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Thematic Collection

Allergy English: Symptoms, Triggers and Talking to Your Doctor

Allergy vocabulary is one of those areas where not knowing the right word can have real consequences. Telling a waiter you cannot eat nuts, describing an anaphylactic reaction to a paramedic, checking whether a dish contains shellfish or gluten — all of this requires precise language that most English courses never cover.

Allergies come in several distinct types, each with its own vocabulary: food allergies, environmental allergies (hay fever, dust, pet dander), drug allergies, and contact allergies. Knowing the vocabulary for your specific type is important before you need it.

What you will find on this page:

  • 50+ words — allergens, symptoms, reactions and treatments with transcription
  • 12 phrases — at a restaurant, at the doctor, in an emergency and at a pharmacy
  • Dialogue at a first GP appointment for allergy assessment — with translation and notes
  • Common mistakes — allergic/allergy, 'I have allergy' vs 'I am allergic to', anaphylaxis pronunciation
  • FAQ — how to tell a restaurant about food allergies, what an EpiPen is, how to describe anaphylaxis

Word list to learn

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allergy
/ˈælədʒi/
allergen
/ˈælədʒən/
allergic
/əˈlɜːdʒɪk/
anaphylaxis
/ˌænəfɪˈlæksɪs/
anaphylactic shock
/ˌænəfɪˈlæktɪk ʃɒk/
immune system
/ɪˈmjuːn ˈsɪstəm/
immune response
/ɪˈmjuːn rɪˈspɒns/
antibody
/ˈæntɪˌbɒdi/
IgE
/ˌaɪ dʒiː ˈiː/
histamine
/ˈhɪstəmiːn/
antihistamine
/ˌæntiˈhɪstəmiːn/
epinephrine
/ˌepɪˈnefrɪn/
adrenaline
/əˈdrenəlɪn/
EpiPen
/ˈepɪpen/
auto-injector
/ˈɔːtəʊ ɪnˈdʒektə/
corticosteroid
/ˌkɔːtɪkəʊˈstɪərɔɪd/
steroid
/ˈstɪərɔɪd/
hay fever
/ˈheɪ ˌfiːvə/
pollen
/ˈpɒlən/
dust mite
/dʌst maɪt/
pet dander
/pet ˈdændə/
mould
/məʊld/
nut allergy
/nʌt ˈælədʒi/
peanut
/ˈpiːnʌt/
tree nut
/triː nʌt/
shellfish
/ˈʃelˌfɪʃ/
crustacean
/krʌˈsteɪʃən/
gluten
/ˈɡluːtən/
dairy
/ˈdeəri/
lactose intolerance
/ˈlæktəʊz ɪnˈtɒlərəns/
food intolerance
/fuːd ɪnˈtɒlərəns/
cross-contamination
/krɒs kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/
sneezing
/ˈsniːzɪŋ/
itching
/ˈɪtʃɪŋ/
hives
/haɪvz/
urticaria
/ˌɜːtɪˈkeəriə/
rash
/ræʃ/
swelling
/ˈswelɪŋ/
oedema
/ɪˈdiːmə/
angioedema
/ˌændʒiəʊɪˈdiːmə/
runny nose
/ˈrʌni nəʊz/
watery eyes
/ˈwɔːtəri aɪz/
wheezing
/ˈwiːzɪŋ/
shortness of breath
/ˈʃɔːtnəs əv breθ/
eczema
/ˈeksɪmə/
asthma
/ˈæsmə/
skin prick test
/skɪn prɪk test/
blood test
/blʌd test/
patch test
/pætʃ test/
immunotherapy
/ˌɪmjuːnəʊˈθerəpi/
desensitisation
/ˌdiːˌsensɪtaɪˈzeɪʃən/
nasal spray
/ˈneɪzəl spreɪ/
eye drops
/aɪ drɒps/
trigger
/ˈtrɪɡə/
reaction
/riˈækʃən/
severe
/sɪˈvɪə/
mild
/maɪld/

Useful phrases

Click the icon to hear the pronunciation

I am allergic to peanuts.
Does this dish contain any nuts or nut traces?
My allergy is life-threatening — please inform the kitchen.
Could I see the allergen menu, please?
I need an antihistamine — do you have anything without a prescription?
I carry an EpiPen in case of anaphylaxis.
She is having an anaphylactic reaction — call an ambulance immediately!
I have hay fever — my eyes are itchy and I keep sneezing.
I have come out in hives — it started about an hour ago.
I would like allergy testing — can you refer me to a specialist?
My throat is swelling and I am finding it hard to breathe.
I had a severe reaction last time — I need to carry an auto-injector.
Is there any shellfish or fish sauce in this dish?
Could you use separate utensils to avoid cross-contamination?

