Making a clinic appointment when you feel unwell | Learn Danish in English

Danish lesson set in a contemporary Copenhagen everyday setting: At home, one adult feels unwell and asks another how to call a clinic for an appointment..

EN → DA / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Making a clinic appointment when you feel unwell to practice Danish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Jeg hoster og føler mig træt i dag.

YIGH HOSS-duh oh FUR-luh my trehdt ee DAY. I have a cough and feel tired today.
B

Du bør ringe til klinikken og bede om en tid.

DOO burr RENG-uh teel klee-NEE-gən oh BAY-thuh ohn uh TEE-muh. You should call the clinic and ask for an appointment.
A

Hvad skal jeg sige, når jeg ringer?

VA skal YIGH SEE-uh, nawr YIGH RENG-uh? What should I say when I call?
B

Sig, at du føler dig utilpas og gerne vil se en læge.

SEE eh DOO FUR-luh dye oo-teel-PASS oh YEH-nuh vill SAY uhn LAY-yuh. Tell them you feel unwell and would like to see a doctor.
A

Jeg vil også spørge, hvilke tider der er ledige.

YIGH vill AW-soh SPUR-uh, VEL-guh TEE-uh dair air LAY-thee-uh. I also want to ask what times are available.
B

Det vil hjælpe dem med at finde en tid, der passer dig.

Deh vill YEL-buh dem meh eh FEN-uh uhn TEE, dair PASS-uh dye. That will help them find an appointment that works for you.
A

Jeg ringer til klinikken nu.

YIGH RENG-uh teel klee-NEE-gən noo. I will call the clinic now.
B

Skriv dine symptomer ned, så du kan forklare dem tydeligt.

SKREEV DEE-nuh süm-TOH-muh nayth, soh DOO kan for-KLAIR-uh dem TOO-thuh-lee. Write your symptoms down so you can explain them clearly.

