At the doctor: essential Spanish vocabulary for describing symptoms, understanding diagnoses, and communicating effectively during medical visits.

Visiting the doctor often requires describing symptoms, understanding medical instructions, and asking questions. This guide covers essential Spanish vocabulary for common doctor’s appointments, from general terms to specific body parts and symptoms.

General Medical Terms

These are common terms you might hear or need to use during any medical visit. They include words for different types of doctors, appointments, and basic medical concepts.

Spanish Noun	English Noun	Singular/Plural (Spanish)	Singular/Plural (English)	Usage Example (Spanish)	Usage Example (English)
el médico / la médica	the doctor	singular	singular	La médica me revisó.	The doctor examined me.
el paciente / la paciente	the patient	singular	singular	El paciente espera en la sala.	The patient waits in the room.
la consulta	the appointment	singular	singular	Tengo una consulta a las diez.	I have an appointment at ten.
la clínica	the clinic	singular	singular	Voy a la clínica por un chequeo.	I’m going to the clinic for a checkup.
el hospital	the hospital	singular	singular	El hospital está cerrado hoy.	The hospital is closed today.
el síntoma	the symptom	singular	singular	Tengo un síntoma raro.	I have a strange symptom.
la receta	the prescription	singular	singular	El médico me dio una receta.	The doctor gave me a prescription.
el medicamento	the medicine	singular	singular	¿Dónde está mi medicamento?	Where is my medicine?
el dolor	the pain	singular	singular	Siento un dolor en el pecho.	I feel pain in my chest.
la fiebre	the fever	singular	singular	Tengo fiebre desde anoche.	I’ve had a fever since last night.

El médico me dio una ___.

What is 'the prescription' in Spanish?

consulta

receta

medicamento

síntoma

receta

'Receta' means 'prescription'. 'Consulta' is 'appointment', 'medicamento' is 'medicine', and 'síntoma' is 'symptom'.

Tengo una ___ a las diez.

How do you say 'the appointment' in Spanish?

clínica

consulta

receta

fiebre

consulta

'Consulta' means 'appointment'. 'Clínica' is 'clinic', 'receta' is 'prescription', and 'fiebre' is 'fever'.

Body Parts

Knowing the names of body parts in Spanish helps you describe where you feel pain or discomfort. Here are the most common terms used in medical contexts.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Usage Example (Spanish)	Usage Example (English)
la cabeza	las cabezas	the head	the heads	Me duele la cabeza.	My head hurts.
el brazo	los brazos	the arm	the arms	Me rompí el brazo.	I broke my arm.
la pierna	las piernas	the leg	the legs	Tengo dolor en la pierna.	I have pain in my leg.
el estómago	los estómagos	the stomach	the stomachs	Me duele el estómago.	My stomach hurts.
la espalda	las espaldas	the back	the backs	Me duele la espalda baja.	My lower back hurts.
el pecho	los pechos	the chest	the chests	Siento presión en el pecho.	I feel pressure in my chest.
el ojo	los ojos	the eye	the eyes	Se me irritó el ojo.	My eye is irritated.
la garganta	las gargantas	the throat	the throats	Tengo dolor de garganta.	I have a sore throat.
la mano	las manos	the hand	the hands	Me lastimé la mano.	I hurt my hand.
el pie	los pies	the foot	the feet	Me duele el pie izquierdo.	My left foot hurts.

Common Symptoms

These are the most common symptoms you might need to describe during a medical visit. Being specific helps the doctor understand your condition.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Usage Example (Spanish)	Usage Example (English)
el dolor	los dolores	the pain	the pains	Tengo un dolor fuerte en la espalda.	I have a strong pain in my back.
la fiebre	las fiebres	the fever	the fevers	La fiebre no baja.	The fever won’t go down.
la tos	las toses	the cough	the coughs	Tengo tos seca.	I have a dry cough.
el resfriado	los resfriados	the cold	the colds	Estoy con un resfriado.	I have a cold.
el mareo	los mareos	the dizziness	the dizziness	Siento mareo cuando me levanto.	I feel dizzy when I stand up.
las náuseas	—	the nausea	—	Tengo náuseas desde ayer.	I’ve had nausea since yesterday.
el vómito	los vómitos	the vomiting	the vomitings	Tuve vómitos anoche.	I vomited last night.
el cansancio	—	the fatigue	—	Siento mucho cansancio.	I feel very tired.
el estornudo	los estornudos	the sneeze	the sneezes	Tengo muchos estornudos.	I’m sneezing a lot.
la congestión	—	the congestion	—	Tengo congestión nasal.	I have nasal congestion.

Medical Questions

Doctors often ask specific questions to diagnose your condition. Here are some common ones you might hear, along with their English translations.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Usage Example (Spanish)	Usage Example (English)
¿Dónde le duele?	—	Where does it hurt?	—	¿Dónde le duele el brazo?	Where does your arm hurt?
¿Desde cuándo?	—	Since when?	—	¿Desde cuándo tiene fiebre?	Since when have you had a fever?
¿Tiene alergias?	—	Do you have allergies?	—	¿Tiene alergias a medicamentos?	Do you have allergies to medications?
¿Toma algún medicamento?	—	Do you take any medication?	—	¿Toma algún medicamento para el dolor?	Do you take any pain medication?
¿Ha viajado recientemente?	—	Have you traveled recently?	—	¿Ha viajado recientemente al extranjero?	Have you traveled abroad recently?
¿Siente náuseas?	—	Do you feel nauseous?	—	¿Siente náuseas o mareo?	Do you feel nauseous or dizzy?
¿Tiene dolor al respirar?	—	Does it hurt when you breathe?	—	¿Tiene dolor al respirar profundo?	Does it hurt when you take a deep breath?
¿Cuántos años tiene?	—	How old are you?	—	¿Cuántos años tiene el paciente?	How old is the patient?
¿Está embarazada?	—	Are you pregnant?	—	¿Está embarazada? Esto puede afectar el tratamiento.	Are you pregnant? This may affect the treatment.
¿Tiene fiebre?	—	Do you have a fever?	—	¿Tiene fiebre o escalofríos?	Do you have a fever or chills?

Instructions & Advice

After examining you, the doctor might give instructions or advice. Here is useful vocabulary for understanding and following medical recommendations.

Spanish Singular	Spanish Plural	English Singular	English Plural	Usage Example (Spanish)	Usage Example (English)
tome	—	take	—	Tome este medicamento después de comer.	Take this medicine after eating.
descanse	—	rest	—	Descanse al menos ocho horas.	Rest at least eight hours.
evite	—	avoid	—	Evite salir al sol hoy.	Avoid going out in the sun today.
regrese	—	return	—	Regrese en una semana para revisión.	Return in a week for a checkup.
aplique	—	apply	—	Aplique la crema dos veces al día.	Apply the cream twice a day.
beba	—	drink	—	Beba mucha agua.	Drink plenty of water.
controle	—	monitor	—	Controle su presión arterial diariamente.	Monitor your blood pressure daily.
informe	—	report	—	Informe si tiene otros síntomas.	Report if you have other symptoms.
no fume	—	don’t smoke	—	No fume mientras toma este medicamento.	Don’t smoke while taking this medicine.
manténgase	—	stay	—	Manténgase en reposo hasta mañana.	Stay resting until tomorrow.

This vocabulary will help you navigate a doctor’s appointment in Spanish with confidence. If you need more specialized medical terms, just ask!

Flashcards (1 of 50)

English Noun: the doctor
Singular/Plural (English): singular
Usage Example (English): The doctor examined me.

Next Up: Fitness Words

Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025

Spanish

At the Doctor