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Spanish health vocabulary: essential phrases and symptoms

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Learning a new language can be both exciting and challenging, especially in specific areas like health. Whether you’re travelling or living in a Spanish-speaking country, knowing basic Spanish health vocabulary can make a big difference when seeking medical help. 

In this blog, we’ll cover some essential Spanish health vocabulary that every beginner learner should know. By the end, you’ll feel more confident talking about your health in Spanish!

In the episode, we cover more grammar and vocabulary, so don’t forget to listen to it to expand your knowledge and also to know how to pronounce these useful phrases. ¡Vamos!

Expressing pain in Spanish

One of the most important pieces of knowledge to have in your Spanish health vocabulary is knowing how to explain where you feel pain. In Spanish, there are a few easy-to-remember structures that can help you describe your symptoms.

  • Me duele la cabeza. My head hurts.
  • Me duelen los pies. My feet hurt.

These simple phrases are incredibly useful, as they allow you to quickly communicate your pain to others. If you are not familiar with how to use this, our previous episode and blog article about me duele…  may help you. The best part is that you can combine what you learnt in the previous episode with this new Spanish health vocabulary.

Describing specific types of pain

If you’re experiencing a particular type of pain, you can use the structure tengo dolor de.. I have pain in… Here’s how to describe some common symptoms in Spanish:

  • Tengo dolor de cabeza. I have a headache.
  • Tengo dolor de estómago. I have a stomachache.
  • Tengo dolor de garganta. I have a sore throat.

This structure is very versatile and works for different parts of the body, helping you express discomfort clearly and effectively.

Common symptoms in Spanish

Beyond pain, there are a few other Spanish health vocabulary essentials that you should know. For example:

  • Estoy mareado / mareada. I feel dizzy. 

If you’re feeling lightheaded or dizzy, this is the phrase to use.

Learning to describe how you’re feeling is a crucial part of Spanish health vocabulary, especially when discussing symptoms. It not only helps you feel more prepared in medical situations but also increases your confidence when communicating in everyday situations.

Asking for medicine at the pharmacy

When you’re at a pharmacy, you might need to ask for specific medication. Knowing how to request medicine in Spanish can save you time and help you get the right treatment.

Here are some useful Spanish health vocabulary phrases that you can use at the pharmacy:

  • ¿Tiene algo para la tos? Do you have something for a cough?
  • ¿Tiene algo para el estómago? Do you have something for the stomach?
  • ¿Tiene algo para la cabeza? Do you have something for a headache?

These simple questions allow you to directly ask for over-the-counter medication that can help with common symptoms.

Types of medication

Once you’ve asked for something to relieve your symptoms, it’s good to know the basic types of medication in Spanish. Here are a few you’ll likely encounter:

  • Una pastilla. A pill.
  • Un comprimido. A tablet.
  • Una crema. A cream.
  • Un jarabe. A syrup.

Each of these medications is common in Spanish-speaking countries, so knowing their names can help you understand what the pharmacist is offering.

Learning Spanish health vocabulary and common phrases for symptoms in Spanish is an essential step for beginner learners. Whether you’re travelling or living in a Spanish-speaking country, knowing how to communicate your health needs can make all the difference. 

Start with these basic phrases, and soon you’ll feel more comfortable talking about your symptoms and understanding what you need to feel better.

So next time you’re feeling under the weather, don’t hesitate to use phrases like me duele la cabeza or tengo dolor de garganta to describe your symptoms in Spanish. You’ll be on your way to getting the help you need in no time!

We hope you find this Spanish health vocabulary useful, as in our next episode, we will change the topic, but continue to improve your language skills. If you’d like to be able to talk about sports in Spanish, don’t miss it!

Nos vemos, and happy Coffee Breaking!