Word by Word

Jeg “Jeg” means “I” here: the speaker refers to themself. It is used as the subject before the verb, as in “Jeg hoster” and “Jeg vil også spørge”.
hoster “hoster” means “cough” in “Jeg hoster”. It is the verb form used for what the speaker is doing now; the citation form is “hoste”. You can reuse the pattern “Jeg hoster og …” when describing this symptom.
og “og” means “and” and connects two actions or descriptions in “Jeg hoster og føler mig træt”. Use it to join items or clauses, such as “A og B” or “Jeg gør X og Y”.
føler “føler” means “feel” in “føler mig træt”. It is used with “mig” to describe the speaker’s condition; the citation form is “føle”. A useful pattern is “Jeg føler mig …” when saying how you feel.
mig “mig” refers back to the speaker in “føler mig træt”, so the phrase means “feel tired”. It is used after “føler” in this self-description; reuse “føler mig …” with a description of your condition.
træt “træt” means “tired” in “føler mig træt”. It describes how the speaker feels after “føler mig”. You can use “Jeg føler mig træt” when telling someone that you are tired.
i “i” is part of the time expression “i dag”, meaning “today”. Here it introduces the day when the feeling occurs. Reuse the pattern “i dag” for something happening today.
dag “dag” means “day” in “i dag”, the expression for “today”. Its meaning comes from the complete time expression with “i”. Use “i dag” when locating an event on the current day.
Du “Du” means “you” here and addresses the other adult. It is the subject before the advice in “Du bør ringe”. Use “Du …” when speaking directly to one person.
bør “bør” expresses advice or what someone ought to do in “Du bør ringe til klinikken”. It is followed by the infinitive “ringe”. Use the pattern “Du bør …” to give gentle advice.
ringe “ringe” means “call” or “phone” in “bør ringe til klinikken”. It is the infinitive after “bør” and is followed here by “til” plus the destination. You can reuse “ringe til …” when calling a person or organization.
til “til” means “to” in “ringe til klinikken” and marks who or what is being called. It is used before the destination or recipient of “ringe”. Reuse the pattern “ringe til + person or place”.
klinikken “klinikken” means “the clinic” in “ringe til klinikken”. The form refers to a specific clinic and is the definite form of “klinik”. Use “til klinikken” when saying that you are calling the clinic.
bede “bede” means “ask for” in “bede om en tid”. It is the infinitive after “og” understood under the advice in “Du bør …”. The reusable construction is “bede om + something” when requesting something.
om “om” is part of “bede om en tid”, where it introduces what is being requested. The complete construction means “ask for an appointment”. Reuse “bede om …” with the thing you want to request.
en “en” means “a” or “an” before “tid” in “en tid”. It introduces one appointment without identifying a specific one yet. Use “en” before a singular noun of this type.
tid “tid” means “an appointment” in “en tid”, although it can also refer to time in other contexts. Here it is the appointment being requested from the clinic. Reuse “bede om en tid” when asking for an appointment.
Hvad “Hvad” means “what” in the question “Hvad skal jeg sige”. It asks for the words the speaker should use. Use “Hvad …?” to ask what something is or what someone should say or do.
skal “skal” expresses what the speaker should say in “Hvad skal jeg sige”. It is followed by the infinitive “sige”. Use “Hvad skal jeg …?” when asking what you are expected or supposed to do.
sige “sige” means “say” in “Hvad skal jeg sige”. It is the infinitive after “skal” and refers to the words used during the call. Reuse “Hvad skal jeg sige?” when asking how to phrase something.
når “når” means “when” in “når jeg ringer”, introducing the time or situation for the question. It links the main question to the event of calling. Reuse “når + clause” to say when something happens.
ringer “ringer” means “call” in “når jeg ringer”. It describes the calling event inside the clause introduced by “når”; the citation form is “ringe”. You can reuse “når jeg ringer” when referring to what you will say during a call.
Sig “Sig” means “say” or “tell” as a direct instruction in “Sig, at …”. It tells the listener which words or information to give. Use “Sig, at …” when telling someone to say that a statement is true.
at “at” introduces the information to be said in “Sig, at du føler dig utilpas”. Here it means “that” and connects “Sig” with the following clause. Reuse “Sig, at …” to report or communicate a message.
dig “dig” refers to the person being addressed in “du føler dig utilpas”, where the person describes their own condition. It appears with “føler” as part of the expression for feeling unwell. Reuse “føler dig …” when addressing one person about how they feel.
utilpas “utilpas” means “unwell” in “føler dig utilpas”. It describes the addressed person’s condition after “føler dig”. You can use “Jeg føler mig utilpas” or “Du føler dig utilpas” when talking about feeling unwell.
gerne “gerne” contributes the meaning “would like to” in “gerne vil se en læge”. It makes the wish sound like something the person would be happy or willing to do. Reuse the construction “gerne vil + infinitive” to express a wish.
vil “vil” means “would like to” in “gerne vil se en læge” and expresses the person’s wish. It is followed by the infinitive “se”. Use “Jeg vil …” for what you want to do, and “Jeg vil gerne …” for a polite or positive wish.
se “se” means “see” in “vil se en læge”. It is the infinitive after “vil” and takes “en læge” as the person to be seen. Reuse “vil gerne se …” when saying that you would like to see someone.
læge “læge” means “doctor” in “se en læge”. It is the person the speaker would like to see. Use “en læge” when referring to a doctor without specifying which doctor.
også “også” means “also” in “Jeg vil også spørge”. It adds another thing the speaker wants to do in addition to the earlier request. Reuse “Jeg vil også …” when adding another intention.
spørge “spørge” means “ask” in “vil også spørge”. It is the infinitive after “vil” and introduces the information the speaker wants to ask about. Reuse “spørge, hvilke …” when asking which options are available.
hvilke “hvilke” means “which” in “hvilke tider der er ledige”. It asks the listener to identify the available times from the possible options. It comes before the plural noun “tider” in this question structure.
tider “tider” means “times” in “hvilke tider der er ledige”, specifically appointment times at the clinic. It is the plural of “tid” here. Reuse “hvilke tider …” when asking which times can be chosen.
der “der” introduces the clause “der er ledige”, which describes the times that are available. It links “tider” with the information about their availability. Reuse the pattern “noget, der …” when adding a description of something.
er “er” means “are” in “tider der er ledige”. It connects the appointment times with the description “ledige”; the citation form is “være”. Reuse “der er …” to state that something exists or has a particular description.
ledige “ledige” means “available” in “tider der er ledige”. It describes the appointment times that can be offered. Use “tider, der er ledige” when asking about available times.
Det “Det” means “that” or “it” in “Det vil hjælpe dem”. It refers to the plan just described—asking about available times. Use “Det vil …” to say what a situation or action will do.
hjælpe “hjælpe” means “help” in “vil hjælpe dem med at finde en tid”. It is the infinitive after “vil” and is followed by the person helped and the activity they are helped with. Reuse “hjælpe nogen med at …” for helping someone do something.
dem “dem” means “them” in “hjælpe dem”. It refers to the clinic staff, who will be helped by having the available times identified. Use “hjælpe dem” when the people receiving help are already known.
med “med” is part of “hjælpe dem med at finde en tid”, meaning “help them find an appointment”. It introduces the activity connected with the help. Reuse “hjælpe nogen med at + infinitive”.
finde “finde” means “find” in “med at finde en tid”. It is the infinitive after “at” and describes locating a suitable appointment. Reuse “finde en tid” when arranging or locating an appointment.
passer “passer” means “suits” or “works for” in “en tid, der passer dig”. It says that the appointment is suitable for the person. Reuse the pattern “noget passer dig” when something suits you.
nu “nu” means “now” in “Jeg ringer til klinikken nu”. It places the call at the present moment. Use “nu” to say that an action is happening immediately or at this time.
Skriv “Skriv” means “write” as a direct instruction in “Skriv dine symptomer ned”. It tells the listener to make a written note of the symptoms. Reuse “Skriv … ned” when instructing someone to write information down.
dine “dine” means “your” in “dine symptomer”. It shows that the symptoms belong to the person being addressed. It comes directly before the plural noun “symptomer” in this expression.
symptomer “symptomer” means “symptoms” in “dine symptomer”. These are the health problems the person should write down and explain to the clinic. Reuse “skrive sine symptomer ned” when recording symptoms for a medical conversation.
ned “ned” is part of “Skriv dine symptomer ned”, meaning “write your symptoms down”. It shows that the information should be put into written form for later use. Reuse “skrive noget ned” when making a note.
“så” means “so that” in “så du kan forklare dem tydeligt”. It introduces the purpose of writing the symptoms down. Reuse “så du kan …” to explain what an action enables someone to do.
kan “kan” means “can” in “du kan forklare dem tydeligt”. It expresses the ability made possible by writing the symptoms down. It is followed by the infinitive “forklare”; reuse “kan + infinitive” for ability.
forklare “forklare” means “explain” in “kan forklare dem tydeligt”. It is the infinitive after “kan” and refers to explaining the symptoms to the clinic. Reuse “forklare noget” when giving information clearly.
tydeligt “tydeligt” means “clearly” in “forklare dem tydeligt”. It describes how the symptoms should be explained so that the clinic can understand them. Use “forklare noget tydeligt” when emphasizing clear communication.

