במרפאה לפעמים צריך לשים מסכה, במיוחד כשיש שיעול.

Because Hebrew prepositions are often attached directly to the following word.

Here, ב־ means in / at, and מרפאה means clinic. So:

• ב־
  • מרפאה → במרפאה

This is very normal in Hebrew. The same thing happens with other short prepositions and particles such as ל־ (to / for), מ־ (from), and ש־ (that / which / when, depending on context).

It can be either, depending on context.

In unpointed Hebrew spelling, במרפאה can represent both:

• in a clinic
• in the clinic

That is because ב־ plus the definite article ה־ gets merged in pronunciation, but ordinary spelling often does not show the difference clearly.

So the exact English choice depends on context. In a general sentence like this, English might naturally say in the clinic, at the clinic, or in a clinic.

Hebrew often leaves the subject unstated in general rules or instructions.

צריך + infinitive is a very common pattern meaning:

• you need to
• one needs to
• it is necessary to

So לפעמים צריך לשים מסכה is a general statement, not necessarily directed at one specific person. It is similar to English sometimes you need to wear a mask, where you is also generic.

In this kind of impersonal, general statement, Hebrew usually uses the masculine singular form צריך as the default.

So even if the rule applies to everyone, צריך לשים מסכה is very natural everyday Hebrew.

If you were speaking directly to someone, the form would agree with that person:

• אתה צריך לשים מסכה = you, masculine singular, need to wear a mask
• את צריכה לשים מסכה = you, feminine singular, need to wear a mask
• אתם צריכים לשים מסכה = you, masculine or mixed plural, need to wear a mask
• אתן צריכות לשים מסכה = you, feminine plural, need to wear a mask

Because את is only used before a definite direct object.

Here, מסכה means a mask, not the mask, so it is indefinite. That is why there is no את.

Compare:

• לשים מסכה = to put on a mask
• לשים את המסכה = to put on the mask

This is a very common thing English speakers need to get used to, because English does not have a separate word like את.

Yes, לשים literally means to put / to place, but in everyday Hebrew it is also very commonly used for putting on certain things.

So לשים מסכה naturally means to put on a mask or simply to wear a mask, depending on context.

Hebrew often uses לשים where English uses put on or sometimes even wear.

Yes, absolutely.

ללבוש means to wear / to put on clothing, and it can also be used with מסכה.

So both of these are possible:

• לשים מסכה
• ללבוש מסכה

The difference is mainly one of usage and tone:

• לשים מסכה is very common and colloquial
• ללבוש מסכה is also correct, and may sound a bit more specifically like wear

In modern spoken Hebrew, לשים מסכה is extremely natural.

כש־ means when, and יש means there is / there are.

So כשיש literally means when there is.

In this sentence:

• כשיש שיעול = when there is a cough or more naturally when there is coughing / when someone has a cough

This is a general, impersonal way of describing a situation.

Because Hebrew often describes symptoms or conditions in a general way.

כשיש שיעול is broad and impersonal. It can mean something like:

• when there is coughing
• when someone has a cough
• when a cough is present

If you wanted to make it more personal and specific, you could say:

• כשיש לך שיעול = when you have a cough
• כשאתה משתעל = when you are coughing, masculine singular
• כשאת משתעלת = when you are coughing, feminine singular

So the version in the sentence is more general and rule-like.

It can mean either, depending on context.

It may refer to:

• a cough as a symptom
• coughing more generally

In this sentence, English could express it either way. The Hebrew is intentionally broad.

במיוחד means especially.

It highlights the situation that follows:

• במיוחד כשיש שיעול = especially when there is a cough / especially when there is coughing

So the basic statement is:

• במרפאה לפעמים צריך לשים מסכה = in a clinic, sometimes you need to wear a mask

Then במיוחד adds extra emphasis:

• this is particularly true when there is coughing

The word order is fairly flexible, but the original sentence sounds natural.

The sentence begins with במרפאה to set the scene first, then לפעמים gives the time/frequency idea, and then comes the main statement.

You could also hear variations such as:

• לפעמים במרפאה צריך לשים מסכה
• במרפאה צריך לפעמים לשים מסכה

These are possible, but they may shift the emphasis slightly. The original version is clear and idiomatic.