Medical Greek for history taking and ward rounds: key phrases

Foreign-trained doctors in Greece are expected to talk to patients in Greek, and the ΔΟΑΤΑΠ route usually ends in a hospital where you will do exactly that. Below are short, natural phrases for history taking and ward rounds, each with transliteration and translation. Use the formal plural throughout.

How do I greet a patient and stay polite?

Always use the formal plural (εσείς), never the singular. Add κύριε or κυρία with the surname when you know it. Examples: Καλημέρα σας, είμαι ο γιατρός σας (kaliméra sas, íme o giatrós sas) = good morning, I am your doctor; Πώς αισθάνεστε σήμερα; (pós aisthánesthe símera) = how do you feel today; Κυρία Παπαδοπούλου, μπορώ να σας κάνω μερικές ερωτήσεις; (kyría Papadopoúlou, boró na sas káno merikés erotíseis) = may I ask you a few questions; Μην ανησυχείτε (min anisychíte) = do not worry.

How do I ask about the complaint, onset and duration?

Open with a wide question, then narrow. Examples: Τι σας ταλαιπωρεί; (ti sas talaiporeí) = what is troubling you; Από πότε έχετε αυτό το πρόβλημα; (apó póte échete aftó to próvlima) = since when have you had this problem; Πότε ξεκίνησε; (póte xekínise) = when did it start; Ξεκίνησε ξαφνικά ή σταδιακά; (xekínise xafniká í stadiaká) = did it start suddenly or gradually; Πόσο διαρκεί κάθε φορά; (póso diarkeí káthe forá) = how long does it last each time.

How do I ask about the location and character of pain?

Let the patient show you, then ask about quality and severity. Examples: Πού ακριβώς πονάτε; (poú akrivós ponáte) = where exactly does it hurt; Μπορείτε να μου δείξετε με το δάχτυλο; (boreíte na mou deíxete me to dáchtylo) = can you show me with your finger; Ο πόνος είναι οξύς, πιεστικός ή καυστικός; (o pónos eínai oxýs, piestikós í kafstikós) = is the pain sharp, pressing or burning; Ο πόνος πηγαίνει κάπου αλλού; (o pónos pigaínei kápou allou) = does the pain spread anywhere else; Από το 0 έως το 10, πόσο έντονος είναι; (apó to mídén éos to déka, póso éntonos eínai) = from 0 to 10, how intense is it.

How do I ask about allergies and medications?

Ask directly and ask for names or boxes. Examples: Έχετε αλλεργία σε κάποιο φάρμακο; (échete allergía se kápio fármako) = do you have an allergy to any drug; Παίρνετε κάποια φάρμακα; (paírnete kápia fármaka) = do you take any medicines; Ποια φάρμακα παίρνετε και πόσες φορές την ημέρα; (poia fármaka paírnete kai póses forés tin iméra) = which medicines do you take and how many times a day; Έχετε φέρει τη λίστα με τα φάρμακά σας; (échete féri ti lísta me ta fármaká sas) = have you brought your medication list.

How do I ask about chronic disease, surgery, family and habits?

Examples: Πάσχετε από κάποια χρόνια νόσο, για παράδειγμα διαβήτη ή υπέρταση; (páschete apó kápia chrónia nóso, gia parádeigma diavíti í ipértasi) = do you have a chronic disease, for example diabetes or hypertension; Έχετε χειρουργηθεί ποτέ; (échete cheirourgithí poté) = have you ever had surgery; Υπάρχουν στην οικογένειά σας περιστατικά καρδιοπάθειας ή καρκίνου; (ypárchoun stin oikogéneiá sas peristatiká kardiopátheias í karkínou) = is there heart disease or cancer in your family; Καπνίζετε; (kapnízete) = do you smoke; Πίνετε αλκοόλ; (pínete alkoól) = do you drink alcohol.

Which abbreviations do Greek doctors use?

Written notes use Greek capital letters, and colleagues often say the letters one by one. Examples: ΣΔ = σακχαρώδης διαβήτης (sakcharódis diavítis), diabetes mellitus; ΧΑΠ = χρόνια αποφρακτική πνευμονοπάθεια (chrónia apofraktikí pnevmonopátheia), COPD; ΑΕΕ = αγγειακό εγκεφαλικό επεισόδιο (angeiakó egkefalikó epeisódio), stroke; ΗΚΓ = ηλεκτροκαρδιογράφημα (ilektrokardiográfima), ECG; ΤΕΠ = Τμήμα Επειγόντων Περιστατικών (tmíma epeigónton peristatikón), emergency department; ΜΕΘ = Μονάδα Εντατικής Θεραπείας (monáda entatikís therapeías), ICU. Check the local usage on your ward, since some units prefer the full term.

What do I say on a ward round?

Keep sentences short and give one instruction at a time. Examples: Πώς περάσατε τη νύχτα; (pós perásate ti nýchta) = how did you spend the night; Πονάτε σήμερα; (ponáte símera) = do you have pain today; Θα σας εξετάσω, εντάξει; (tha sas exetáso, entáxei) = I will examine you, all right; Ξαπλώστε, παρακαλώ (xaplóste, parakaló) = please lie down; Πάρτε μια βαθιά ανάσα (párte mia vathiá anása) = take a deep breath; Θα σας κάνουμε εξετάσεις αίματος (tha sas kánoume exetáseis aímatos) = we will do blood tests.

How can I learn medical Greek fast?

Learn roots, not single words. Examples: -ίτιδα (-ítida) = inflammation, as in αρθρίτιδα (arthrítida), arthritis; -εκτομή (-ektomí) = removal, as in σκωληκοειδεκτομή (skolikoeidektomí), appendicectomy; καρδιο- (kardio-) = heart; νεφρο- (nefro-) = kidney. Practise the questions above aloud until they come without thinking. Use the free dictionary of 4,500+ Greek medical terms at iatros.uk/dictionary and the Greek audio podcasts at iatros.uk/podcasts to hear the terms in context. Ask a Greek colleague to correct your pronunciation.

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