How to ask about health in English

When someone shares their health status on Facebook, how should we ask them how they are doing?

A very familiar question for English learners in Vietnam is "How are you?". However, there are many other ways to ask and talk about someone's health.

If you know someone well (e.g. a classmate or colleague) and they seem unwell, you can use some of the following structures:

- Are you okay?

- You look unwell. Are you okay?

- You don't look so good. Are you alright?

- You seem sick. Are you feeling alright?

- You seem sick. How are you feeling?

- You look unwell. Is everything okay?

Except for the first question, the remaining questions are generally specific enough to encourage respondents to share about their condition. Whereas if they were simply asked “How are you?”, they might simply respond with “I’m okay,” even if they are unwell and need help.

On the contrary, if you are the one being asked, depending on the situation and relationship, you can answer in the following ways:

- I'm a little under the weather. Thank you for asking.

- I'm having a cold/cough. I hope it will go away soon.

- I'm not feeling very well. I think I have a cold.

- I have a little headache.

- I have a sore throat, but I'm feeling ok.

- I'm going through some medical treatments, but I'm feeling okay.

Photo: babour-bhs

Additionally, when you know someone is unwell or see them sharing their health status on social media, you can use some phrases to encourage them:

- Hope you feel better soon.

- Feel better (Get well soon!).

- Wish you a quick/ speedy/ full recovery.

- Hope you'll get well soon.

- I'm sending you my best wishes for a quick/ speedy/ full recovery.

- I hope you'll get some rest and recover soon.

Linh Phung (Director of English Program for International Students, Chatham University, USA)

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