One of the biggest fears when you’ve just moved to Spain is getting sick. The language barrier is a huge problem, especially in a place like a hospital with so much specialized vocabulary. I recently went to the emergency room with a friend, and we had to rely entirely on translation apps and hand gestures. I felt like I couldn’t speak at all; it was so awkward.
After that experience, I was determined to compile a list of these common medical terms. It’s not just for me, but also to help others on this forum who might be facing the same challenge. After all, your health is your most important asset, and when you’re in a foreign country, knowing how to describe your symptoms and understand a prescription is absolutely crucial!
Basic Vocabulary and Symptom Descriptions
Let’s start with the absolute basics—words you’ll need to know right away. Whether you’re visiting your family doctor (GP) or going to the emergency room, these are the terms you’ll use from the get-go.
- Dolor: Pain
- Fiebre: Fever
- Tos: Cough
- Mareo / Mareado: Dizziness / Feeling dizzy
- Náuseas: Nausea
- Vómitos: Vomiting
- Diarrea: Diarrhea
- Alergia: Allergy
For example, you could tell the doctor: Doctor, tengo fiebre y dolor de cabeza. (Doctor, I have a fever and a headache). See how simple that is? By combining these basic terms, you can generally describe what’s going on.
Common Departments and Body Parts
Sometimes your family doctor will refer you to a specialist, so knowing the names of common departments is also very helpful. Plus, you need to be able to say exactly which part of your body hurts.
| English | Spanish | English | Spanish |
|---|
| Emergency Room | Urgencias | Head | Cabeza |
| Internal Medicine | Medicina Interna | Throat | Garganta |
| Surgery | Cirugía | Stomach | Estómago |
| Pediatrics | Pediatría | Eyes | Ojos |
| Gynecology | Ginecología | Teeth | Dientes |
| Dermatology | Dermatología | Bone | Hueso |
| Pharmacy | Farmacia | Back | Espalda |
You don’t need to memorize all these terms at once, but it’s a good idea to bookmark this page for future reference. When you go to the pharmacy, if the doctor has written you a prescription, you can just hand it to the pharmacist. If you’re buying over-the-counter medicine, you can describe your symptoms, like Algo para el dolor de garganta, por favor. (Something for a sore throat, please). This list of Spanish medical words is just a start. I hope this short guide helps everyone, and I welcome all the experts here to share more useful vocabulary and experiences in the comments! Wishing everyone good health here in Spain!
