Spanish Medical Vocabulary and Visiting the Doctor

Quick Take

You are traveling abroad. What if you need to visit a doctor? Would you know how to explain your symptoms? Do you know how to say “fever” or “diabetes” in Spanish? If the answer is no, then take a look at this Spanish medical vocabulary.

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All You Need to Know When Visiting Your Doctor

So, you are feeling ill and need to go to the doctor in a Spanish-speaking country. But wait! You are not at home, and it would be helpful to know the basics for communicating medical needs in Spanish. Don’t panic: here are some Spanish medical vocabulary words and expressions, from facilities and specialties to disease names and typical expressions. You can also learn more Spanish vocabulary using the Internet.

Lugares y Departamentos (Facilities and Departments)

(el) ambulatorio – Outpatients’ department
(la) cirugía – Surgery
(la) clínica – Clinic
(la) consulta – Office hours
(la) enfermería – Sick bay
(la) ginecología – Gynecology
(la) hematología – Hematology
(el) hospital – Hospital
(la) maternidad – Maternity hospital;
(la medicina general – Family medicine
(la) oncología – Oncology
(la) pediatría – Pediatrics
(la) psiquiatría – Psychiatry
(los) rayos X – X-Ray
(la) sala de espera – Waiting room
(la) Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) – Intensive Care Unit, ICU
(la) Unidad de Vigilancia Intensiva (UVI) – Intensive Care unit, ICU
(las) Urgencias – Emergency Room

Personales Médicos (Medical Personnel)

(el) cirujano – Surgeon
(el) dentista – Dentist
(el) enfermero, (la) enfermera – Nurse
(el) ginecólogo – Gynecologist
(la) matrona – Midwife
(el) médico de familia – Family doctor
(el) neurólogo – Neurologist
(el) oculista, (el) oftalmólogo – Ophthalmologist
(el) oncólogo – Oncologist
(el / la) pediatra – Pediatrician
(el) psicólogo – Psychologist
(el / la) psiquiatra – Psychiatrist
(el / la) tocólogo – Obstetrician

Síntomas (Symptoms)

(la) alergia – Allergy
Alucinar – To hallucinate
(la) congestión – Congestion
(el) corte – Cut
(la) diarrea – Diarrhea
(el) dolor – Ache, pain
(el) dolor de barriga – Bellyache
(el) dolor de cabeza – Headache
(el) dolor de oídos – Earache
(la) fiebre – Fever
(la) hemorragia nasal – Nosebleed
(la) herida – Injury
(la) infección – Infection
(la) irritación – Irritation
(la) migraña – Migraine
(la) náusea – Nausea
(el) picor – Itch
(el) temblor – Shivering;
(la) tos – Cough
Toser – To cough
(el) vómito – Vomiting

Nombres de las Partes del Cuerpo (Names of General Body Parts)

(la) arteria – Artery
(la) boca – Mouth
(el) brazo – Arm
(el) cabello, (el) pelo – Hair
(la) cabeza – Head
(la) cara – Face
(el) codo – Elbow
(el) corazón – Heart
(el) cuello – Neck
(el) dedo de la mano – Finger
(el) dedo del pie – Toe
(el) diente – Tooth
(la) espalda – Back
(el) estómago – Stomach
(la) garganta – Thoat
(el) hígado – Liver
(el) hombre – Shoulder
(la) lengua – Tongue
(la) mano – Hand
(la) nariz – Nose
(el) ojo – Eye
(la) oreja, (el) oído – Ear
(la) pierna – Leg
(el) pulmón – Lung
(el) riñón – Kidney
(la) rodilla – knee
(la) sangre – Blood
(el) tobillo – Ankle

Explicar sus síntomas al doctor (Explaining your symptoms to the doctor)

Let’s imagine you go to the doctor and the doctor asks you:

¿Qué le pasa? - What’s happening to you?

¿Cómo se siente? - How do you feel?

You’ll need some concrete expressions to make the doctor know about your health:

Tengo fiebre. – I have a temperature.
Me mareo. – I feel dizzy.
Me encuentro mal. – I feel unwell.
Me duele la cabeza. – I have a headache.
Me duelen las muelas. – I have a toothache.
Me duele el estómago. – I have a stomachache.
Me duele aquí. – I have a pain here
Tengo quemaduras de sol. – I have sunburn.
Estoy tomando esta/estas medicina/s. – I am taking “x” medicine(s).
Necesito una receta para este medicamento. – I need a new prescription for this " x" medicine.
Necesito una medicina para la migraña / dolor de oídos / alergias. – I need medicine for a migraine/earache/allergies.

And let the doctor know that:

Soy alérgico a la penicilina. – I am allergic to penicillin.
Estoy embarazada. – I am pregnant.
¡Me estoy poniendo de parto ahora! – I am going into labor (having the baby) now!
Tomé este alimento / Tomé esta medicina antes. – I ate this food/ took this medicine earlier.
Tuve un ataque al corazón / una apoplejía / una rotura de hueso. – I have had this happen/a heart attack /stroke/broken bone before.
Aquí está la información de mi seguro. – Here is my insurance information.

Enfermedades (Illnesses)

(la) bronquitis – Bronchitis
(la) diabetes – Diabetes
(la) gastroenteritis – Gastroenteritis
(la) gripe – Flu
(la) hepatitis – Hepatitis
(la) infección – Infection
(el) insomnio – Insomnia
(la) otitis – Ear infection
(el) resfriado, (el) catarro – A cold
(el) reumatismo – Rheumatism

¿Qué su doctor dice? (What does your doctor say?)

Tiene que hacerse una prueba. – You need to have a test done.
Tiene que ir al hospital (inmediatamente). – You must go to the hospital (immediately).
Tiene que ir a Urgencias. – You must go to the Emergency room.
Pida este producto en la farmacia. – Ask for this product at the drugstore.
Compre este producto en la farmacia, y tómelo x veces al día. – Get this product from the drugstore, and take it x times a day. (in case we are talking about a medicine to be taken)

Compre este producto en la farmacia, y úselo x veces al día. – Get this product from the drugstore, and use it x times a day. (in case we are talking about a cream to be applied or similar.)
¿Lleva ahora mismo con usted la medicina para esta enfermedad? – Do you have medicine for this problem with you?
¿Qué medicinas está tomando ahora? – What medicines are you taking now?
No beba alcohol / no conduzca cuando tome esta medicina. – Do not drink alcohol/drive when you are taking this medicine.
No es grave – It is not serious.
¿Es esta la primera vez que le pasa esto? – Is this the first time it happens to you?
Aquí tiene esta receta – Here you have this prescription.
Tiene que tomar esta medicina. – You have to take this medicine.
Tome esta medicina dos veces al día – Take this medicine twice a day.
Tendrá que visitar a un especialista. – You’ll have to visit a specialist.