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At the GP: allergy assessment

Click the speaker icon to hear the full dialogue

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Doctor
Good morning. What brings you in today?
Patient
I think I may have developed a food allergy. Last week after eating at a Thai restaurant, I came out in hives and my throat felt tight.
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Doctor
That does sound like an allergic reaction. Can you describe the hives — were they raised, red welts? And did you have any difficulty breathing?
Patient
Yes, exactly — raised, very itchy welts on my arms and chest. I was wheezing slightly but it passed after about thirty minutes. I was scared it was anaphylaxis.
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Doctor
It was a moderate reaction rather than full anaphylaxis — anaphylaxis typically involves a severe drop in blood pressure and loss of consciousness. Do you have a history of allergies?
Patient
Yes, I have hay fever every spring — runny nose, watery eyes, lots of sneezing. I take antihistamines for it. But I have never had a reaction to food before.
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Doctor
Thai food is often made with peanuts, tree nuts, and shellfish — all common allergens. Do you know which dish you ate and whether it contained any of these?
Patient
I had a satay with peanut sauce. Could peanuts be the trigger?
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Doctor
That is very likely. Peanut allergy is one of the most common food allergies and it can develop in adulthood. I would like to refer you for a skin prick test to confirm the allergen.
Patient
How does a skin prick test work?
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Doctor
A small amount of allergen extract is placed on your forearm and the skin is pricked through it. If you are allergic, you will develop a small raised wheal at that spot within fifteen minutes. It is safe and painless.
Patient
What should I do in the meantime? I am worried about eating out.
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Doctor
Avoid peanuts and peanut-containing foods until we have confirmation. Always tell the restaurant about your allergy and ask to see the allergen menu. I will also prescribe you an antihistamine and an auto-injector to carry as a precaution.
Patient
I have never used an auto-injector before. How do I know when to use it?
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Doctor
Use it if you develop throat swelling, difficulty breathing, or feel faint after exposure. Inject into the outer thigh, call an ambulance immediately, and use a second dose if symptoms return. I will give you a written action plan.
Patient
Thank you — that is very reassuring. When will I get the appointment for the skin prick test?
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Common mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes

Wrong I have allergy to peanuts.
Correct I am allergic to peanuts. / I have a peanut allergy.

"Allergy" is a countable noun, so it needs an article or determiner: 'I have a peanut allergy', 'I have a severe nut allergy', 'I have two allergies'. The adjectival form 'I am allergic to peanuts' is equally correct and often more natural in speech. 'I have allergy' with no article is ungrammatical — a mistake that transfers the pattern from Russian ('у меня аллергия', no article) or German ('ich habe eine Allergie gegen', which learners sometimes simplify). Either form is medically equivalent; 'I am allergic to' is the safer default.

Wrong I am allergic on cats.
Correct I am allergic to cats.

The adjective 'allergic' always takes the preposition 'to' in English — no exceptions. The structure is: 'allergic to + [allergen]'. Examples: 'allergic to pollen', 'allergic to latex', 'allergic to aspirin', 'allergic to cats'. The corresponding noun phrase uses 'to' as well: 'an allergy to peanuts' or 'a peanut allergy' (compound noun, no preposition). Learners from Russian ('аллергия на'), German ('allergisch gegen'), or Spanish ('alérgico a', which can sound like 'on') sometimes use the wrong preposition.

Wrong anaphylaxis — stressed on second syllable: 'a-NA-phy-laxis'
Correct anaphylaxis — /ˌænəfɪˈlæksɪs/ — stressed on third syllable: 'a-na-phy-LAK-sis'

The IPA transcription is /ˌænəfɪˈlæksɪs/. The primary stress (ˈ) falls on the '-lak-' syllable. Syllable breakdown: AN-a-phi-LAK-sis (5 syllables). The secondary stress (ˌ) falls on the first syllable 'an-'. The adjective 'anaphylactic' /ˌænəfɪˈlæktɪk/ follows the same stress pattern: a-na-phi-LAK-tic. A useful memory anchor: think of 'attack' — the '-LAK-' sounds similar, and anaphylaxis is indeed an attack by the immune system.

