Spanish phrases for the doctor

Doctors in big tourist areas often speak English, but in a local health centre (centro de salud) or a small-town clinic you may need Spanish. These phrases help you describe what is wrong and understand the treatment. Tap ▶ to hear each phrase; the pronunciation line shows which syllable to stress.

Phrase · Pronunciation · Meaning · ▶ Listen

At reception

Necesito ver a un médico.

neh-seh-SEE-toh vehr ah oon MEH-dee-koh

I need to see a doctor.

Tengo seguro de viaje.

TEN-goh seh-GOO-roh deh bee-AH-heh

I have travel insurance.

Tengo la tarjeta sanitaria europea.

TEN-goh lah tar-HEH-tah sah-nee-TAH-ree-ah eh-oo-roh-PEH-ah

I have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

¿Hay alguien que hable inglés?

eye AHL-gyen keh AH-bleh een-GLEHS?

Is there anyone who speaks English?

Symptoms

Me duele aquí.

meh DWEH-leh ah-KEE

It hurts here. (Point.)

Me duele la cabeza.

meh DWEH-leh lah kah-BEH-sah

I have a headache.

Me duele el estómago.

meh DWEH-leh el es-TOH-mah-goh

I have a stomach ache.

Tengo fiebre.

TEN-goh FYEH-breh

I have a fever.

Tengo diarrea.

TEN-goh dee-ah-RREH-ah

I have diarrhoea.

Tengo náuseas.

TEN-goh NOW-seh-ahs

I feel nauseous.

Me he torcido el tobillo.

meh eh tor-SEE-doh el toh-BEE-yoh

I've twisted my ankle.

Me he cortado.

meh eh kor-TAH-doh

I've cut myself.

Desde hace dos días.

DEHS-deh AH-seh dohs DEE-ahs

For two days.

Medical history

Soy alérgico a la penicilina.

soy ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah lah peh-nee-see-LEE-nah

I'm allergic to penicillin. (A woman says alérgica.)

Soy diabético.

soy dee-ah-BEH-tee-koh

I'm diabetic. (A woman says diabética.)

Estoy embarazada.

es-TOY em-bah-rah-SAH-dah

I'm pregnant.

Tomo este medicamento.

TOH-moh ES-teh meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh

I take this medicine. (Show the box.)

Treatment and pharmacy

¿Es grave?

es GRAH-veh?

Is it serious?

¿Cuántas veces al día?

KWAN-tahs BEH-ses ahl DEE-ah?

How many times a day?

¿Antes o después de comer?

AHN-tes oh des-PWEHS deh koh-MEHR?

Before or after meals?

¿Me puede dar un informe para el seguro?

meh PWEH-deh dar oon een-FOR-meh PAH-rah el seh-GOO-roh?

Can you give me a report for my insurance?

¿Dónde está la farmacia de guardia?

DON-deh es-TAH lah far-MAH-syah deh GWAR-dyah?

Where is the on-duty pharmacy?

Tips that save the situation

In Spain, the emergency number is 112; it works across the EU and operators often speak English.
EU visitors can use the European Health Insurance Card in Spain's public system; everyone else should carry travel insurance.
At night and on Sundays, pharmacies take turns staying open — look for the 'farmacia de guardia' list posted on every pharmacy door.
Pronunciation is shown in Spain style ('seh' for ce/ci is Latin American; in most of Spain it sounds like English 'th'). Both are understood everywhere.
In Latin America, 'me duele' and 'tengo fiebre' work the same; only some words differ (e.g., 'remedio' is common for medicine).

When the phrasebook runs out

A phrasebook covers the first sentence. Then the other person answers — fast, with words that are not on the list. Sabai translates the whole conversation live: you speak, the phone says it in Spanish, the other person replies into the same phone, and you read the answer in your language with a short explanation of what they meant.

Try it in the browser — no install

5 translations free without sign-up · no subscription

Questions

Will this work in Mexico or Colombia?

Yes. Medical Spanish is very similar across countries. The audio uses a Spain accent, but every Spanish speaker understands it.

Why do some phrases change for women?

Spanish adjectives agree with gender: alérgico for a man, alérgica for a woman. Doctors will understand either way.

What if the doctor explains the diagnosis in fast Spanish?

Ask them to speak into Sabai on your phone — you read the translation instantly in English, and the conversation keeps going.

More phrasebooks

Updated: 2026-10-12