Nobody plans to get sick while traveling, but it happens. When it does in a Spanish-speaking country, knowing medical vocabulary can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major crisis.
This guide covers essential medical Spanish for doctor visits, pharmacy trips, and emergencies. We hope you never need it—but you'll be glad you learned it if you do.
Emergency Phrases
Critical Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| ¡Emergencia! | Emergency! |
| ¡Ayuda! | Help! |
| ¡Llame a una ambulancia! | Call an ambulance! |
| Necesito un médico | I need a doctor |
| ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? | Where is the nearest hospital? |
| Esto es urgente | This is urgent |
| Es una emergencia médica | It's a medical emergency |
Emergency Numbers
- Spain: 112 (general), 061 (medical)
- Mexico: 911 (general), 065 (Red Cross)
- Argentina: 107 (medical)
- Colombia: 123 (general)
- Most countries: 911
Important: Save local emergency numbers before traveling. Programs like GlobalHelp can assist in medical emergencies abroad.
At the Doctor's Office
Checking In
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Tengo una cita | I have an appointment |
| No tengo cita | I don't have an appointment |
| Necesito ver a un médico | I need to see a doctor |
| ¿Cuánto tiempo es la espera? | How long is the wait? |
| ¿Aceptan mi seguro? | Do you accept my insurance? |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta la consulta? | How much is the consultation? |
Describing Symptoms
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Me duele... | It hurts... / My ... hurts |
| Me siento mal | I feel sick |
| Tengo dolor de... | I have ... pain |
| Me duele mucho | It hurts a lot |
| El dolor es fuerte/leve | The pain is strong/mild |
| Empezó hace... | It started ... ago |
| Es constante/intermitente | It's constant/intermittent |
Common Symptoms
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Fiebre | Fever |
| Tos | Cough |
| Dolor de cabeza | Headache |
| Dolor de estómago | Stomachache |
| Dolor de garganta | Sore throat |
| Náuseas | Nausea |
| Vómitos | Vomiting |
| Diarrea | Diarrhea |
| Estreñimiento | Constipation |
| Mareo | Dizziness |
| Escalofríos | Chills |
| Fatiga/Cansancio | Fatigue/Tiredness |
| Debilidad | Weakness |
| Pérdida de apetito | Loss of appetite |
| Dificultad para respirar | Difficulty breathing |
| Dolor en el pecho | Chest pain |
| Erupción/Sarpullido | Rash |
| Hinchazón | Swelling |
| Entumecimiento | Numbness |
| Sangrado | Bleeding |
Body Parts
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Cabeza | Head |
| Ojos | Eyes |
| Oídos | Ears |
| Nariz | Nose |
| Boca | Mouth |
| Garganta | Throat |
| Cuello | Neck |
| Hombro | Shoulder |
| Brazo | Arm |
| Codo | Elbow |
| Muñeca | Wrist |
| Mano | Hand |
| Dedo | Finger |
| Pecho | Chest |
| Espalda | Back |
| Estómago | Stomach |
| Cadera | Hip |
| Pierna | Leg |
| Rodilla | Knee |
| Tobillo | Ankle |
| Pie | Foot |
| Corazón | Heart |
| Pulmones | Lungs |
| Hígado | Liver |
| Riñones | Kidneys |
Medical History
Important Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Soy alérgico/a a... | I'm allergic to... |
| Tengo alergia a... | I have an allergy to... |
| Tomo medicamentos para... | I take medication for... |
| Estoy embarazada | I'm pregnant |
| Tengo diabetes | I have diabetes |
| Tengo presión alta/baja | I have high/low blood pressure |
| Tengo asma | I have asthma |
| Tengo problemas del corazón | I have heart problems |
| He tenido cirugía de... | I've had surgery on... |
| Mi tipo de sangre es... | My blood type is... |
Common Allergies
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Penicilina | Penicillin |
| Aspirina | Aspirin |
| Mariscos | Shellfish |
| Nueces | Nuts |
| Huevos | Eggs |
| Látex | Latex |
| Picaduras de abeja | Bee stings |
| Polen | Pollen |
At the Pharmacy
Basic Phrases
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| ¿Dónde está la farmacia? | Where is the pharmacy? |
| Necesito... | I need... |
| ¿Tiene algo para...? | Do you have something for...? |
| ¿Necesito receta? | Do I need a prescription? |
| ¿Cuántas veces al día? | How many times a day? |
| ¿Antes o después de comer? | Before or after eating? |
| ¿Tiene efectos secundarios? | Does it have side effects? |
