Free guide · Level A2
Going to the doctor in Spain: how to explain what hurts and understand what they ask
Booking the appointment is only the start. In the consulting room you have a few minutes to explain what's wrong, and the doctor moves fast. With a few set phrases you can say the essentials and understand what you're asked.
Saying what hurts
For pain you use doler, which works like «gustar»: the thing that hurts is the subject, and «me» says who it hurts. If several things hurt, the verb goes in the plural.
Me duele la cabeza.My head hurts. One part of the body, singular
Me duelen los pies.My feet hurt. Plural: the verb changes too, «duelen»
Me duele aquí.It hurts here. Pointing with your hand
Watch out for thisIn English it's «my head hurts». Spanish uses the article, not «mi»: «me duele la cabeza», never «mi cabeza me duele».
Saying what you have and since when
Tengo fiebre.I have a fever. «Tener» + the symptom
Tengo tos.I have a cough. «Tener» + the symptom
Me encuentro mal.I don't feel well. When you can't say what it is
Me duele desde ayer.It has hurt since yesterday. «Desde» + the moment it began
Tengo fiebre desde hace dos días.I've had a fever for two days. «Desde hace» + how long it has been going on
Watch out for this«I'm ill» is «estoy enfermo» or «estoy malo», with «estar», because it's a temporary state. «Soy enfermo» sounds odd, and «es malo» means a bad person.
What the doctor will ask you
¿Qué le pasa?What's wrong? It asks what your problem is
¿Desde cuándo le duele?Since when does it hurt? It asks how long you've had it
¿Tiene fiebre?Do you have a temperature? It asks whether your temperature is high
¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?Are you allergic to any medicine? It asks whether any medicine gives you a reaction