At the doctor in Spanish: booking, describing symptoms and understanding the diagnosis in Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina
A pharmacist will help you with a cold. At a doctor’s appointment you need more Spanish: a booking, a reception desk, a description of pain that is precise enough to be useful, and a diagnosis you have to understand well enough to act on. This page has all four, with the systems and the words that change between Mexico, Spain, Colombia and Argentina. For a sore throat and a box of pills, start with At the pharmacy in Spanish instead.
Booking the appointment
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I would like to make an appointment | Quisiera pedir cita. (Spain) / Quiero agendar una cita. (Mexico, Colombia) / Quería sacar un turno. (Argentina) | Turno is the Argentine word |
| An appointment with a GP | Una cita con el médico general. | Médico de cabecera or médico de familia in Spain |
| With a specialist | Con un especialista. | Usually needs a referral |
| The first appointment you have | La primera que tenga. | |
| As soon as possible | Lo antes posible. | |
| Is there anything today? | ¿Hay algo para hoy? | |
| It is urgent | Es urgente. | |
| Do you have anything in the afternoon? | ¿Tiene algo por la tarde? | |
| I need to cancel my appointment | Necesito cancelar mi cita. / mi turno. (Argentina) | Cancel it. No-shows are penalised in some systems |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? | Ask when you book, not when you arrive |
| How much is a private consultation? | ¿Cuánto cuesta la consulta particular? | Particular means privately paid in all four |
Cita is the word for an appointment in Mexico, Spain and Colombia. In Argentina people say turno and use cita for a date with a person. In Spain the phrase on every health centre sign is cita previa, appointment required.
How to get seen, by country
| Mexico | Spain | Colombia | Argentina | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public cover | el IMSS for salaried workers, el ISSSTE for state employees | la Seguridad Social, through your centro de salud | your EPS, which you choose and are registered with | la obra social, through your union or job |
| Private cover | el seguro de gastos médicos, el seguro privado | la privada, un seguro privado | medicina prepagada, or paying particular | la prepaga |
| Walk-in option | el consultorio, often next to a pharmacy, seen the same day for a small fee | urgencias at the health centre or hospital | la consulta particular at a private clinic | la guardia at a public hospital, or a private consultorio |
| What you show at the desk | your número de seguridad social or you pay as a paciente particular | your tarjeta sanitaria | your carné de la EPS and cédula | your carnet de la obra social and DNI |
| Where you go first | el consultorio or a clinic | el centro de salud, then referral | your EPS clinic, then referral | your obra social clinic, or the public hospital |
Three notes a visitor needs.
Public hospitals in Argentina treat anyone who arrives, including foreigners, and emergency care there is not charged. The waits at la guardia can be long, and the care is real.
In Mexico, small private surgeries attached to pharmacies, the consultorios, see patients without an appointment for a modest fee and can write a prescription the same visit. They are the usual answer to an ordinary illness for a visitor.
In Spain, emergency treatment is given to anyone. A visitor with a European health card presents it; a visitor without cover may be billed afterwards. Ask at reception what you are being treated as: ¿me atienden por la pública o como particular?
At reception
| What you will hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| ¿Tiene cita? / ¿Tiene turno? | Do you have an appointment |
| ¿A nombre de quién? | In whose name |
| ¿Me da su documento? | Your ID, please |
| ¿Tiene seguro? | Do you have insurance |
| ¿Con qué EPS está? | Which EPS are you with (Colombia) |
| ¿Es la primera vez que viene? | Is this your first visit |
| Rellene este formulario. (Spain) / Llene este formato. (Mexico) | Fill in this form |
| Tome asiento, ahora lo llaman. | Take a seat, they will call you |
| Pase a la sala de espera. | Go through to the waiting room |
| El doctor lo atiende en unos minutos. | The doctor will see you shortly |
| Puede pasar, consultorio tres. | Go in, room three |
| Pase a caja antes de salir. | Pay at the desk before you leave |
The room itself is el consultorio in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina, and la consulta in Spain. To be seen is atender: ¿quién me atiende?, who is seeing me.