Common Medications
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Analgésico/Calmante | Painkiller |
| Ibuprofeno | Ibuprofen |
| Paracetamol/Acetaminofén | Acetaminophen/Paracetamol |
| Aspirina | Aspirin |
| Antibiótico | Antibiotic |
| Antihistamínico | Antihistamine |
| Antiácido | Antacid |
| Antidiarreico | Anti-diarrheal |
| Laxante | Laxative |
| Descongestionante | Decongestant |
| Jarabe para la tos | Cough syrup |
| Pastillas para la garganta | Throat lozenges |
| Crema/Pomada | Cream/Ointment |
| Gotas | Drops |
| Vendas | Bandages |
| Curitas/Tiritas | Band-aids |
| Termómetro | Thermometer |
| Preservativos/Condones | Condoms |
| Protector solar | Sunscreen |
| Repelente de insectos | Insect repellent |
Medication Instructions
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Tomar con agua | Take with water |
| Tomar con comida | Take with food |
| En ayunas | On an empty stomach |
| Cada 4/6/8 horas | Every 4/6/8 hours |
| Una vez al día | Once a day |
| Dos veces al día | Twice a day |
| Tres veces al día | Three times a day |
| Antes de acostarse | Before bed |
| No exceder la dosis | Do not exceed the dose |
| Puede causar somnolencia | May cause drowsiness |
| No mezclar con alcohol | Do not mix with alcohol |
Common Medical Conditions
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Gripe/Gripa | Flu |
| Resfriado | Cold |
| Infección | Infection |
| Intoxicación alimentaria | Food poisoning |
| Insolación/Golpe de calor | Heat stroke |
| Quemadura de sol | Sunburn |
| Picadura de insecto | Insect bite |
| Esguince | Sprain |
| Fractura | Fracture |
| Corte | Cut |
| Quemadura | Burn |
| Conjuntivitis | Conjunctivitis/Pink eye |
| Infección urinaria | Urinary infection |
| Presión arterial alta | High blood pressure |
| Presión arterial baja | Low blood pressure |
| Ataque al corazón | Heart attack |
| Derrame cerebral | Stroke |
Dental Emergencies
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Dentista | Dentist |
| Me duele una muela | My tooth hurts |
| Se me cayó un empaste | My filling fell out |
| Se me rompió un diente | I broke a tooth |
| Tengo un absceso | I have an abscess |
| Necesito una extracción | I need an extraction |
| Encías | Gums |
| Muela del juicio | Wisdom tooth |
At the Hospital
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Urgencias/Emergencias | Emergency room |
| Sala de espera | Waiting room |
| Consultorio | Doctor's office |
| Habitación | Room |
| Cama | Bed |
| Enfermero/a | Nurse |
| Cirujano/a | Surgeon |
| Especialista | Specialist |
| Análisis de sangre | Blood test |
| Radiografía | X-ray |
| Ecografía/Ultrasonido | Ultrasound |
| Resonancia magnética | MRI |
| Inyección | Injection |
| Sutura/Puntos | Stitches |
| Cirugía | Surgery |
| Anestesia | Anesthesia |
Insurance and Payment
| Spanish | English |
|---|
| Seguro médico | Health insurance |
| ¿Aceptan mi seguro? | Do you accept my insurance? |
| Tarjeta de seguro | Insurance card |
| ¿Cuánto cuesta? | How much does it cost? |
| ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? | Can I pay by card? |
| Necesito un recibo | I need a receipt |
| Reclamo/Reembolso | Claim/Reimbursement |
Preparing for Your Trip
Medical Kit Essentials
Before traveling, pack:
Documentation
Creating a Medical Card
Consider carrying a card in your wallet with:
INFORMACIÓN MÉDICA / MEDICAL INFORMATION
Nombre / Name: _______________________
Tipo de sangre / Blood type: ___________
Alergias / Allergies: _________________
Medicamentos / Medications: ___________
Condiciones médicas / Medical conditions: ___________
Contacto de emergencia / Emergency contact: ___________
Seguro médico / Insurance: ___________
Final Thoughts
Medical situations are stressful enough without a language barrier. Learning this vocabulary before you travel could prove invaluable in an emergency.
We hope you never need to use most of these phrases—but if you do, you'll be prepared. Stay safe, travel smart, and remember: your health is your most valuable asset.
¡Cuídese! (Take care of yourself!)
Want to build your Spanish vocabulary for safer travels? Download Bloo and get daily Spanish words delivered to your lock screen. Better prepared is better protected.
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