Grammar Points

Infinitiv + -r i nutid

Jeg hoster og ringer til klinikken.

YIGH HOSS-duh oh RENG-uh teel klee-NEE-gən.

I cough and call the clinic.

Many Danish verbs form the present tense by adding -r to the infinitive: hoste → hoster, ringe → ringer.

Når + ledsætning

Når jeg føler mig utilpas, ringer jeg til klinikken.

NAWR YIGH FUR-luh dye oo-teel-PASS, RENG-uh YIGH teel klee-NEE-gən.

When I feel unwell, I call the clinic.

Når introduces a subordinate clause. In the main clause, the verb comes before the subject: ringer jeg.

Danish Vocabulary

bede verb
BAY-thuh ask for

Du bør ringe til klinikken og bede om en tid.

føle verb
FUR-luh feel føler

Jeg hoster og føler mig træt i dag.

gerne adv
YEH-nuh would like to

Sig, at du føler dig utilpas og gerne vil se en læge.

hoste verb
HOSS-uh cough hoster

Jeg hoster og føler mig træt i dag.

i dag adv
ee DAY today

Jeg hoster og føler mig træt i dag.

klinik noun
klee-NEEK clinic klinikken

Du bør ringe til klinikken og bede om en tid.

når conj
NAWR when

Hvad skal jeg sige, når jeg ringer?

ringe verb
RENG-uh call ringer

Du bør ringe til klinikken og bede om en tid.

sige verb
SEE-uh say

Hvad skal jeg sige, når jeg ringer?

tid noun
TEE-muh appointment

Du bør ringe til klinikken og bede om en tid.

træt adj
trehdt tired

Jeg hoster og føler mig træt i dag.

utilpas adj
oo-teel-PASS unwell

Sig, at du føler dig utilpas og gerne vil se en læge.

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

I will call the clinic now.

Show AnswerJeg ringer til klinikken nu.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

cough

Show Answerhoster

feel

Show Answerføler

ask for

Show Answerbede

say

Show Answersige