La Salud Es Primero: Health, Body Parts, and Medical Spanish
Health is our most precious asset, and being able to communicate about it in Spanish can be literally life-saving. From routine check-ups to emergency situations, this vocabulary empowers you to take care of yourself and others in Spanish-speaking environments.
The Human Body - El Cuerpo Humano
La Cabeza y la Cara Head and face
la cabezahead
el ojoeye
la nariznose
la bocamouth
la orejaear, the outer one
el dientetooth
la lenguatongue — and "language"
la gargantathroat
El Tronco Torso
el cuelloneck
el hombroshoulder
el pechochest
la espaldaback
el estómagostomach
la cinturawaist
Brazos y Piernas Limbs
el brazoarm
la manohand — feminine despite the -o
el dedofinger, and toe
la piernaleg
la rodillaknee
el piefoot
Los Órganos Organs
el corazónheart koh-rah-SOHN
los pulmoneslungs pool-MOH-nehs
el hígadoliver EE-gah-doh
los riñoneskidneys ree-NYOH-nehs
el cerebrobrain
la sangreblood
Body parts take the article, not the possessive
Where English says "my head hurts", Spanish says
me duele la cabeza — literally "the head hurts
to me". The me already tells you whose it is, so mi cabeza would be
redundant and sounds wrong. Same with washing:
me lavo las manos, never mis manos.
Internal Organs and Systems - Órganos y Sistemas
Más Partes del Cuerpo Finer detail
la frenteforehead
la mejillacheek
el labiolip
la barbillachin
el codoelbow
la muñecawrist — and "doll"
el tobilloankle
el huesobone
la pielskin
el músculomuscle
Common Symptoms - Síntomas Comunes
El Dolor Pain
dolor de cabezaheadache
dolor de estómagostomach ache
dolor de gargantasore throat
dolor de espaldaback pain
dolor de muelastoothache
El Malestar Feeling unwell
las náuseasnausea
el mareodizziness
el cansanciotiredness
la debilidadweakness
el escalofríothe chills
Enfermedades Comunes Common ailments
la fiebrefever
la toscough
la gripeflu
el resfriadoa cold
la alergiaallergy
la infeccióninfection
Tener for symptoms, doler for pain
Most symptoms are things you have:
tengo fiebre y tos,
tengo náuseas. Pain works the other way round — the body part is the subject and
the verb agrees with it: me duele la cabeza for one, but
me duelen las piernas for two. Getting
duele / duelen right is the whole trick.
Describing How You Feel - Describiendo Cómo Te Sientes
¿Cómo Te Sientes? How do you feel?
Me siento bienI feel good 😊
Me siento malI feel bad 😷
Me siento fatalI feel terrible 🤒
Me siento mejorI feel better 😌
Estoy enfermoI'm ill — enferma if you're female
Frases de Emergencia When it matters most
Necesito un médicoI need a doctor
Llame a una ambulanciaCall an ambulance
Es una emergenciaIt's an emergency
Soy alérgico a…I'm allergic to…
¿Dónde está el hospital?Where is the hospital?
¡Ayuda!Help!
At the Doctor's Office - En el Consultorio Médico
Essential Medical Phrases
¿Qué le pasa?
What's wrong?
keh leh PAH-sah
¿Dónde le duele?
Where does it hurt?
DOHN-deh leh DWEH-leh
¿Desde cuándo?
Since when?
DEHS-deh KWAHN-doh
¿Es alérgico a algo?
Are you allergic to anything?
ehs ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah AHL-goh
¿Toma medicamentos?
Do you take medications?
TOH-mah meh-dee-kah-MEHN-tohs
Necesita una receta
You need a prescription
neh-seh-SEE-tah OO-nah reh-SEH-tah
Common Illnesses and Conditions - Enfermedades Comunes
Enfermedades Agudas Short-term illness
la gripeflu
el resfriadoa cold
la infeccióninfection
la alergiaallergy
el virusvirus
la intoxicaciónfood poisoning
Condiciones Crónicas Long-term conditions
la diabetesdiabetes
la presión altahigh blood pressure
el asmaasthma — feminine, but takes el
la artritisarthritis
el colesterol altohigh cholesterol
la migrañamigraine
Las Lesiones Injuries
la cortadacut — el corte in Spain
la quemaduraburn
el moretónbruise
la fracturafracture
la torcedurasprain
la heridawound
la picadurainsect bite or sting
el golpea knock, a blow
Me rompí el brazoI broke my arm
At the Pharmacy - En la Farmacia
Getting Medicine
Cliente:
Buenos días. Necesito algo para el dolor de cabeza.
Good morning. I need something for a headache.
Farmacéutico:
¿Qué tan fuerte es el dolor?
How strong is the pain?
Cliente:
Es bastante fuerte. Me duele desde ayer.
It's quite strong. It's been hurting since yesterday.
Farmacéutico:
Le recomiendo este medicamento. Tome una pastilla cada ocho horas.
I recommend this medicine. Take one pill every eight hours.
Cliente:
¿Necesito receta?
Do I need a prescription?
Farmacéutico:
No, este no requiere receta. Son cincuenta pesos.
No, this one doesn't require a prescription. It's fifty pesos.
Medicine and Treatment - Medicina y Tratamiento
graph LR
A[Medicamentos] --> B[las pastillas pills]
A --> C[el jarabe syrup]
A --> D[la pomada ointment]
A --> E[las gotas drops]
A --> F[la inyección injection]
G[Tratamiento] --> H[descansar rest]
G --> I[tomar líquidos drink fluids]
G --> J[hacer ejercicio exercise]
G --> K[la dieta diet]
G --> L[la terapia therapy]
style A fill:#FF6B6B
style G fill:#4ECDC4
Practice Clinic
Exercise: Body Part Identification
How do you say these in Spanish?
My head hurts: _____________
I have a stomachache: _____________
My throat is sore: _____________
I twisted my ankle: _____________
Answers: Me duele la cabeza, Tengo dolor de estómago, Me duele la garganta, Me torcí el tobillo
Exercise: Emergency Situations
What would you say in these situations?
You need to find a hospital quickly: _____________
Someone is having an allergic reaction: _____________
You need to explain you're diabetic: _____________
You want to know pharmacy hours: _____________
Medical Scenarios
Emergency Room Visit
Recepcionista: ¿Cuál es la emergencia?
You: Me caí y creo que me rompí el brazo.
Recepcionista: ¿Puede mover el brazo?
You: No, me duele mucho.
Recepcionista: Voy a llamar al doctor. Siéntese aquí.
Healthcare in Spanish-Speaking Countries
Pharmacies: Often provide basic medical advice
Prescriptions: Many medications available without prescription
Public vs Private: Both systems exist; private is faster but costly
Traditional medicine: Herbal remedies still commonly used
Insurance: Always clarify coverage before treatment
Emergency number: Often 911, but varies by country
Medical Travel Tips
Carry a card: With your medical conditions in Spanish
Know generic names: Brand names vary by country
Travel insurance: Essential for medical emergencies
Vaccinations: Check requirements before travel
Water safety: "¿Es potable el agua?" (Is the water drinkable?)
Your Health Vocabulary Mission
This week's health-focused practice:
Label a body diagram with Spanish terms
Create a medical history card in Spanish
Practice describing symptoms for common illnesses
Visit a pharmacy and read medicine labels in Spanish
Learn emergency phrases until they're automatic
Remember: Your health is precious. Being able to communicate about it in Spanish isn't just practical - it could be life-saving. Practice these terms until they become second nature!