Medical Spanish terminology helps healthcare professionals build rapport with Spanish-speaking patients and understand common clinical concerns. Vocabulary alone is not enough for safe, high-stakes communication — but it is a strong starting point for daily clinical interactions, patient education, and follow-up care.
Use the search box below to look up a term, or jump to a section. Each phrase includes the formal usted form most appropriate for clinical settings. For structured learning with audio, recall drills, and CME credit, see our Medical Spanish CME course.
Browse Medical Spanish Vocabulary by Topic
Deep-dive vocabulary pages for the topics clinicians look up most — each with audio, example phrases, and clinical context.
Essential Medical Spanish Terms
Core clinical vocabulary every healthcare professional should know on day one.
| English | Spanish | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| patient | el / la paciente Use "el paciente" for male, "la paciente" for female. | |
| doctor | el médico / la médica "Doctor / Doctora" is also common. | |
| nurse | el enfermero / la enfermera | |
| hospital | el hospital | |
| clinic | la clínica | |
| emergency room | la sala de emergencias | |
| appointment | la cita | |
| pain | el dolor Pair with body part: "dolor de cabeza" (headache). | |
| fever | la fiebre | |
| blood pressure | la presión arterial | |
| heart rate | la frecuencia cardíaca | |
| temperature | la temperatura | |
| medication | el medicamento | |
| prescription | la receta | |
| pharmacy | la farmacia | |
| blood test | el análisis de sangre | |
| X-ray | la radiografía | |
| surgery | la cirugía | |
| pregnant | embarazada | |
| allergy | la alergia | |
| diagnosis | el diagnóstico | |
| treatment | el tratamiento | |
| symptom | el síntoma | |
| follow-up visit | la cita de seguimiento | |
| insurance | el seguro médico |
Symptoms in Spanish
Common patient complaints, with example phrases for quick reference at the bedside.
| English | Spanish | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| chest pain | dolor de pecho | |
| shortness of breath | falta de aire / dificultad para respirar | |
| headache | dolor de cabeza | |
| dizziness | mareo | |
| nausea | náusea | |
| vomiting | vómito | |
| diarrhea | diarrea | |
| constipation | estreñimiento | |
| rash | sarpullido / erupción | |
| swelling | hinchazón | |
| cough | tos | |
| fever | fiebre | |
| chills | escalofríos | |
| fatigue | fatiga / cansancio | |
| abdominal pain | dolor abdominal / dolor de barriga | |
| back pain | dolor de espalda | |
| sore throat | dolor de garganta | |
| numbness | entumecimiento | |
| weakness | debilidad | |
| palpitations | palpitaciones |
Want to test your recall? Try the symptoms flashcards on MedicalSpanishTestPrep .
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Anatomy and Body Parts in Spanish
Core anatomical vocabulary for physical exam, history taking, and patient education.
| English | Spanish | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| head | la cabeza | |
| face | la cara | |
| eye | el ojo | |
| ear | el oído (inner) / la oreja (outer) | |
| mouth | la boca | |
| throat | la garganta | |
| neck | el cuello | |
| chest | el pecho | |
| heart | el corazón | |
| lungs | los pulmones | |
| abdomen | el abdomen / la barriga | |
| stomach | el estómago | |
| liver | el hígado | |
| kidney | el riñón | |
| bladder | la vejiga | |
| back | la espalda | |
| arm | el brazo | |
| hand | la mano | |
| leg | la pierna | |
| foot | el pie | |
| skin | la piel | |
| bone | el hueso | |
| joint | la articulación | |
| muscle | el músculo | |
| blood | la sangre |
Medical Spanish Phrases for History Taking
Tap the copy icon to save any phrase for later. All phrases use the formal usted form.
| English | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|
| Where does it hurt? | ¿Dónde le duele? | |
| When did it start? | ¿Cuándo empezó? | |
| How long have you had this? | ¿Hace cuánto tiempo tiene esto? | |
| Do you take any medications? | ¿Toma algún medicamento? | |
| Are you allergic to anything? | ¿Es alérgico/a a algo? | |
| Have you had this before? | ¿Ha tenido esto antes? | |
| Do you have any medical conditions? | ¿Tiene alguna condición médica? | |
| Are you pregnant? | ¿Está embarazada? | |
| Do you smoke? | ¿Fuma? | |
| Do you drink alcohol? | ¿Toma alcohol? | |
| Rate your pain from 1 to 10. | Califique su dolor del 1 al 10. | |
| Does the pain move anywhere? | ¿El dolor se mueve a otra parte? | |
| Have you had a fever? | ¿Ha tenido fiebre? | |
| Any family history of this? | ¿Hay historia familiar de esto? | |
| Have you been hospitalized before? | ¿Ha sido hospitalizado/a antes? |
Physical Exam Phrases in Spanish
Instructional phrases used during the physical exam — direct, clear, and patient-friendly.
