Everyday situations
How to describe pain in English
A2
Saying where it hurts, what kind of pain it is, how bad it is and for how long: the phrases you need for a visit to the doctor.
Quick answer
Describing pain is one of the most useful survival skills in English. Doctors in the UK and the US usually ask the same questions in the same order: Where does it hurt? What kind of pain? On a scale of 1 to 10? When did it start? If you know the four typical answers, you save a lot of time. A common mistake is to say only I have pain: it is too vague to help. Use a precise structure instead: My X hurts or I have a sore X. Be careful with the grammar of to hurt: it is irregular (hurt, hurt, hurt, never hurted). And to say how long, use the Present Perfect: I've had this for…, not I have this since….
Step by step
Each step follows a typical conversation. Lines marked “or” are other possible answers, depending on the situation.
1. Saying where it hurts
Three structures work in the same way: My X hurts, I have a sore X or I have an X-ache.
- Other person
Where does it hurt?
- You
My head hurts.
→ My + body part + hurts is the most natural phrase.orI have a sore throat.
→ I have a sore + body part is also very common.orI have a headache.
→ Words with -ache: headache, stomachache, toothache, backache, earache.orMy lower back is killing me.
Informal→ Is killing me is an informal way to say that the pain is very strong.orI have pain in my chest.
Formal - Other person
Could you point to where it hurts?
- You
Right here, on the right side.
- Other person
Does it hurt when you move?
- You
It hurts when I move my arm.
2. Saying what kind of pain it is
Six adjectives cover almost every case. The doctor learns a lot from the word you choose.
- Other person
What kind of pain is it?
- You
It's a sharp pain.
→ Sharp: a sudden, strong pain, like a knife.orIt's a dull pain.
→ Dull: a low pain that does not stop.orIt's a throbbing pain.
→ Throbbing: a pain that beats like your pulse.orIt's a burning pain.
→ Burning: a hot feeling, for example with some stomach problems or infections.orIt's a stabbing pain.
→ Stabbing: a short, very sharp pain that comes suddenly.orIt's an aching pain.
→ Aching: a low, steady pain, like tired muscles after sport. - Other person
Is it constant, or does it come and go?
- You
It comes and goes.
orIt's constant.
3. Saying how bad it is, out of 10
Doctors in the UK and the US often use a scale from 1 to 10. Also say what the pain stops you from doing.
- Other person
On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is the pain?
- You
I'd say it's a 7.
orMaybe a 3, bearable but annoying.
orIt's an 8, I can hardly sleep.
→ Always say what the pain stops you from doing. - Other person
Would you say it's mild, moderate or severe?
- You
It's mild.
orIt's moderate.
orIt's severe.
orIt's unbearable.
- Other person
Does it affect your daily life?
- You
It's hard to focus / to walk / to sleep.
→ Saying what you can't do often tells the doctor more than the number alone.
4. Saying how long you have had it
Use the Present Perfect with for or since. How long the pain has lasted helps the doctor a lot.
- Other person
How long have you had this?
- You
I've had this for three days.
→ Present Perfect + for + a length of time (three days, a week).orI've had this since Monday.
→ Present Perfect + since + a starting point (Monday, this morning).orIt started this morning.
- Other person
Did it start gradually or suddenly?
- You
It started gradually.
orIt came on suddenly.
→ Came on suddenly means it started all at once. This can be a sign of an emergency. - Other person
Is it getting better or worse?
- You
It's been getting worse.
orIt's gradually improving.
- Other person
Is there a time of day when it hurts more?
- You
It only hurts at night.
orIt hurts more in the morning.
5. Saying what makes it worse or better
Moving, eating, stress: the doctor looks for what starts the pain or makes it worse.
- Other person
Does anything make it worse?
- You
It hurts more when I bend down.
orIt gets worse after I eat.
orIt hurts when I take a deep breath.
- Other person
Does anything make it better?
- You
Painkillers help a bit.
orRest helps.
orHeat / cold relieves it.
orNothing seems to help.
→ Another possible answer: nothing makes the pain better.
6. Talking about other symptoms
Fever, nausea, dizziness, weakness: anything that comes with the main pain.
- Other person
Any other symptoms?
- You
I also have a fever.
- Other person
Do you feel sick to your stomach?
- You
I feel nauseous.
orI've been throwing up.
→ Throw up means to vomit. In everyday English, it is more common than vomit. - Other person
Do you feel weak or dizzy?
- You
I feel dizzy.
orI feel weak.
- Other person
Do you have any trouble breathing?
- You
I'm short of breath.
→ Short of breath means you can't breathe easily. Always tell the doctor about it. - Other person
Anything on your skin, or with your appetite?
- You
My skin has a rash.
orI've lost my appetite.