Wrong I ate some aliments that triggered my reaction.
Correct I ate some food / some ingredients that triggered my reaction.

'Aliment' in English is an archaic or formal legal term meaning financial support or maintenance — related etymologically to 'alimony'. It is never used to mean 'food' in contemporary English. The confusion comes from French ('aliment' = food) and Spanish ('alimento' = food). The correct words for food in English: food (general), ingredient (specific component), dish (prepared item), product (packaged food). In an allergy context: 'I ate some food that...' or 'The dish contained an ingredient that...'

Wrong The hive on my arm is very itchy.
Correct The hives on my arm are very itchy. / I have hives on my arm.

'Hives' functions grammatically as a plural noun — it always takes plural agreement: 'hives are itchy', 'the hives have spread'. There is no standard singular 'a hive' for the skin condition ('a hive' = beehive). Individual raised welts can be called a 'welt' or 'wheal' (medical). Common phrases: 'I broke out in hives' (standard colloquial), 'I came out in hives' (British English), 'I have hives', 'the hives are all over my chest'. The clinical alternative 'urticaria' is used as an uncountable singular noun: 'urticaria is a common allergic reaction'.

About This List

Allergy Vocabulary in English: A Complete Reference

Types of Allergies

The word allergy (plural: allergies) refers to an immune system overreaction to a normally harmless substance. The adjective is allergic: 'I am allergic to penicillin.' A substance that triggers an allergy is an allergen. Main types: food allergy, drug allergy (or medication allergy), environmental allergy, contact allergy (caused by skin contact), insect allergy (bee stings, wasp stings), latex allergy.

Food Allergens: Key Vocabulary

English distinguishes several food allergen categories that learners often confuse. Peanuts are legumes (groundnuts), not true nuts — a peanut allergy is separate from a tree nut allergy. Tree nuts include almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts, and pecans. Shellfish refers to crustaceans (shrimp, crab, lobster, prawns) — distinct from fish (salmon, cod, tuna). A shellfish allergy does not automatically mean a fish allergy, and vice versa. Other major allergens: dairy (milk and milk products), eggs, wheat, soy (or soya), sesame, gluten (protein in wheat, barley, rye — relevant to coeliac disease / celiac disease in US spelling).

Note: food intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is different from a food allergy. Intolerance causes digestive discomfort; a true allergy triggers an immune response that can be life-threatening.

Environmental Allergens

Hay fever is the everyday name for seasonal allergic rhinitis — an allergy to pollen. Despite the name, it has nothing to do with hay or fever (no raised temperature). Triggers: tree pollen (spring), grass pollen (summer), weed pollen (late summer/autumn). Perennial allergic rhinitis is the year-round version, often caused by dust mites, pet dander (skin flakes from cats, dogs), or mould spores. Asthma can be triggered or worsened by allergens.

Symptoms

Mild to moderate symptoms: sneezing, runny nose (nasal discharge), nasal congestion (blocked nose), itchy eyes, watery eyes, itching (of the skin), hives (raised, itchy welts on the skin — equivalent to urticaria), rash, eczema (dry, itchy, inflamed skin), swelling. Severe symptoms indicating anaphylaxis: swollen throat or swollen tongue, difficulty breathing, wheezing, chest tightness, drop in blood pressure, dizziness, loss of consciousness.

Anaphylaxis

Anaphylaxis (/ˌænəfɪˈlæksɪs/) is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting the whole body. It can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure. Anaphylactic shock occurs when blood pressure drops dangerously. In an emergency: 'Call an ambulance — this person is having an anaphylactic reaction' or 'They need an EpiPen immediately.' Anaphylaxis requires immediate treatment with epinephrine (also called adrenaline) injected via an auto-injector such as the EpiPen.

Treatments and Medications

Antihistamine — medication that blocks histamine (the chemical causing allergy symptoms). Available as tablets, liquids, nasal sprays, or eye drops. Epinephrine / adrenaline — emergency medication for anaphylaxis, given by injection. EpiPen — the brand name that has become a generic term for any epinephrine auto-injector. Carrying an EpiPen: 'Do you have your EpiPen with you?' Corticosteroids — anti-inflammatory medications (nasal sprays like Flonase, or oral). Immunotherapy (also allergy shots or allergy desensitisation) — a long-term treatment that gradually reduces sensitivity to allergens.

