Spanish at the Doctor: Describe Symptoms and Understand Advice
Medical Spanish for patients: describing symptoms, body parts, pain, allergies and medicines, plus the questions a doctor will ask you.
By Ayoub Farid · · 3 min read
Getting sick abroad, or taking a relative to the doctor, is when clear Spanish matters most. These phrases help you explain what's wrong and understand what to do next.
Saying you feel unwell
- Me siento mal. — I feel sick.
- No me siento bien. — I don't feel well.
- Necesito ver a un médico. — I need to see a doctor.
- Quisiera hacer una cita. — I'd like to make an appointment.
Describing pain: doler
Doler works like gustar: the body part is the subject.
- Me duele la cabeza. — My head hurts.
- Me duelen los oídos. — My ears hurt.
- Me duele aquí. — It hurts here.
- Me duele mucho / un poco. — It hurts a lot / a little.
Common symptoms
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Tengo fiebre. | I have a fever. |
| Tengo tos. | I have a cough. |
| Tengo gripa (Mexico) / gripe | I have the flu. |
| Estoy resfriado/a. | I have a cold. |
| Tengo náuseas. | I feel nauseous. |
| Estoy mareado/a. | I'm dizzy. |
| Tengo diarrea. | I have diarrhea. |
| Me cuesta respirar. | It's hard to breathe. |
| Tengo dolor de garganta. | I have a sore throat. |
| Tengo comezón (Mexico) / picor (Spain) | I'm itchy. |
Body parts
la cabeza (head), la garganta (throat), el pecho (chest), el estómago (stomach), la espalda (back), el brazo (arm), la pierna (leg), el oído (inner ear), la muela (molar).
Questions the doctor will ask
- ¿Qué le pasa? / ¿Qué síntomas tiene? — What's wrong? / What symptoms do you have?
- ¿Desde cuándo? — Since when?
- ¿Le duele cuando…? — Does it hurt when…?
- ¿Es alérgico/a a algún medicamento? — Are you allergic to any medication?
- ¿Toma algún medicamento? — Do you take any medication?
Answers:
- Desde hace tres días. — For three days.
- Soy alérgico/a a la penicilina. — I'm allergic to penicillin.
- Tomo pastillas para la presión. — I take blood pressure pills.
Understanding advice
- Tome esta pastilla cada ocho horas. — Take this pill every eight hours.
- Descanse y tome mucha agua. — Rest and drink lots of water.
- Vuelva si no mejora. — Come back if you don't get better.
- la receta — the prescription
Doctors use usted
Medical conversations are usually formal. Expect usted and use it back. See tú vs usted.
Dialogue
- Doctora: Buenos días. ¿Qué le pasa?
- You: Me duele mucho la garganta y tengo fiebre.
- Doctora: ¿Desde cuándo?
- You: Desde ayer en la noche.
- Doctora: ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?
- You: No, a ninguno.
Practice the doctor visit with Lolo
Lolo's "At the doctor" situation (for intermediate learners) lets you explain how you feel, answer the doctor's questions and understand advice, out loud and without pressure. See Spanish at the pharmacy and Spanish for healthcare workers.
Frequently asked questions
How do you say "it hurts" in Spanish?
Me duele + body part: Me duele la espalda.
How do I say I'm allergic to a medicine?
Soy alérgico/a a…, for example a la penicilina.
Should I use "usted" with a doctor?
Yes, it's the norm in medical settings.