Useful vocabulary
Types of pain
- sharp painsudden and strong, like a knife
- dull paina low, steady pain
- throbbing painpain that beats like your pulse
- burning painpain that feels hot
- stabbing painshort, very strong attacks of pain
- aching paina steady pain, like tired muscles
- cramping painpain from muscles that get tight
- shooting painpain that moves quickly along the body
Words with -ache
- a headachepain in your head
- a stomachachepain in your belly
- a toothachepain in one of your teeth
- a backachepain in your back
- an earachepain inside your ear
- a sore throat(UK)pain when you swallow
- a sore + body parta part of your body that hurts
How bad it is
- mildnot very strong
- moderatemedium: not weak, not strong
- severevery strong and serious
- unbearableso bad that you cannot cope
- excruciatingextremely painful, the worst level
- bearable / tolerablepainful, but you can cope
- constant / continuousall the time, without stopping
- intermittent / on and offit stops and starts again
Other symptoms
- fever / temperaturea higher body heat than normal
- nausea / to feel nauseousthe feeling that you might vomit
- to throw up / to vomitto bring food up from your stomach
- dizziness / to feel dizzythe feeling that the room is spinning
- weakness / to feel weakhaving no energy or strength
- short of breathunable to breathe easily
- a rashred spots on the skin
- numbness / tinglinglosing feeling, or a prickly feeling
UK vs US: what changes
| You want to say… | UK | US |
|---|---|---|
| Pain when you swallow | A sore throat | A sore throat |
| Pain in the abdomen | Stomachache / tummy ache (informal) | Stomachache / belly ache |
| The first medical person you see | GP / doctor | Doctor / PCP (primary care physician) |
| Bringing food back up | To be sick / to throw up | To throw up / to puke |
| Hospital service for urgent cases | A&E (Accident & Emergency) | ER (Emergency Room) |
| Causing pain (verb) | to hurt (hurt-hurt-hurt) | to hurt (hurt-hurt-hurt) |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have pain ❌ (too vague)
I have pain on its own is correct grammar, but it does not help the doctor much. The doctor will ask Where? straight away. Use a precise structure: My + body part + hurts, I have a sore + body part or I have a + body part + -ache. The more precise you are, the faster the doctor understands.
2. I am hurted ❌
To hurt is irregular, with only one form: hurt, hurt, hurt. There is no -ed. ✓ I hurt my leg yesterday (Past Simple). ✓ I've hurt my leg (Present Perfect). ✗ I hurted my leg / I am hurted. Other verbs like this: cost, cut, put, set.
3. I have this since 3 days ❌
This is one of the most common mistakes at the doctor's. For a symptom that started in the past and is still there, use the Present Perfect + for + a length of time (3 days, a week, an hour). Or use the Present Perfect + since + a starting point (Monday, this morning). ✓ I've had this for 3 days. ✓ I've had this since Monday. ✗ I have this since 3 days (two mistakes: the Present Simple instead of the Present Perfect, and since with a length of time).
4. It pains me ❌
The verb to pain exists, but it is old-fashioned and rare. In everyday English and at the doctor's, say It hurts or My X hurts. ✓ My back hurts. ✓ It hurts when I bend. ✗ It pains me when I bend (it sounds like an old book). Use pain as a noun, not as a verb.
5. I'm sick: not the same in the UK and the US
In the US, I'm sick means you are ill. In the UK, to be sick often means to vomit, and I'm sick of it means you are tired of something. To say you are ill in the UK, use I'm ill or I'm not well. To say you have vomited: I've been sick (UK) or I've been throwing up (US, and clearer).
Practice quiz
Related pages: Describing pain
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Frequently asked questions
How do you say that something hurts in English?+
There are three structures, and all of them are correct. 1) My + body part + hurts: My back hurts. 2) I have a + body part + -ache: I have a headache (also stomachache, toothache, backache, earache). 3) I have a sore + body part: a sore throat, a sore neck, a sore shoulder. Choose the one that fits the word you know.
What words describe types of pain in English?+
Six adjectives are the most useful. Sharp: sudden, like a knife. Dull: low and steady. Throbbing: it beats like your pulse. Burning: it feels hot. Stabbing: short and very sharp. Aching: low and spread out, like tired muscles. Also say if it is constant (all the time) or on and off (it stops and starts again).
How do you say how bad your pain is?+
Doctors often use a scale from 1 to 10: On a scale of 1 to 10, the pain is a 7. Give a number, then say what the pain stops you from doing: It's an 8, I can hardly sleep (or walk, or focus). You can also use adjectives, from weak to strong: mild, moderate, severe, unbearable, excruciating.
How do you say how long you have had a pain?+
Use the Present Perfect (I've had) + for + a length of time: I've had this for three days. Or use since + a starting point: I've had this since Monday, since this morning, since 3 pm. Never say I have this since three days: it has two mistakes (the wrong tense, and since with a length of time).
What is the difference between sick and ill?+
In the US, I'm sick simply means you are ill. In the UK, to be sick often means to vomit, and I'm sick of it means you are tired of something. To say you are ill in the UK, use I'm ill or I'm not feeling well. To say clearly that you have vomited: I've been throwing up.
What is the past tense of hurt?+
Hurt is irregular, with the same form three times: hurt, hurt, hurt. There is no -ed. Present Simple: My back hurts (with -s after he, she or it). Past Simple: I hurt my back yesterday. Present Perfect: I've hurt my back. Present Continuous: My back is hurting. I am hurted and I have hurted are common mistakes.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/situations/describing-pain
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.