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"Doctor" in Finnish: lääkäri, and how to talk about health
lääkäri
Say it: LÄÄ-kä-ri (ä as in 'cat'). In Finnish, stress is always on the first syllable.
Lääkäri means "doctor". A doctor's appointment is a lääkäriaika, and a dentist is a hammaslääkäri.
Health vocabulary
| Finnish | English |
|---|---|
| lääkäri | doctor |
| lääkäriaika | doctor's appointment |
| hammaslääkäri | dentist |
| terveysasema | health centre |
| sairaala | hospital |
| päivystys | emergency clinic (urgent care) |
| resepti | prescription |
The emergency number in Finland is 112. For ordinary illness you book an appointment (lääkäriaika) at a terveysasema.
Going to the doctor
To say you are going to the doctor, use menen lääkäriin (illative, "into"). To say you need to see one, tarvitsen lääkärin works well. Note how lääkäri becomes lääkärin when it is the object of the verb.
Example sentences
- Tarvitsen lääkärin.I need a doctor.
- Minulla on lääkäriaika huomenna.I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow.
- Menen lääkäriin.I'm going to the doctor.
- Missä on lähin terveysasema?Where is the nearest health centre?
Common questions
How do you say "doctor" in Finnish?
Lääkäri.
How do you say "I have a doctor's appointment" in Finnish?
Minulla on lääkäriaika.
Related words
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