This topic covers the Spanish words and phrases you need to talk to a doctor, describe symptoms, and understand medical advice.
Body Parts
Spanish terms for common body parts you might need to mention during a doctor’s visit.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| cabeza | cabezas | head | heads | Me duele la cabeza. | My head hurts. |
| brazo | brazos | arm | arms | Me duele el brazo derecho. | My right arm hurts. |
| pierna | piernas | leg | legs | Tengo una herida en la pierna. | I have a wound on my leg. |
| mano | manos | hand | hands | Me lastimé la mano. | I hurt my hand. |
| ojo | ojos | eye | eyes | Se me irritó el ojo izquierdo. | My left eye is irritated. |
| oído | oídos | ear | ears | Tengo dolor de oído. | I have an earache. |
| garganta | gargantas | throat | throats | Me duele la garganta. | My throat hurts. |
| espalda | espaldas | back | backs | Me duele la espalda baja. | My lower back hurts. |
| estómago | estómagos | stomach | stomachs | Tengo dolor de estómago. | I have a stomach ache. |
| pecho | pechos | chest | chests | Siento opresión en el pecho. | I feel tightness in my chest. |
Common Symptoms
Words to describe symptoms you might experience and need to report to a doctor.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| dolor | dolores | pain | pains | Tengo dolor de cabeza. | I have a headache. |
| fiebre | fiebres | fever | fevers | Tengo fiebre alta. | I have a high fever. |
| tos | tos | cough | coughs | Tengo tos seca. | I have a dry cough. |
| náusea | náuseas | nausea | nauseas | Siento náuseas por la mañana. | I feel nauseous in the morning. |
| mareo | mareos | dizziness | dizziness | Me da mareo en la mañana. | I feel dizzy in the morning. |
| cansancio | — | fatigue | — | Siento mucho cansancio. | I feel very tired. |
| inflamación | inflamaciones | swelling | swellings | Hay inflamación en el tobillo. | There is swelling in my ankle. |
| picor | picos | itch | itches | Tengo picor en la piel. | I have an itch on my skin. |
| dificultad para respirar | — | difficulty breathing | — | Tengo dificultad para respirar. | I have difficulty breathing. |
| mareo | mareos | dizziness | dizziness | Me siento mareado después de comer. | I feel dizzy after eating. |
Medical Terms
Basic medical vocabulary that will help you understand instructions and communicate effectively.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| consulta | consultas | consultation | consultations | Tengo una consulta con el doctor. | I have a consultation with the doctor. |
| receta | recetas | prescription | prescriptions | El médico me dio una receta. | The doctor gave me a prescription. |
| síntoma | síntomas | symptom | symptoms | ¿Cuáles son sus síntomas? | What are your symptoms? |
| diagnóstico | diagnósticos | diagnosis | diagnoses | El diagnóstico fue rápido. | The diagnosis was quick. |
| tratamiento | tratamientos | treatment | treatments | Estoy siguiendo un tratamiento. | I am following a treatment. |
| cita | citas | appointment | appointments | Tengo cita a las 3 p.m. | I have an appointment at 3 p.m. |
| medicamento | medicamentos | medicine | medicines | ¿Qué medicamento debo tomar? | What medicine should I take? |
| inyección | inyecciones | injection | injections | Me pusieron una inyección. | I got an injection. |
| vacuna | vacunas | vaccine | vaccines | Recibí la vacuna contra la gripe. | I received the flu vaccine. |
| emergencia | emergencias | emergency | emergencies | Llamé a emergencias. | I called emergency services. |
The doctor gave me a prescription.
El médico me dio una receta.
The Spanish sentence uses receta (prescription). It means The doctor gave me a prescription.
Useful Phrases
Common phrases that will help you explain your condition and understand the doctor’s advice.
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Spanish Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ¿Dónde le duele? | — | Where does it hurt? | — | ¿Dónde le duele exactamente? | Where does it hurt exactly? |
| ¿Desde cuándo? | — | Since when? | — | ¿Desde cuándo tiene dolor? | Since when have you had pain? |
| ¿Tiene fiebre? | — | Do you have a fever? | — | ¿Tiene fiebre o escalofríos? | Do you have a fever or chills? |
| ¿Está tomando algún medicamento? | — | Are you taking any medicine? | — | ¿Está tomando algún medicamento? | Are you taking any medicine? |
| Respire hondo. | — | Take a deep breath. | — | Respire hondo, por favor. | Take a deep breath, please. |
| Abra la boca. | — | Open your mouth. | — | Abra la boca para examinar su garganta. | Open your mouth to examine your throat. |
| ¿Le ha pasado antes? | — | Has this happened before? | — | ¿Le ha pasado antes este dolor? | Has this pain happened before? |
| Voy a tomarle la presión. | — | I’m going to take your blood pressure. | — | Voy a tomarle la presión arterial. | I’m going to take your blood pressure. |
| Necesita descansar. | — | You need to rest. | — | Necesita descansar y beber líquidos. | You need to rest and drink fluids. |
| Vuelva en una semana. | — | Come back in a week. | — | Vuelva en una semana para el seguimiento. | Come back in a week for the follow-up. |
Take a deep breath, please.
Respire hondo, por favor.
The Spanish sentence uses respire hondo (take a deep breath). It means Take a deep breath, please.
Summary
Master these Spanish vocabulary lists to confidently communicate during doctor visits, describe symptoms, and understand medical instructions.
Flashcards (1 of 40)
- English Singular: head
- English Plural: heads
- English Example: My head hurts.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
