Health & Fitness Vocabulary

Part 1: Health Collocations

Collocations are words that naturally go together. Native speakers use these combinations automatically!

Collocation	Example	Meaning
good health	"She's in good health for her age."	Healthy condition
poor health	"He's been in poor health lately."	Unhealthy condition
regular exercise	"Regular exercise is essential for fitness."	Exercise done consistently
balanced diet	"A balanced diet includes all food groups."	Healthy variety of foods
strenuous exercise	"Strenuous exercise can be dangerous without training."	Very demanding physical activity
chronic illness	"She suffers from a chronic illness."	Long-term health condition

Collocation	Example
stay fit	"I go to the gym to stay fit."
get in shape	"I need to get in shape before summer."
catch a cold	"I caught a cold last week."
take medicine	"You should take medicine for that headache."
build muscle	"He's trying to build muscle at the gym."

1. I go running every day to stay . (fit/healthy)

2. A diet is important for good health. (balanced/good)

3. I caught a and had to stay home. (cold/flu)

4. exercise keeps you healthy. (regular/daily)

5. I need to get in before the marathon. (shape/form)

Idioms are expressions with meanings different from the literal words. They make your English sound natural!

Under the weather - Feeling ill
"I'm feeling a bit under the weather today."
Fit as a fiddle - In excellent health
"My grandmother is 90 and fit as a fiddle!"
On the mend - Recovering from illness
"He's on the mend after his operation."
A clean bill of health - Medical confirmation of good health
"The doctor gave me a clean bill of health."
Back on your feet - Recovered from illness
"I'll be back on my feet in no time."
Feel run down - Feel tired and unhealthy
"I've been feeling run down lately."
In the pink - In very good health
"She's in the pink after her holiday."
Work out the kinks - Solve problems or relieve muscle tension
"I need to work out the kinks in my back."

1. "I'm feeling under the today." (weather/rain)

2. "My grandad is fit as a !" (fiddle/drum)

3. "She's on the after her surgery." (mend/fix)

4. "I'll be back on my soon." (feet/legs)

5. "The doctor gave me a clean bill of ." (health/fitness)

Phrasal verbs are verbs combined with prepositions or adverbs that create new meanings!

Phrasal Verb	Meaning	Example
work out	Exercise at the gym	"I work out three times a week."
warm up	Prepare body for exercise	"Always warm up before running."
cool down	Relax after exercise	"Don't forget to cool down after your workout."
come down with	Become ill with	"I think I'm coming down with the flu."
fight off	Resist illness	"I'm trying to fight off this cold."
shake off	Get rid of illness	"I can't shake off this cough."
pass out	Lose consciousness	"He passed out from exhaustion."
bulk up	Gain muscle mass	"He's trying to bulk up for the competition."

Work out is very common - use it instead of "do exercise"

Come down with is used when you're starting to feel ill

Warm up and cool down are essential gym vocabulary

1. I out at the gym every morning. (work/train)

2. Always up before exercising. (warm/heat)

3. I think I'm coming with a cold. (down/up)

4. I can't off this headache. (shake/get)

5. He's trying to up for the bodybuilding contest. (bulk/build)

Practice health vocabulary with a native English speaker!

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Well done! You've mastered health & fitness vocabulary - now stay fit and keep practicing!