A guide to Spanish vocabulary for common illnesses, organized by type and including example sentences to help you talk about health in everyday situations.
Respiratory Illnesses
These are common illnesses that affect the breathing passages, such as the nose, throat, and lungs.
Respiratory Illnesses in Spanish
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| resfriado | resfriados | cold | colds | Tengo un resfriado y me duele la garganta. | I have a cold and my throat hurts. |
| gripe | gripes | flu | flus | La gripe me dejó en cama toda la semana. | The flu kept me in bed all week. |
| tos | tos | cough | – | Tengo tos seca desde hace dos días. | I’ve had a dry cough for two days. |
| bronquitis | bronquitis | bronchitis | – | La bronquitis me dificultad para respirar. | Bronchitis makes it hard for me to breathe. |
| neumonía | neumonías | pneumonia | pneumonias | La neumonía requiere tratamiento con antibióticos. | Pneumonia requires treatment with antibiotics. |
Digestive Illnesses
These illnesses affect the stomach and intestines, often causing discomfort or digestive problems.
Digestive Illnesses in Spanish
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| indigestión | indigestiones | indigestion | indigestions | Tengo indigestión después de comer demasiado. | I have indigestion after eating too much. |
| gastritis | gastritis | gastritis | – | La gastritis causa dolor en la parte superior del estómago. | Gastritis causes pain in the upper stomach area. |
| diarrea | diarreas | diarrhea | diarrheas | La diarrea apareció después de beber agua contaminada. | Diarrhea appeared after drinking contaminated water. |
| estreñimiento | – | constipation | – | El estreñimiento puede aliviarse con más fibra en la dieta. | Constipation can be relieved with more fiber in the diet. |
| náuseas | – | nausea | – | Tengo náuseas y no puedo comer nada. | I feel nauseous and can’t eat anything. |
Skin Conditions
These illnesses affect the skin and may include rashes, irritation, or infections.
Skin Conditions in Spanish
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| erupción | erupciones | rash | rashes | Tengo una erupción en el brazo que pica mucho. | I have a rash on my arm that itches a lot. |
| eczema | eczemas | eczema | eczemas | El eczema se empeora con el frío. | Eczema gets worse in the cold. |
| sarpullido | sarpullidos | rash | rashes | El sarpullido apareció después de usar una nueva crema. | The rash appeared after using a new cream. |
| quemadura | quemaduras | burn | burns | Tengo una quemadura de sol en la espalda. | I have a sunburn on my back. |
| infección | infecciones | infection | infections | La infección necesita tratamiento con antibióticos. | The infection needs treatment with antibiotics. |
Chronic Illnesses
These are long-term illnesses that often require ongoing treatment and management.
Chronic Illnesses in Spanish
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| diabetes | diabetes | diabetes | – | Mi abuela tiene diabetes tipo 2. | My grandmother has type 2 diabetes. |
| hipertensión | hipertensiones | hypertension | hypertensions | La hipertensión se controla con medicamentos y dieta. | Hypertension is controlled with medication and diet. |
| asma | asmas | asthma | – | El asma me provoca dificultad para respirar en ambientes fríos. | Asthma makes it hard for me to breathe in cold environments. |
| artritis | artritis | arthritis | – | La artritis causa dolor en las articulaciones. | Arthritis causes joint pain. |
| cáncer | cánceres | cancer | cancers | El cáncer de mama es uno de los más comunes. | Breast cancer is one of the most common. |
Common Symptoms
These words help you describe what you’re feeling when you’re sick.
Common Symptoms in Spanish
| Spanish Singular | Spanish Plural | English Singular | English Plural | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fiebre | fiebres | fever | fevers | Tengo fiebre y escalofríos. | I have a fever and chills. |
| dolor | dolores | pain | pains | Siento dolor de cabeza y de garganta. | I feel a headache and sore throat. |
| mareo | mareos | dizziness | dizzinesses | El mareo me obliga a sentarme. | The dizziness makes me have to sit down. |
| fatiga | fatigas | fatigue | fatigues | La fatiga es común con la gripe. | Fatigue is common with the flu. |
| congestión | congestiones | congestion | congestions | La congestión nasal no me deja dormir. | Nasal congestion keeps me from sleeping. |
Useful Phrases
Here are some common expressions to help you talk about illnesses and symptoms in Spanish.
Common Health Phrases in Spanish
| Spanish | English | Example Sentence (Spanish) | Example Sentence (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estoy enfermo/a. | I am sick. | Estoy enferma y necesito descansar. | I am sick and need to rest. |
| Me siento mal. | I feel bad. | Me siento mal desde ayer por la tarde. | I’ve felt bad since yesterday afternoon. |
| Tengo dolor de… | I have pain in… | Tengo dolor de estómago y náuseas. | I have stomach pain and nausea. |
| ¿Desde cuándo? | Since when? | ¿Desde cuándo tienes fiebre? | Since when have you had a fever? |
| Necesito ver a un médico. | I need to see a doctor. | Necesito ver a un médico porque no mejoro. | I need to see a doctor because I’m not getting better. |
Conclusion
Now you have the vocabulary to talk about many common illnesses in Spanish, including how to describe symptoms and seek help. Remember to practice using these words in context to build your confidence.
Flashcards (1 of 30)
- English Singular: cold
- English Plural: colds
- Example Sentence (English): I have a cold and my throat hurts.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
