Common Russian Phrases for When You’re Sick

Here are some common Russian sentences describing what you might do when you have a cold or the flu:

  1. Я запива́ю табле́тку водо́й.
    (I’m washing down a tablet with some water.)
  2. Я распыля́ю спрей в го́рло.
    (I’m spraying a throat spray.)
  3. Я зака́пываю ка́пли в нос.
    (I’m putting drops in my nose.)
  4. Я пью сиро́п от ка́шля.
    (I’m taking cough syrup.)
  5. Я расса́сываю ледене́ц для го́рла.
    (I’m sucking a throat lozenge.)
  6. Я полощу́ го́рло раство́ром.
    (I'm gargling a throat remedy.)
  7. Я пью тёплый чай с лимо́ном.
    (I’m drinking warm tea with lemon.)

Note 1

Pay attention to the difference in meanings of the verbs:

  • ‘Пить’ simply means to drink any liquid:
    • пить (что?) во́ду/вино́ (винительный падеж) — to drink (what?) water/wine (accusative case).
  • ‘Запива́ть’ is used when you wash down medicine or food with a drink:
    • запива́ть (что?) лека́рство/еду́ (винительный падеж) (чем?) водо́й/вино́м (творительный падеж) — to wash down (what?) medicine/food (accusative case) (with what?) with water/wine (instrumental case).

Note 2

When talking about sprays in Russian, there are three verbs you might hear. Each one has a slightly different tone:

  • Распыля́ть — neutral, like in instructions.
  • Бры́згать — more casual, something you’d say in conversation.
  • Пши́кать — very informal, mimics the ‘pshht’ sound of the spray.
    Fun fact: the informal word ‘пши́калка’ (a small spray bottle) comes from this verb.

Note 3

Pay attention to the consonant alternation ск → щ in the verb ‘полоска́ть’ when conjugating this verb in the present tense:

PersonПолоска́ть
1st singполощу́
2nd singполо́щешь
3rd singполо́щет
1st plполо́щем
2nd plполо́щете
3rd plполо́щут

It’s a small but typical pattern in Russian verbs, and noticing it helps you sound more natural.

When in doubt, always check a dictionary.

If you’re interested in everyday Russian, you might also like these posts:

Activity

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