Lesson 28 – Show Time Spanish

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The topic for this week’s episode of Show Time Spanish is food, or tapas in particular. Alba has recently had a bad experience in a tapas restaurant in Scotland, compared with her normal experiences of tapas in Spain. Mark and Alba talk about different tapas and their experience of eating Spanish food in Spain and elsewhere. Language points covered include ojalá, the word cobrar and si clauses. In this week’s intermedio, José introduces a couple of phrases which help you disagree with people emphatically.

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Understanding “no me siento bien” and “estoy enfermo” in Spanish

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If you’re just starting to learn Spanish, you’ll quickly realise that knowing how to talk about how you feel is essential. In this blog, we will focus on two common phrases: no me siento bien and estoy enfermo. 

So, whether you’re feeling great or under the weather, being able to express this clearly is key to communicating in everyday situations. We’ll also look into other useful expressions to help you talk about sickness or discomfort.

Listen to the podcast version to get the right pronunciation of the phrases we’ll be learning today.

What does “estoy enfermo” mean?

Let’s start with one of the most important phrases: estoy enfermo. This simply means I am sick. It’s used when you’re feeling ill and want to let someone know. If you’re a female speaker, you would say estoy enferma, changing the “o” to “a” to match your gender.

But there’s more than one way to express that you aren’t feeling well. You might also hear people say no me siento bien, which means ‘I don’t feel well’. This is a softer way of saying you’re unwell, and it’s commonly used in everyday conversations. Both phrases can be used depending on how serious your symptoms feel.

Other ways to say “I don’t feel well”

In addition to no me siento bien, there are other ways to express discomfort or sickness. Here are a few key phrases you can use:

  • No estoy bien. I am not well.
  • No me encuentro bien. I don’t feel well.

The last one might sound a bit formal, but it’s useful in all sorts of situations, especially when explaining how you feel to a doctor or healthcare professional.

Describing pain: “me duele” and “me duelen”

When you’re in pain, you can use the phrases me duele and me duelen to describe where it hurts. Me duele is used when you’re talking about one part of your body that hurts. For example:

  • Me duele la cabeza.  My head hurts.
  • Me duele el brazo.  My arm hurts.

Me duelen is used when more than one part of your body hurts. For example:

  • Me duelen los pies. My feet hurt.

These phrases are essential when explaining your symptoms, whether you’re talking to a doctor or just letting a friend know you’re uncomfortable.

Asking and answering questions about pain

When talking to someone who is sick, it’s important to know how to ask where they are in pain. You can use the following questions:

  • ¿Dónde te duele? Where does it hurt? (Informal)
  • ¿Dónde le duele? Where does it hurt? (Formal)

These are great questions to use when checking in on someone who’s feeling unwell. If you’re responding, you can follow up with me duele… or me duelen… to explain your symptoms.

Putting it all together

Let’s say you wake up one day and you’re not feeling well. You might tell a friend:

  • No me siento bien. Me duele la cabeza y el estómago. I don’t feel well. My head and stomach hurt.
  • Me duele el brazo y me duelen los pies. My arm hurts and my feet hurt.

Knowing how to express discomfort or pain is a crucial part of learning Spanish. Phrases like no me siento bien and estoy enfermo will come in handy whenever you need to talk about how you feel. As you build your vocabulary, try practising these expressions in different situations. That way, the next time you’re feeling under the weather, you’ll have the words you need to explain exactly what’s going on.

So, next time you ask yourself, what does “estoy enfermo” mean, remember that it’s a phrase you’ll likely use often, especially when you’re not feeling your best!

In our next episode, we’ll learn more about vocabulary that we can use at the doctor’s in Spanish, so don’t forget to check it out because it may come in handy!

Muchas gracias and happy Coffee Breaking!

 

Season 2 – Lesson 18 – Coffee Break French

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In this week’s lesson, we take our knowledge of the perfect tense a stage further by looking at reflexive verbs. Please note that lesson 18 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 58 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

Essential Spanish travel vocabulary: How to say money in Spanish

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When you’re travelling to a Spanish-speaking country, knowing a bit of the language can make your experience much smoother and more enjoyable. One of the most important things to understand is how to handle money. This blog will introduce you to some essential Spanish travel vocabulary, focusing on how to say money in Spanish and phrases that will help you with currency exchange during your trip.

