मैं बीमार हूँ

Use it just like you would in English. Place it at the start of a conversation to explain an absence. It works for physical illness and general exhaustion. If you are male or female, the phrase stays exactly the same. That is the beauty of this specific adjective! It does not change gender like many other Hindi words.

Use it when you need to cancel plans with friends. Use it when calling into work. It is perfect for telling a doctor how you feel. You can even text it to your mom when you want some sympathy. It is the gold standard for being under the weather.

Do not use this for 'cool' or 'awesome' like English slang. In Hindi, bimaar only means medically unwell. Also, avoid it for very minor things like a tiny scratch. It implies you actually feel weak or ill. If you just have a headache, there are more specific phrases for that.

In India, health is a common topic of conversation. People will often ask 'How is your health?' as a standard greeting. When you say Main bimaar hoon, expect a lot of advice. You will likely be told to drink warm water or eat khichdi. It is a phrase that triggers the 'caregiver' mode in Indian culture.

If you are very sick, add bahut (very). Say Main bahut bimaar hoon. If you are just a little unwell, use thoda (a little). Say Main thoda bimaar hoon. You might also hear Meri tabiyat kharab hai. That is a slightly more sophisticated way to say the same thing.