Describing what is wrong
The frame is me duele for one thing, me duelen for several, and tengo for a condition: me duele el pecho, me duelen las articulaciones, tengo fiebre.
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| It hurts here | Me duele aquí. | Point. It saves five sentences |
| A sharp, stabbing pain | Un dolor punzante. | |
| A dull ache | Un dolor sordo. | |
| A burning feeling | Ardor. / Me arde. | Ardor de estómago is heartburn |
| A tightness, pressure | Una presión en el pecho. | Say this out loud immediately if it is your chest |
| It throbs | Me palpita. / Es un dolor pulsátil. | |
| Constant | Es constante. | |
| It comes and goes | Va y viene. | |
| Worse at night | Empeora por la noche. | |
| Only when I move | Solo cuando me muevo. | |
| It spreads to my arm | Se me irradia al brazo. | Irradiarse is the word the doctor uses |
| Since yesterday | Desde ayer. | |
| For three days | Desde hace tres días. | |
| It started suddenly | Empezó de repente. | |
| Little by little | Poco a poco. | |
| I am short of breath | Me falta el aire. | |
| I feel dizzy | Tengo mareos. / Estoy mareado / mareada. | |
| I feel sick | Tengo náuseas. | Not estoy enfermo, which means ill in general |
| I have been vomiting | He vomitado. / Vomité. (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) | |
| Chills | Escalofríos. | |
| I fainted | Me desmayé. | |
| I cannot sleep | No puedo dormir. | |
| I have lost weight | He bajado de peso. | |
| Out of ten, about a seven | Como un siete de diez. | The pain scale is used in all four |
| I am allergic to penicillin | Soy alérgico / alérgica a la penicilina. | Say it before anything is prescribed |
| I take this every day | Tomo esto todos los días. | Show the box |
| I am pregnant | Estoy embarazada. | |
| I have high blood pressure | Tengo la tensión alta. (Spain) / Tengo la presión alta. (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) | The one word Spain does differently |
Blood pressure is the regional trap. In Spain people say la tensión, in the other three la presión, and both are understood in a clinic.
What the doctor will ask
| What you will hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué le trae por aquí? | What brings you in |
| ¿Qué le pasa? / ¿Qué siente? | What is wrong, what do you feel |
| ¿Desde cuándo? | Since when |
| ¿Dónde le duele exactamente? | Where exactly does it hurt |
| ¿Le duele cuando aprieto aquí? | Does it hurt when I press here |
| ¿Le duele al respirar? | Does it hurt when you breathe |
| ¿Del uno al diez? | On a scale of one to ten |
| ¿Ha tenido esto antes? | Have you had this before |
| ¿Tiene fiebre? | Do you have a fever |
| ¿Toma algún medicamento? | Are you on any medication |
| ¿Es alérgico a algo? | Are you allergic to anything |
| ¿Fuma? ¿Bebe alcohol? | Do you smoke, do you drink |
| ¿Alguna operación previa? | Any previous surgery |
| ¿Antecedentes familiares? | Family history |
| ¿Ha viajado recientemente? | Have you travelled recently |
The examination
These are instructions. You do not have to answer them, only understand them.
