Body and medical vocabulary is among the most practically necessary sets a Spanish learner can acquire. A traveler who falls ill in a Spanish-speaking country, an expatriate registering with a new doctor, or a caregiver helping a family member needs to name symptoms, body parts, pain sensations, and medications with precision. Unlike casual small talk, medical communication tolerates no ambiguity: me duele la cabeza (my head hurts) and tengo dolor de cabeza (I have a headache) are near-equivalent, but me duele el corazon and tengo un infarto carry enormously different medical weight. This reference organizes the vocabulary by body system, provides the key symptom and pain expressions, covers the common illnesses and conditions, and equips a learner with pharmacy, doctor, and emergency phrases.
The Spanish verb doler ("to hurt") behaves like gustar - it takes an indirect object pronoun rather than a subject pronoun - and is the core of symptom description. Me duele la cabeza literally means "to-me it-hurts the head," and this structure is fundamental. The related noun dolor (pain) pairs with tener: tengo dolor de cabeza (I have headache-pain). Between them, doler and tener dolor cover almost all pain description in Spanish. For how indirect object pronouns work, see the Spanish pronouns reference. For the grammar behind symptom description, see the ser vs estar guide.
The Body: Head and Face
Table 1. Head and face.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la cabeza | head |
| el pelo / el cabello | hair |
| la cara / el rostro | face |
| la frente | forehead |
| el ojo | eye |
| la ceja | eyebrow |
| la pestana | eyelash |
| la nariz | nose |
| la oreja | ear (outer) |
| el oido | ear (inner / hearing) |
| la boca | mouth |
| el labio | lip |
| la lengua | tongue |
| el diente | tooth |
| la muela | molar / back tooth |
| la mejilla | cheek |
| la barbilla / el menton | chin |
| el cuello | neck |
| la garganta | throat |
Spanish uniquely distinguishes la oreja (the outer, visible ear) from el oido (the inner ear, the sense of hearing). A problem with hearing is me duele el oido (my inner ear hurts, earache); a cut on the outer ear is me corte la oreja. English does not consistently mark this, but Spanish insists on it.
The Torso and Limbs
Table 2. Torso.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el hombro | shoulder |
| el pecho | chest |
| el seno / el pecho | breast (f) |
| la espalda | back |
| el estomago | stomach |
| el vientre / la barriga / la panza | belly |
| la cintura | waist |
| la cadera | hip |
| los gluteos / las nalgas | buttocks |
Table 3. Arms and hands.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el brazo | arm |
| el codo | elbow |
| la muneca | wrist |
| la mano | hand |
| el dedo | finger |
| el pulgar | thumb |
| el indice | index finger |
| el corazon | middle finger (informal) |
| el anular | ring finger |
| el menique | little finger |
| la una | fingernail |
Note that la mano (hand) is feminine despite ending in -o - a classic exception. See the Spanish gender of nouns reference for the rule.
Table 4. Legs and feet.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la pierna | leg |
| la rodilla | knee |
| el tobillo | ankle |
| el pie | foot |
| el dedo del pie | toe |
| el muslo | thigh |
| la pantorrilla | calf |
| el talon | heel |
Internal Organs
Table 5. Internal organs.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el corazon | heart |
| el pulmon | lung |
| los pulmones | lungs |
| el higado | liver |
| el rinon | kidney |
| el estomago | stomach |
| el intestino | intestine |
| el cerebro | brain |
| los huesos | bones |
| los musculos | muscles |
| la sangre | blood |
| la piel | skin |
| la vejiga | bladder |
| el pancreas | pancreas |
| la tiroides | thyroid |
Expressing Pain and Symptoms
The core structure.
- Me duele + el/la + body part (singular). Me duele la cabeza. Me duele el estomago. Me duele la espalda.
- Me duelen + los/las + body parts (plural). Me duelen los pies. Me duelen las muelas. Me duelen los ojos.
- Tengo dolor de + body part. Tengo dolor de cabeza. Tengo dolor de garganta.
