Spanish at the hospital: explain how you feel

A medical situation is easier when you can explain the basics clearly. Learn 11 useful hospital words and the sentence patterns needed to describe symptoms and ask for help.

11 hospital words to know

Ambulance vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Ambulancia

English

Ambulance

Blood vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Sangre

English

Blood

Cough vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Tos

English

Cough

Doctor vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Doctor

English

Doctor

Emergency vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Emergencia

English

Emergency

Fever vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Fiebre

English

Fever

Nurse vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Enfermero

English

Nurse

Pain vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Dolor

English

Pain

Patient vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Paciente

English

Patient

Rest vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Descansar

English

Rest

Sick vocabulary illustration
Spanish

Enfermo

English

Sick

Hospital words in context

See how each word works in a natural Spanish sentence.

  1. La ambulancia llegó en pocos minutos.The ambulance arrived in a few minutes.
  2. La enfermera necesita una muestra de sangre.The nurse needs a blood sample.
  3. Tengo tos desde hace tres días.I've had a cough for three days.
  4. El doctor me hará unas preguntas.The doctor is going to ask me some questions.
  5. Esto es una emergencia y necesitamos ayuda.This is an emergency and we need help.
  6. El niño tiene fiebre esta noche.The child has a fever tonight.
  7. El enfermero controla la temperatura del paciente.The nurse checks the patient's temperature.
  8. Siento un dolor fuerte en el pecho.I feel a sharp pain in my chest.
  9. El paciente espera los resultados del análisis.The patient is waiting for the test results.
  10. El médico dice que debo descansar.The doctor says I need to rest.
  11. Me siento enfermo desde ayer.I've felt ill since yesterday.

Explaining symptoms and asking for help

Use these short patterns to say what hurts, report a symptom and understand the next step.

Me duele…

My … hurts

Me duele mucho la cabeza.My head hurts a lot.

Tengo…

I have…

Tengo fiebre y tos.I have a fever and a cough.

Me siento…

I feel…

Me siento enferma y débil.I feel ill and weak.

Desde hace…

For the last…

Tengo dolor desde hace dos días.I've been in pain for two days.

¿Dónde está urgencias?

Where is the emergency department?

Disculpe, ¿dónde está urgencias?Excuse me, where is the emergency department?

A short conversation at the hospital

  1. EnfermeraBuenos días. ¿Qué le pasa?Good morning. What's wrong?
  2. PacienteTengo fiebre y una tos muy fuerte.I have a fever and a very bad cough.
  3. Enfermera¿Desde cuándo se siente enfermo?How long have you felt ill?
  4. PacienteDesde ayer, y ahora siento dolor en el pecho.Since yesterday, and now I feel pain in my chest.
  5. EnfermeraEl doctor lo verá enseguida.The doctor will see you right away.
  6. PacienteGracias. ¿Necesito un análisis de sangre?Thank you. Do I need a blood test?
  7. EnfermeraEl doctor decidirá después de examinarlo.The doctor will decide after examining you.

Try one in the VocabTally quiz

Choose the English meaning, just as you would while practising in the app.

00

What does this mean in English?

Fiebre

Ready to remember all 11?

Open the Hospital deck and start with the first card. No account needed.

Quiz me on these 11 words