Feeling sick is bad enough as it is. Add to that not knowing how to explain how you feel when in a foreign country. Medical vocabulary is a must to know when you are abroad. If you are visiting a Spanish speaking country, then it’s a good idea to prepare yourself in advance by learning medical Spanish vocabulary. You never know when it may come in handy.
Today, I put together a comprehensive guide to help you communicate at the physician’s office. Here you will find all the words you need to know when visiting the doctor.
By extension, I’m also throwing in essential vocabulary for trips to the pharmacy.
Let’s hope you never have to use them but if the situation arises, here’s what you need to know:
Part One: Explaining how you feel
Dolores y molestias – (Aches and pains):
Spanish for ache is dolor. Most words that end in -ache in English will have the following structure in Spanish:
Dolor de + body part or organ.
Dolor de cabeza – Headache
Dolor de estómago – Stomachache
Dolor de oído – Earache
Dolor de muela – Toothache
Dolor de espalda – Backache
This is also true for phrases in English formed with the word pain. As in:
Dolor de columna – Lower back pain
All the previous phrases are expressed with the verb tener (to have)
For example:
Tengo dolor de muela (I have a toothache)
Tengo dolor de espalda (I have back pain)
Side note: Notice how in Spanish we do not say: Tengo un dolor de cabeza. The ‘a’ in I have a headache is not necessary in Spanish.
Another useful phrase to learn is the expression me duele. Doler means to ache or hurt.
So, the same ideas can be expressed in this way:
Me duele el estómago (My stomach hurts)
Me duele la cabeza (My head hurts)
Me duele el oído (My ear aches)
Partes del cuerpo (Body parts)
Gender is important in Spanish, that’s why below I have grouped body part vocabulary by feminine and masculine:
Feminine nouns:
La cabeza: Head
La pierna: Leg
La boca: Mouth
La rodilla: Knee
La garganta: Throat
La nariz: Nose
La barriga: Belly
Masculine nouns:
El ojo: Eye
El dedo (de la mano): finger
El dedo (del pie): toe
El codo: Elbow
El pecho: Chest
El corazón: Heart
El brazo: Arm
El cuello: Neck
Los síntomas (Symptoms)
These are adjectives you can use with specific body parts to explain your symptoms:
Irritado(a) – irritated
Inflamado(a) – swollen
Sensible – sensitive (can be used with both masculine and feminine nouns)
Adolorido – sore
Other symptoms:
La fiebre – fever
La tos – cough
La quemadura – burn
Estar mareado – to feel dizzy
Enfermedades y estados de salud (Illnesses and health conditions):
Here are other words and full phrases to explain your illness or physical state:
Un resfriado – The cold (Tengo un resfriado)
La gripe – The flu (Tengo gripe)
Ser alérgico a – to be allergic to smth (Soy alérgico a la penicilina)
La quemadura de sol – Sunburn
La herida: Injury (Tengo una herida)
Fracturarse algo – to fracture (Me fracturé el brazo = I broke my arm)
La bronquitis – Bronquitis (Tengo bronquitis)
Estar embarazada – to be pregnant (Estoy embarazada)
Vomitar – to vomit
Part Two: Knowing where to go.
Vocabulary for medical facilities in Spanish:
El hospital – The hospital
La clínica – The clinic
El ambulatorio – Another name for clinic. In some South American countries, el ambulatorio is a small clinic with reduced rates where you can be seen for minor illnesses.
La sala de espera – The waiting room
La enfermería – Similar to ambulatorio or clínica. Usually a medical area where you can be seen at specific places such as sports clubs or camp sites.
La farmacia – Pharmacy/Drugstore. In countries like Colombia, pharmacies are also called drogería.
La ambulancia – The ambulance
Medical personnel:
El doctor – The doctor
El enfermero/La enfermera – The nurse
El pediatra – The pediatrician
El cirujano – The surgeon
La recepción – The receptionist
El socorrista – Lifeguard
Part Three: During the doctor’s visit – Understanding the doctor’s questions and answers.
First, here are some initial things you can tell your doctor:
No me siento bien – I don’t feel well
Me golpeé + body part – I hit my (+body part) Example: “Me golpeé la cabeza”
Tuve un accidente – I had an accident
Me corté – I cut myself
Me caí – I fell
Me cuesta respirar – I’m having trouble breathing
Doctor’s questions and answers:
¿Qué le duele? – What hurts?
¿Dónde te duele? – Where does it hurt?
¿Es la primera vez que le pasa esto? – Is this the first time this happens to you?
¿Es alérgico a…? – Are you allergic to..?
Tiene que hacerse un exámen – You need to have a test done
Tiene que ir a urgencias – You have to go to the emergency room
Necesita puntos – You need stitches.
Compre esta medicina en la farmacia – Get this from the pharmacy
Tómelo tres veces al día por 2 semanas – Take it three times a day for two weeks.
No puede beber mientras esté tomando esta medicina – You can’t drink while taking this medicine.
No es nada serio o grave – It’s nothing serious.
Part Four – At the pharmacy
Medicinas y tratamientos (Medicines and treatments):
Las pastillas – Pills
El antibiótico – Antibiotic
El jarabe – Syrup (i.e. Cough syrup = jarabe para la tos)
La pomada – Ointment/cream
La ampolleta – The vial
La inyección – The injection
La venda – Bandage
La receta médica – The prescription
El antiinflamatorio – Anti-inflammatory
Questions at the pharmacy:
¿Qué precio tiene la medicina? – How much is the medicine?
¿En dónde puedo encontrar…? Where can I find…? Example: ¿En dónde puedo encontrar el ibuprofeno?
¿Necesito receta médica? – Do I need a prescription?
Hope this was helpful.
Take good care!
Isabel Solano