Vocabulary for doctor’s visits

When you need medical attention in a Spanish-speaking country or are helping Spanish speakers navigate healthcare, knowing the right vocabulary is crucial. This comprehensive guide will help you communicate effectively in medical situations.

Key Medical Professionals

You’ll interact with various healthcare providers, each with specific titles:

  • Médico/a (doctor) – Your primary healthcare provider
  • Médico/a de cabecera (family doctor) – Your regular physician who knows your medical history
  • Enfermero/a (nurse) – Provides direct patient care and administers treatments
  • Farmacéutico/a (pharmacist) – Dispenses medications and offers guidance on their use
  • Especialista (specialist) – Doctors with expertise in specific medical fields (e.g., cardiólogo – cardiologist, dermatólogo – dermatologist, oncólogo – oncologist)
  • Cirujano/a (surgeon) – Performs surgical procedures
  • Pediatra (pediatrician) – Specializes in children’s health
  • Ginecólogo/a (gynecologist) – Specializes in women’s health

Common Medical Terms

Understanding these terms will help you describe your condition:

  • Dolor (pain)dolor de cabeza (headache), dolor de estómago (stomach ache), dolor de espalda (back pain)
  • Fiebre (fever)
  • Alergia (allergy)alergia al polen (pollen allergy), alergia a los mariscos (seafood allergy)
  • Gripe (flu)
  • Resfriado (cold)
  • Tos (cough)tos seca (dry cough), tos con flema (cough with phlegm)
  • Mareo (dizziness)
  • Náusea (nausea)
  • Vómito (vomiting)
  • Diarrea (diarrhea)
  • Estreñimiento (constipation)
  • Dolor de garganta (sore throat)
  • Dificultad para respirar (difficulty breathing)
  • Debilidad (weakness)

Body Parts and Systems

Essential anatomy vocabulary:

  • Cabeza (head)ojos (eyes), oídos (ears), nariz (nose), boca (mouth)
  • Garganta (throat)
  • Pecho (chest)pulmones (lungs), corazón (heart)
  • Abdomen (abdomen)estómago (stomach), intestinos (intestines), hígado (liver)
  • Espalda (back)
  • Pierna (leg)rodilla (knee), tobillo (ankle)
  • Brazo (arm)mano (hand), dedo (finger)
  • Piel (skin)

Medical Procedures

Common procedures you might encounter:

  • Examen físico (physical examination)
  • Análisis de sangre (blood test)
  • Análisis de orina (urine test)
  • Radiografía (X-ray)
  • Ecografía (ultrasound)
  • Tomografía computarizada (CT scan)
  • Resonancia magnética (MRI)
  • Endoscopia (endoscopy)
  • Vacuna (vaccine)
  • Inyección (injection)
  • Cirugía (surgery)

Treatments and Medications

Important terms for treatment discussions:

  • Medicamento (medication)
  • Receta (prescription)
  • Pastilla (pill)
  • Cápsula (capsule)
  • Jarabe (syrup)
  • Pomada (ointment)
  • Crema (cream)
  • Gotas (drops)
  • Vendaje (bandage)
  • Yeso (cast)

Essential Phrases for Doctor’s Visits

Key phrases to communicate effectively:

  • “Tengo una cita” (I have an appointment)
  • “Me duele aquí” (It hurts here) (Point to the affected area)
  • “Tengo fiebre” (I have a fever)
  • “Me siento mal” (I feel bad)
  • “¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios?” (What are the side effects?)
  • “Necesito un refill de mi medicamento” (I need a medication refill)
  • “¿Cuándo debo tomar el medicamento?” (When should I take the medication?)
  • “Soy alérgico/a a…” (I’m allergic to…)
  • “¿Necesito una receta?” (Do I need a prescription?)
  • “¿Cuándo debo volver?” (When should I come back?)
  • “No entiendo” (I don’t understand)
  • “¿Puede repetir, por favor?” (Can you repeat, please?)

Emergency Situations

Critical phrases for urgent situations:

  • ¡Es una emergencia! (It’s an emergency!)
  • Necesito una ambulancia (I need an ambulance)
  • Llame al 911 (Call 911)
  • Estoy sangrando (I’m bleeding)
  • No puedo respirar (I can’t breathe)
  • Tengo dolor en el pecho (I have chest pain)

Insurance and Payment Terms

Vocabulary for handling administrative matters:

  • Seguro médico (health insurance)
  • Copago (copayment)
  • Factura (bill)
  • Deducible (deductible)
  • Tarjeta del seguro (insurance card)
  • Formulario (form)
  • Cita (appointment)
  • Referido (referral)

Conclusion

With this vocabulary guide, you’re well-equipped to handle medical situations in Spanish-speaking environments. Remember that medical staff are accustomed to working with patients who may not be fluent in Spanish, so don’t hesitate to speak slowly or ask for clarification. Keep this guide handy for quick reference during your medical visits, and you’ll be able to communicate your needs effectively and understand important medical instructions.

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