When I first moved to Spain, the thing I dreaded most was getting sick. It wasn’t about the cost, since I have insurance, but the fear of not being able to communicate properly with the doctor. Imagine going in for a headache and walking out with a prescription for athlete’s foot… Haha, just kidding! But seriously, medical vocabulary is a world away from everyday conversation, filled with words you’d never normally use. I’ve recently compiled a list and wanted to share it with anyone on the forum who might need it, especially fellow newcomers. I highly recommend bookmarking this for future reference!
Common Phrases for the Appointment Process
From booking an appointment to finally seeing the doctor, you’ll encounter a lot of unfamiliar terms. For instance, when you call the centro de salud (health center) to pedir una cita (request an appointment), the receptionist might ask for your número de la tarjeta sanitaria (health card number), a topic related to the wider system of Spanish hospital rankings. Once you’re with the doctor, they will ask about your síntomas (symptoms). You might need to explain that you feel mareado (dizzy) or have náuseas (nausea). These are the absolute basics, so it’s crucial to master them first.
Departments and Medical Tests
Sometimes, your family doctor (GP) will refer you to a specialist. That’s when you need to know the names of different departments to avoid going to the wrong place. For example, cardiology is Cardiología, and dermatology is Dermatología. The test request form from the doctor will also be full of technical terms, like an análisis de sangre (blood test) or a radiografía (X-ray). The table below lists some common ones for your reference:
| English | Spanish | Description |
|---|
| Emergency Room | Urgencias | For emergencies. (Related post: Spanish doctor salaries) |
| Pediatrics | Pediatría | For seeing a doctor with a child. |
| Gynecology | Ginecología | For women’s health check-ups. |
| Ultrasound | Ecografía | Commonly used for abdominal or pregnancy exams. |
| ECG/EKG | Electrocardiograma | To check the heart. |
Describing Symptoms and Body Parts
This is the most crucial part, as important as understanding details like Spanish doctor wages! Accurately describing how you feel is key to a correct diagnosis. Besides the dizziness and nausea we mentioned earlier, expressing pain is also critical. For example, dolor de cabeza (headache) or dolor de garganta (sore throat). To be more precise, it’s best to name the specific body part, such as el estómago (the stomach), la espalda (the back), or la rodilla (the knee). If you have allergies, be sure to inform the doctor beforehand, for instance, by saying, “Soy alérgico/a a la penicilina” (I am allergic to penicillin).
After the diagnosis, the doctor will give you a receta (prescription). You can take it to a farmacia (pharmacy) to get your medicine. Be sure to read the instructions on the medicine box carefully, especially the dosis (dosage) and frequency. I hope this summary helps everyone, and I welcome all the experts here to add more useful vocabulary in the comments below! Wishing everyone good health in Spain, ¡Salud
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