Communicating Allergies at a Restaurant

In English-speaking countries, being explicit about allergies is expected and taken seriously. Key phrases: 'I have a severe nut allergy — is there any nut in this dish?', 'Does this contain shellfish or any shellfish-derived ingredients?', 'I have a coeliac disease — I need a completely gluten-free meal', 'Could you ask the kitchen to avoid cross-contamination with dairy?', 'My allergy is life-threatening — I carry an EpiPen.' Cross-contamination is an important term: it means traces of an allergen from shared kitchen surfaces or utensils.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most natural form is 'I am allergic to...' followed by the allergen: 'I am allergic to peanuts', 'I am allergic to penicillin', 'I am allergic to cats.' Alternatively, 'I have a [noun] allergy': 'I have a nut allergy', 'I have a shellfish allergy'. The construction 'I have allergy' (without an article) is incorrect — if you use 'have', you need the article: 'I have an allergy to dairy.' In medical or emergency contexts, 'I have a severe allergy to...' or 'I have a life-threatening allergy to...' signals the seriousness of the situation.

A food allergy is an immune system reaction to a specific protein. Even a tiny amount of the allergen can trigger symptoms ranging from hives to anaphylaxis. It can be life-threatening. A food intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance) is a digestive issue — the body has difficulty processing a substance. It causes discomfort (bloating, stomach pain) but is not life-threatening and does not trigger anaphylaxis. When telling a restaurant about a food issue, always specify 'allergy' (not 'intolerance') if your reaction could be severe — it signals the kitchen to take cross-contamination seriously.

Hay fever is the common English name for seasonal allergic rhinitis — an allergy to pollen. Despite the name, there is no hay and no fever involved. It is a historical term from the 19th century. Symptoms include sneezing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, and nasal congestion. It is typically triggered by tree pollen in spring, grass pollen in summer, and weed pollen in late summer and autumn. The formal medical name is seasonal allergic rhinitis. The year-round version caused by dust mites or pet dander is called perennial allergic rhinitis.

An EpiPen is the brand name of an epinephrine (adrenaline) auto-injector — a pre-filled, spring-loaded device used to treat anaphylaxis. It is injected into the outer thigh. The brand name EpiPen has become a generic term in English: 'Do you have your EpiPen with you?', 'I always carry an EpiPen', 'Administer the EpiPen immediately.' The formal medical term is epinephrine auto-injector (US) or adrenaline auto-injector (UK). People with serious allergies are often advised to carry two auto-injectors: 'She carries two EpiPens in case the first dose is not enough.'

Anaphylaxis is a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting multiple body systems simultaneously. It can cause throat swelling, breathing difficulty, a dangerous drop in blood pressure, and loss of consciousness. Pronunciation: /ˌænəfɪˈlæksɪs/ — the stress is on the third syllable: 'ana-fi-LAK-sis.' The adjective is anaphylactic: 'anaphylactic reaction', 'anaphylactic shock'. In an emergency: 'This person is having an anaphylactic reaction — call an ambulance immediately' or 'They went into anaphylactic shock.' Treatment requires immediate epinephrine (EpiPen), followed by emergency medical care.

Hives (also urticaria) are raised, red, intensely itchy welts that appear suddenly on the skin, often as an allergic reaction. They typically come and go within hours. 'I broke out in hives after eating strawberries.' Rash is a broader term for any change in the skin's appearance or texture — it can be allergic or non-allergic. 'She has a rash on her arm.' Eczema (also atopic dermatitis) is a chronic inflammatory skin condition causing dry, itchy, cracked skin — often associated with allergies but it is not the same thing. 'He has had eczema since childhood.' When describing an allergic skin reaction to a doctor, 'hives' is the most precise term.

Be direct and specific: 'I have a severe peanut allergy — does this dish contain any peanuts or peanut oil?' For life-threatening allergies: 'My allergy is life-threatening — please inform the kitchen.' Ask about hidden ingredients: 'Does this sauce contain any dairy?', 'Is there any soy in this marinade?' Ask about cross-contamination: 'Could you use clean utensils to avoid cross-contamination?' In the UK and EU, restaurants are legally required to declare 14 major allergens — you can ask for the allergen menu or allergen information. Use the word 'allergy' (not 'I don't like' or 'I prefer to avoid') to signal medical necessity.

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