enough: "kepala" head, "gigi" tooth, "tenggorokan" throat.
The second is "demam", fever. Doctors here take it more seriously than European ones do, and they're right to — dengue exists here, and a fever past three days gets you a blood test.
One thing worth saying out loud: insurance. A state clinic — "puskesmas" — is cheap and perfectly fine for simple things. A private international one costs what Europe costs. Asking the consultation price beforehand offends nobody.
Pronunciation below is written to be read out loud in English spelling. It isn't linguistically exact — it's meant to get you understood.
36 phrases
I need a doctor
Saya perlu dokter
SAH-yah puhr-LOO DOHK-tuhr
My stomach hurts
Perut saya sakit
puh-ROOT SAH-yah SAH-keet
I have a headache
Kepala saya sakit
kuh-PAH-lah SAH-yah SAH-keet
I have a fever
Saya demam
SAH-yah duh-MAHM
I feel nauseous
Saya mual
SAH-yah MOO-ahl
I cut myself
Saya luka
SAH-yah LOO-kah
I have an allergy
Saya punya alergi
SAH-yah POON-yah ah-LEHR-gee
Something for an upset stomach, please
Minta obat sakit perut
MEEN-tah OH-baht SAH-keet puh-ROOT
Is this over the counter?
Ini tanpa resep?
EE-nee TAHN-pah ruh-SEHP?
Where's the nearest hospital?
Rumah sakit terdekat di mana?
ROO-mah SAH-keet tuhr-duh-KAHT dee MAH-nah?
This is urgent
Ini darurat
EE-nee dah-ROO-raht
I need to see a doctor
Saya harus ke dokter
SAH-yah HAH-roos kuh DOHK-tuhr
I have a cough
Saya batuk
SAH-yah BAH-took
A dog bit me
Saya digigit anjing
SAH-yah dee-GEE-geet AHN-jeeng
Rabies exists in Bali. This isn't paranoia.
A mosquito bit me
Saya digigit nyamuk
SAH-yah dee-GEE-geet NYAH-mook
It itches
Gatal
GAH-tahl
Is there a pharmacy nearby?
Ada apotek dekat sini?
AH-dah ah-POH-tuhk duh-KAHT SEE-nee?
Politer: Permisi, ada apotek dekat sini? ·
I've been throwing up
Saya muntah-muntah
SAH-yah MOON-tah MOON-tah
I have diarrhea
Saya diare
SAH-yah dee-AH-ruh
a common reason expats visit doctors in Bali
I have a sore throat
Tenggorokan saya sakit
tuhng-goh-ROH-kahn SAH-yah SAH-keet
I have a runny nose
Saya pilek
SAH-yah PEE-luhk
It hurts here
Sakitnya di sini
sah-KEET-nyah dee SEE-nee
point with your hand to the painful spot
It's been hurting for three days
Udah sakit tiga hari
OO-dah SAH-keet TEE-gah HAH-ree
Local: Udah sakit tiga hari ·
It started yesterday
Mulainya dari kemarin
moo-LEHYEN-yah DAH-ree kuh-MAH-reen
I'm allergic to antibiotics
Saya alergi antibiotik
SAH-yah ah-LEHR-gee ahn-tee-bee-OH-teek
I got bitten by an insect
Saya digigit serangga
SAH-yah dee-GEE-geet suh-RAHNG-gah
I fell off my bike
Saya jatuh dari motor
SAH-yah JAH-too DAH-ree MOH-tohr
I have a wound, does it need stitches?
Ini lukanya, perlu dijahit?
EE-nee loo-KAHN-yah, puhr-LOO dee-JAH-heet?
I need a prescription for this medicine
Saya butuh resep untuk obat ini
SAH-yah BOO-too ruh-SEHP OON-took OH-baht EE-nee
Is this medicine available without a prescription?
Ada obat ini tanpa resep?
AH-dah OH-baht EE-nee TAHN-pah ruh-SEHP?
Politer: Permisi, ada obat ini tanpa resep? ·
Can I get something for the pain?
Minta obat sakit
MEEN-tah OH-baht SAH-keet
Can I get something for the fever?
Minta obat penurun demam
MEEN-tah OH-baht puh-NOO-roon duh-MAHM
How many times a day should I take it?
Berapa kali sehari diminum?
buh-RAH-pah KAH-lee suh-HAH-ree dee-MEE-noom?
Politer: Permisi, berapa kali sehari diminum? ·
I need a blood test
Saya perlu tes darah
SAH-yah puhr-LOO tuhs DAH-rah
I need a doctor's note
Saya perlu surat dokter
SAH-yah puhr-LOO SOO-raht DOHK-tuhr
for insurance or work
Do you accept my insurance?
Apakah bisa pakai asuransi saya?
ah-PAH-kah BEE-sah PAH-kehye ah-soo-RAHN-see SAH-yah?
worth checking right away whether you pay upfront or claim later
These phrases, out loud and in your pocket
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