To say you're sick, use simple phrases like "I'm not feeling well," "I'm sick," or "I'm unwell," or more descriptive options like "I'm feeling under the weather," "I think I'm coming down with something," or "I feel terrible/ghastly," depending on the situation and how sick you are. For work, keep it professional and brief, while informal settings allow for more colorful language, such as "sick as a dog" for very ill.
When calling in sick to work, be concise and honest, stating something like, "I'm not feeling well and need to take a sick day," while offering limited personal details to maintain professionalism and respect for your workplace.
other ways to say you are sick. not feeling great, in bad shape. down with an illness. not in prime condition, out of balance. in a state of illness. feeling run down, not up to par, not at my best. ailing from an illness. battling an illness. struggling with health issues. recuperating from an illness.
Be Clear and Concise
If possible, mention how long you expect to be out. For example, you can send a message like: "Hi [Manager's Name], I'm feeling unwell today and won't be able to come in. I'll keep you updated if I need more than a day off."
Example 1: General illness
"Hi [Boss's Name], I woke up feeling very ill today and think it's best I take a sick day to recover. I will keep you updated on my condition. Thank you for understanding."
When people ask you how you are and you feel unwell, here are a few useful English phrases you can use to talk about feeling sick.
As soon as you've decided to call in sick, let your manager know. The earlier you let your boss know, the more time they have to plan for your absence and reassign work and the less disruptive your absence will be. Depending on your company's rules, you can choose to call, text, or email your manager.
Apparently, “sick” no longer means you're requesting a sick day (Learn that one the hard way). In Gen Z terms, sick means amazing. Ex: “That's a sick pair of shoes you're wearing.”
If you need to call into work to let your boss know that you're staying home for the day, you might say:
Be honest and direct (but brief)
Example: “I woke up feeling extremely sick and unable to work today. I'll check in later if I'm feeling better, but for now, I need to take a sick day.” If the issue is sensitive—like a mental health matter or family crisis—you can keep it vague while still sounding professional.
Calling in sick can induce anxiety for workers who wonder when to call, what to say and how to say it. They may question whether they are truly sick enough to take the day off or worry that missing work will reflect poorly on them.
Notify early: Tell your boss or team as soon as possible. Avoid waiting until the last minute. This gives your workplace time to adjust and cover your tasks. Follow company policy: Know your company's sick leave policy and rights.
Let Your Boss Know as Soon as Possible
Provide as much notice as possible that you won't be attending work. If you can tell your boss that you will be taking a sick day the night before, or even as you are leaving the office, then do so. Otherwise, call, email or text first thing in the morning.
Depending on the situation, it may be appropriate to have a family meeting where you can tell everyone you're closest with, all at once. You could arrange to meet with individuals or call them on the phone—or you could appoint a close friend, spouse, or family member to tell people for you.
Whilst boomers and millennials may use the 😂 emoji, this has long since been deemed 'uncool' (or 'cheugy') by Gen Z. Instead, this has been replaced by the skull (💀) or the crying emoji (😭), dramatising the idea of 'dying with laughter'.
Quiet quitting represents a cultural shift, and is a response to many things—it could be unreasonable expectations, a toxic work culture, a heavy workload, or micro-management. If these issues aren't acknowledged, addressed, or resolved, the employee may feel they have little choice other than to scale back.
It is normal to fall ill, and there is no need to apologize for it or provide an explanation for using a sick day. While it is acceptable to extend an apology for the inconvenience, there is no need to feel guilty using your sick days.
The most believable excuses are short, specific, and tied to legitimate responsibilities or unavoidable situations. Examples include sudden illness, a medical appointment that couldn't be scheduled outside work hours, urgent family needs, or car/transportation issues.
Sick Text Message Examples:
“Hi [Manager Name], so sorry for the last-minute text message, but I've had an unexpected illness come up, and I will have to take a sick day tomorrow. I've contacted [Name], who will be able to cover my shift in my absence.
I'm messaging you to let you know that I'm not feeling well today, so I need to take a sick day to rest and recover. I hope I'll get back to work tomorrow. I am supposed to join a meeting with Maria and Susan later today, but I'll ask them if we can reschedule it.
The word ill is often selected to describe more severe health issues or a general state of poor health. Its usage is common in formal contexts or when discussing chronic illnesses. It contrasts with sick, which is frequently used for short-term ailments and is generally more casual.
“Do not try to override the sleepiness you feel,” says Dr. Lange, who stresses the importance of getting, at the very least, the recommended seven to eight hours of sleep while you're sick, and allowing yourself to go up from there, depending on how drowsy you are throughout the day.