Further examples and phrases are in the podcast version of the episode, so remember to listen to it to make the most of your coffee break!

Understanding the basics: el dinero

The word for money in Spanish is el dinero. It’s a piece of Spanish travel vocabulary you’ll likely hear often during your travels, whether you’re at a market, restaurant, or bank. Knowing this basic word is the first step in mastering how to say money in Spanish. For example:

  • Tengo suficiente dinero. I have enough money.

Exchanging money: Cambiar dinero

When you need to exchange your currency for the local money, the verb you need is cambiar, which means to change or to exchange. Whether you’re exchanging U.S. dollars, British pounds, or any other currency, this verb will be essential. Key phrases:

  • ¿Se puede cambiar dinero aquí? Can I exchange money here?
  • ¿Dónde se puede cambiar dinero? Where can I exchange money?

These questions will be handy when you need to find a place to exchange your currency. For example, if you’re travelling to Spain and need to change your dollars into euros, you might say:

  • Me gustaría cambiar 100 dólares a euros. I would like to exchange 100 dollars for euros.

In Latin American countries, you might need to exchange your money for pesos (as in Mexico or Argentina) or soles in Peru. The process is the same, and using the above phrases will help you navigate any currency exchange smoothly.

Withdrawing money: Sacar dinero

Sometimes, instead of exchanging money, you might need to withdraw it from an ATM. The verb for this action is sacar, which means to take out or to withdraw. Some key phrases are:

  • Quiero sacar dinero. I want to withdraw money.
  • Voy a sacar dinero del cajero automático. I’m going to withdraw money from the ATM.

This Spanish travel vocabulary is particularly useful if you plan to rely on ATMs during your travels, as many people do. Remember that ATMs in Spanish-speaking countries may be referred to as cajeros automáticos.

Currency exchange conversations: practical examples

When you’re ready to exchange your money, it’s essential to know how to ask for the amount you want. Here are a few more examples that will be useful:

  • ¿Cuánto quiere cambiar? How much do you want to exchange?

This question might be asked by the teller or person helping you with the exchange.

  • Me gustaría cambiar 200 libras a pesos mexicanos. I would like to exchange 200 pounds for Mexican pesos.
  • Me gustaría cambiar 300 dólares a soles peruanos. I would like to exchange 300 dollars for Peruvian soles.

These phrases are great additions to your Spanish travel vocabulary, ensuring that you can confidently handle money matters during your trip.

Mastering basic Spanish travel vocabulary is crucial for any beginner learning the language, especially when it comes to money. Understanding how to say money in Spanish and using phrases like cambiar dinero and sacar dinero will help you navigate financial transactions with ease. 

Whether you’re exchanging U.S. dollars for euros in Spain or withdrawing pesos from an ATM in Mexico, these phrases will serve you well.

In our next episode, we go to the pharmacy or the doctor’s clinic in Spanish to teach you how to navigate this tricky situation, so don’t forget to check it out and express yourself with confidence on any occasion. 

Nos vemos, and happy Coffee Breaking!

Lesson 27 – Show Time Spanish

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This week we return to a topic we covered previously – in response to listeners’ requests. It’s time to look at your tricks and tips for language learning. Mark and Alba talk about the suggestion of one of our listeners which involves printing out internet texts and cutting out the words. Listen to the episode for more information and further suggestions! Language topics this week include the alternative forms of the possessive adjectives including mío, tuyo, suyo, and so on. We also look at the phrase una vez, this time not linked to the subjunctive.

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Season 2 – Lesson 17- Coffee Break French

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In this lesson, we look at the other verbs that take être as their auxiliary verb in the perfect tense and we consider a way to remember them. Please note that lesson 17 of Season 2 was originally known as lesson 57 of Coffee Break French. We have renumbered the lessons of each season as lessons 1-40 to make things more simple for our listeners.

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