The verb doler conjugates to agree with the body part (the grammatical subject), not with the speaker. That is why singular vs plural matters: me duele el pie (one foot) vs me duelen los pies (both feet).
Beginners often say "yo duelo mi cabeza" by translating word-for-word from English "I hurt my head." This is ungrammatical in Spanish. Doler works like gustar: me duele is "it hurts me." The head is doing the hurting; you are the recipient. Always: Me duele la cabeza.
Table 6. Common symptoms.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| tengo fiebre | I have a fever |
| tengo tos | I have a cough |
| tengo gripe / gripa | I have the flu |
| tengo un resfriado / estoy resfriado | I have a cold |
| tengo nauseas | I feel nauseous |
| tengo mareos / estoy mareado | I'm dizzy |
| tengo diarrea | I have diarrhea |
| tengo estrenimiento | I'm constipated |
| tengo alergia a... | I'm allergic to... |
| tengo escalofrios | I have chills |
| estoy cansado / cansada | I'm tired |
| no puedo dormir | I can't sleep |
| no tengo apetito | I have no appetite |
| me siento mal | I feel bad |
| me siento mejor | I feel better |
| me desmaye | I fainted |
| me corte | I cut myself |
| me rompi... | I broke... (a bone) |
| me torci el tobillo | I twisted my ankle |
Note gripe (flu) is feminine in Spain, gripa in most of Latin America. Both refer to influenza; a cold is un resfriado or estar resfriado.
Describing Pain
Table 7. Pain descriptors.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| un dolor leve | a mild pain |
| un dolor fuerte | a strong pain |
| un dolor intenso | an intense pain |
| un dolor agudo | a sharp pain |
| un dolor sordo | a dull pain |
| un dolor punzante | a stabbing pain |
| un dolor constante | a constant pain |
| un dolor intermitente | an intermittent pain |
| un dolor quemante | a burning pain |
| desde hace tres dias | for the past three days |
| desde esta manana | since this morning |
At the doctor, describe pain on three axes: where (me duele X), what kind (un dolor agudo, punzante, sordo), and how long (desde hace dos dias, desde esta manana).
Common Illnesses and Conditions
Table 8. Conditions and diseases.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el resfriado | cold |
| la gripe / gripa | flu |
| la fiebre | fever |
| la tos | cough |
| el dolor de cabeza | headache |
| la migrana / la jaqueca | migraine |
| el asma | asthma |
| la alergia | allergy |
| la diabetes | diabetes |
| la hipertension | high blood pressure |
| el infarto | heart attack |
| el derrame cerebral / el ictus | stroke |
| el cancer | cancer |
| la depresion | depression |
| la ansiedad | anxiety |
| la infeccion | infection |
| la inflamacion | inflammation |
| la fractura | fracture |
| la quemadura | burn |
| la herida | wound |
| el embarazo | pregnancy |
At the Doctor's Office
Table 9. Medical professionals and facilities.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el medico / el doctor | doctor |
| la medica / la doctora | doctor (female) |
| el / la enfermero/a | nurse |
| el especialista | specialist |
| el cirujano / la cirujana | surgeon |
| el pediatra | pediatrician |
| el dentista | dentist |
| el optometrista | optometrist |
| el psiquiatra / el psicologo | psychiatrist / psychologist |
| el hospital | hospital |
| la clinica | clinic |
| el consultorio | doctor's office |
| la sala de emergencias / urgencias | emergency room |
| la cita | appointment |
| el seguro medico | health insurance |
| la receta | prescription |
Doctor's office phrases.
- Tengo una cita con el doctor Rodriguez - I have an appointment with Dr. Rodriguez.
- Necesito ver a un medico - I need to see a doctor.
- ¿Me puede revisar? - Can you examine me?
- ¿Que me recomienda? - What do you recommend?
- ¿Cuanto tiempo dura el tratamiento? - How long does the treatment last?