| English | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|
| Please sit down. | Por favor, siéntese. | |
| Please lie down. | Por favor, acuéstese. | |
| Breathe deeply. | Respire profundo. | |
| Open your mouth. | Abra la boca. | |
| I am going to listen to your heart. | Voy a escuchar su corazón. | |
| I am going to listen to your lungs. | Voy a escuchar sus pulmones. | |
| Does this hurt? | ¿Le duele aquí? | |
| Relax your arm. | Relaje el brazo. | |
| Please stand up. | Por favor, levántese. | |
| Please walk across the room. | Por favor, camine al otro lado. | |
| Follow my finger with your eyes. | Siga mi dedo con los ojos. | |
| Squeeze my hands. | Apriete mis manos. | |
| Stick out your tongue. | Saque la lengua. | |
| Take a deep breath and hold it. | Tome aire profundo y manténgalo. | |
| I will examine you now. | Voy a examinarle ahora. |
Emergency Medical Spanish Terms
High-acuity vocabulary for the ED, ICU, urgent care, and any time-critical encounter.
| English | Spanish | Audio |
|---|---|---|
| heart attack | ataque al corazón / infarto | |
| stroke | derrame cerebral / accidente cerebrovascular | |
| seizure | convulsión / ataque | |
| bleeding | sangrado / hemorragia | |
| difficulty breathing | dificultad para respirar | |
| loss of consciousness | pérdida de conocimiento | |
| severe pain | dolor severo / dolor fuerte | |
| allergic reaction | reacción alérgica | |
| infection | infección | |
| ambulance | la ambulancia | |
| emergency room | la sala de emergencias | |
| call for help | pedir ayuda | |
| fracture | fractura | |
| shock | choque / shock | |
| overdose | sobredosis |
Medication and Patient Instructions in Spanish
Discharge instructions and prescription guidance — clear phrases patients can follow at home.
| English | Spanish | |
|---|---|---|
| Take this medicine once daily. | Tome este medicamento una vez al día. | |
| Take with food. | Tome con comida. | |
| Take on an empty stomach. | Tome con el estómago vacío. | |
| Do not drive after taking this. | No maneje después de tomar esto. | |
| Return if symptoms get worse. | Regrese si los síntomas empeoran. | |
| Finish all the antibiotics. | Termine todos los antibióticos. | |
| You need a follow-up appointment. | Necesita una cita de seguimiento. | |
| Take this in the morning. | Tome esto por la mañana. | |
| Take this at night. | Tome esto por la noche. | |
| Stop this medication if you develop a rash. | Pare este medicamento si le sale sarpullido. | |
| Drink plenty of water. | Tome mucha agua. | |
| Rest for the next few days. | Descanse los próximos días. |
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Medical Spanish by Specialty
Sample vocabulary for common clinical specialties. For deeper module-by-module training, explore the full curriculum.
Family Medicine
- • historia clínica
- • examen físico
- • vacuna
- • cita de seguimiento
Emergency Medicine
- • triaje
- • trauma
- • reanimación
- • sala de emergencias
Pediatrics
- • vacunas
- • crecimiento
- • lactancia
- • fiebre infantil
OB/GYN
- • embarazo
- • parto
- • menstruación
- • ecografía
Cardiology
- • presión arterial
- • electrocardiograma
- • palpitaciones
- • infarto
Orthopedics
- • fractura
- • esguince
- • articulación
- • radiografía
Dermatology
- • sarpullido
- • lunar
- • eccema
- • biopsia
Mental Health
- • ansiedad
- • depresión
- • estrés
- • sueño
Geriatrics
- • caídas
- • memoria
- • medicamentos múltiples
- • movilidad
Interpreter Safety Note
Medical Spanish vocabulary can help clinicians build rapport and understand common patient concerns. However, vocabulary lists are not a substitute for professional interpreter services.
For complex discussions, informed consent, diagnosis, treatment decisions, legal documentation, or high-risk encounters, healthcare professionals should use a qualified medical interpreter according to local policy and professional standards. See guidance from the AAFP on cultural proficiency .
Frequently Asked Questions
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