- ¿Es grave? - Is it serious?
- ¿Puedo trabajar? - Can I work?
- Soy alergico / alergica a la penicilina - I'm allergic to penicillin.
- Tomo medicamento para la presion - I take medication for blood pressure.
- Estoy embarazada - I'm pregnant.
The word urgencias vs emergencias differs by region. In Spain, the emergency room is usually called urgencias. In most of Latin America, emergencias is standard. Both are universally understood.
At the Pharmacy
Table 10. Pharmacy vocabulary.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la farmacia | pharmacy |
| el / la farmaceutico/a | pharmacist |
| el medicamento / la medicina | medication |
| la pastilla | pill |
| la capsula | capsule |
| el jarabe | syrup |
| la pomada / la crema | ointment / cream |
| las gotas | drops |
| la inyeccion | injection |
| el analgesico | painkiller |
| el antibiotico | antibiotic |
| el antihistaminico | antihistamine |
| el antipiretico | fever reducer |
| el antiinflamatorio | anti-inflammatory |
| el tiritas / las curitas | bandages (Spain / LatAm) |
| el termometro | thermometer |
| la dosis | dose |
| con receta | with prescription |
| sin receta / de venta libre | over-the-counter |
Pharmacy phrases.
- Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza - I need something for a headache.
- ¿Tiene algo para la tos? - Do you have something for a cough?
- ¿Es sin receta? - Is it over-the-counter?
- ¿Cuantas pastillas tomo al dia? - How many pills do I take per day?
- Una cada ocho horas - One every eight hours.
- Antes de las comidas / despues de las comidas - Before / after meals.
- ¿Tiene efectos secundarios? - Does it have side effects?
In Spain and most of Latin America, pharmacists act as a first line of medical advice for minor ailments. Describing your symptom to a farmaceutico often produces a recommendation without the need to see a doctor.
Emergency Situations
Table 11. Medical emergencies.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¡Ayuda! | Help! |
| ¡Socorro! | Help! (emergency) |
| Es una emergencia | It's an emergency |
| Llame a una ambulancia | Call an ambulance |
| Necesito un medico urgente | I need a doctor urgently |
| Mi amigo se desmayo | My friend fainted |
| Tiene dificultad para respirar | He/she is having trouble breathing |
| Perdio el conocimiento | He/she lost consciousness |
| Se esta ahogando | He/she is choking |
| Tiene dolor en el pecho | He/she has chest pain |
| Esta sangrando | He/she is bleeding |
| Es alergico / alergica a... | He/she is allergic to... |
Emergency numbers.
- Spain: 112
- Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Colombia: 911
- Every country has a specific number, but 112 and 911 route most emergencies.
Common Mistakes
- Saying "yo duelo" instead of "me duele." Doler takes an indirect object, not a subject. Always me duele / me duelen.
- Confusing oreja and oido. Oreja is the outer ear; oido is the inner ear and hearing. For an earache, say me duele el oido.
- Using gripe in Mexico. Mexicans say gripa. Both are understood but local use varies.
- Saying "estoy enferma de estomago" for stomachache. Better: me duele el estomago or tengo dolor de estomago.
- Confusing embarazada with embarrassed. Estoy embarazada means I am pregnant. For "I'm embarrassed," say Estoy avergonzada or Tengo verguenza.
- Translating "hot" as caliente for having a fever. Tengo fiebre is correct. Estoy caliente has a sexual meaning.
- Using the wrong prepositions with symptoms. Tengo dolor de cabeza (genitive de, not en).
- Saying la cabeza me duele. While grammatical, the default order is me duele la cabeza.
Quick Reference Cheat Sheet
Essential body parts. cabeza, ojo, oido, nariz, boca, garganta, cuello, hombro, brazo, mano, dedo, espalda, estomago, pierna, rodilla, pie, corazon, pulmon.
Core symptom phrases.
- Me duele la cabeza - My head hurts.
- Me duele el estomago - My stomach hurts.
- Tengo fiebre - I have a fever.
- Tengo tos - I have a cough.
- Tengo gripe / gripa - I have the flu.
- Estoy resfriado / resfriada - I have a cold.
- Me siento mal - I feel bad.
- No me siento bien - I don't feel well.
- Soy alergico a... - I'm allergic to...
- Necesito un medico - I need a doctor.
Emergency phrases.
- ¡Ayuda! / ¡Socorro! - Help!
- Es una emergencia - It's an emergency.
- Llame una ambulancia - Call an ambulance.
- Tiene dolor en el pecho - He/she has chest pain.
- No puede respirar - He/she can't breathe.
FAQ
How do I say "my X hurts" in Spanish?
Use Me duele + article + body part (singular) or Me duelen + article + body parts (plural). Me duele la cabeza = my head hurts. Me duelen los pies = my feet hurt. The verb agrees with the body part, not with you, because doler works like gustar.
What's the difference between oreja and oido?
La oreja is the outer ear (the visible shape). El oido is the inner ear and the sense of hearing. An earache (pain inside the ear) is me duele el oido. A pierced earlobe involves la oreja.
Is it gripe or gripa?
Gripe is standard in Spain; gripa is standard in most of Latin America (especially Mexico). Both mean influenza. Un resfriado or estar resfriado is the milder common cold.
How do I say "I'm embarrassed"?
Never estoy embarazada - that means I am pregnant. Use Estoy avergonzada / avergonzado, or Tengo verguenza, or Me da verguenza. Estoy apenada is another option in some regions.
What should I say at the pharmacy?
Start with "Necesito algo para..." (I need something for...) + your symptom: Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza. The pharmacist will ask follow-up questions and often recommend an over-the-counter (de venta libre) option without a prescription.
What's the emergency number in Spanish-speaking countries?
Spain uses 112. Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile use 911. Dialing 112 or 911 in either region usually routes the call correctly to emergency services.
How do I describe pain levels?
Use adjectives: un dolor leve (mild), un dolor fuerte (strong), un dolor intenso (intense), un dolor agudo (sharp), un dolor sordo (dull), un dolor punzante (stabbing). Add duration with desde hace X dias (for the past X days) or desde esta manana (since this morning).
See Also
- Spanish common phrases for daily conversation
- Spanish pronouns direct indirect object reflexive
- Ser vs estar complete guide with examples
- Spanish gender of nouns rules and exceptions
- Spanish grammar rules complete beginners guide
- Spanish verb conjugation guide present tense
- Spanish travel phrases tourist guide
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I say 'my X hurts' in Spanish?
Use Me duele + article + body part (singular) or Me duelen + article + body parts (plural). Me duele la cabeza = my head hurts. Me duelen los pies = my feet hurt. The verb agrees with the body part, not with you.
What's the difference between oreja and oido?
La oreja is the outer ear (the visible shape). El oido is the inner ear and the sense of hearing. An earache is me duele el oido; a pierced earlobe involves la oreja.
Is it gripe or gripa?
Gripe is standard in Spain; gripa is standard in most of Latin America (especially Mexico). Both mean influenza. Un resfriado or estar resfriado is the milder common cold.
How do I say 'I'm embarrassed' in Spanish?
Never estoy embarazada (that means pregnant). Use Estoy avergonzada/avergonzado, Tengo verguenza, or Me da verguenza. Estoy apenada is another option in some regions.
What should I say at the pharmacy?
Start with Necesito algo para + your symptom: Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza. The pharmacist will ask follow-up questions and may recommend an over-the-counter (de venta libre) option without a prescription.
What's the emergency number in Spanish-speaking countries?
Spain uses 112. Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Chile use 911. Dialing 112 or 911 usually routes the call correctly to emergency services.
How do I describe pain levels?
Use adjectives: dolor leve (mild), fuerte (strong), intenso (intense), agudo (sharp), sordo (dull), punzante (stabbing). Add duration with desde hace X dias or desde esta manana.