| What you will hear | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pase y siéntese. | Come in and sit down |
| Súbase la manga. | Roll up your sleeve |
| Descúbrase el brazo. | Bare your arm |
| Quítese la camisa. | Take off your shirt |
| Acuéstese en la camilla. | Lie down on the couch |
| Boca arriba. / Boca abajo. | Face up, face down |
| Respire hondo. | Breathe in deeply |
| Otra vez. Ahora suelte. | Again. Now let it out |
| No respire. | Hold your breath |
| Abra la boca. Saque la lengua. | Open your mouth, stick out your tongue |
| Diga aaa. | Say aah |
| Mire aquí, siga mi dedo. | Look here, follow my finger |
| Relájese, esto no duele. | Relax, this does not hurt |
| Avíseme si le duele. | Tell me if it hurts |
| Le voy a tomar la tensión. (Spain) / la presión. (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) | Blood pressure |
| Le voy a auscultar. | I am going to listen to your chest |
| Vamos a pesarlo. | Let’s weigh you |
| Ya puede vestirse. | You can get dressed |
Tests
| You want to say | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blood test | un análisis de sangre (Spain, Argentina) / unos estudios de laboratorio (Mexico) / unos exámenes de sangre (Colombia) | Análisis is understood everywhere |
| Urine sample | una muestra de orina | |
| X-ray | una radiografía | Una placa in everyday Mexican speech |
| Ultrasound | una ecografía (Spain, Colombia, Argentina) / un ultrasonido (Mexico) | |
| CT scan | un TAC / una tomografía | |
| MRI | una resonancia magnética | |
| Fasting | en ayunas | Venga en ayunas, come without eating |
| The request slip | la orden (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) / el volante (Spain) | The paper you take to the lab |
| A referral | una derivación / una interconsulta | Colombia says me remitieron al especialista |
| When are the results? | ¿Cuándo están los resultados? | |
| Where do I collect them? | ¿Dónde los recojo? | Often online now. Ask how |
| Do I need to pay for this? | ¿Esto lo tengo que pagar? | |
| Is it covered? | ¿Esto lo cubre el seguro? |
The diagnosis and the prescription
| What you will hear | What it means |
|---|---|
| No es nada grave. | It is nothing serious |
| Es un virus, se le va a pasar. | It is a virus, it will pass |
| Tiene una infección. | You have an infection |
| Está inflamado. | It is inflamed |
| Se lo torció, no está roto. | You sprained it, it is not broken |
| Necesita reposo. | You need to rest |
| Le voy a recetar un antibiótico. | I am prescribing an antibiotic |
| Tómelo cada ocho horas durante siete días. | Every eight hours for seven days |
| Con comida. / En ayunas. | With food, on an empty stomach |
| Termine el tratamiento aunque se sienta mejor. | Finish the course even if you feel better |
| Esto es para el dolor, solo si lo necesita. | This is for the pain, only if you need it |
| Le doy la baja por una semana. (Spain) | A week off work, signed |
| Le doy una incapacidad. (Mexico, Colombia) | The sick note |
| Le hago un certificado médico. (Argentina) | The sick note |
| Si empeora, vaya a urgencias. | If it gets worse, go to A&E |
| Nos vemos en un control en quince días. | Follow-up in a fortnight |
Questions worth asking before you leave the room:
| You want to say | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Can you write that down for me? | ¿Me lo puede escribir? |
| Say it more slowly, please | ¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? |
| How many days? | ¿Cuántos días? |
| Can I drink alcohol with this? | ¿Puedo tomar alcohol con esto? |
| Can I drive? | ¿Puedo conducir? (Spain) / ¿Puedo manejar? (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina) |
| Should I come back? | ¿Tengo que volver? |
| What should I watch out for? | ¿A qué debo estar atento? |
| Do I need a note for work? | ¿Me puede dar un justificante? (Spain) / un certificado (Argentina) / una incapacidad (Mexico, Colombia) |
The prescription itself is la receta everywhere. The words for taking it to a pharmacy and the doses are in At the pharmacy in Spanish.
Emergencies
The number to call: 112 in Spain, 911 in Mexico, 123 in Colombia, and 107 for an ambulance in Argentina, where 911 also works in Buenos Aires.
| You want to say | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Call an ambulance | Llame a una ambulancia. |
| It is an emergency | Es una emergencia. |
| He cannot breathe | No puede respirar. |
| She is unconscious | Está inconsciente. |
| Chest pain | Dolor en el pecho. |
| Where is A&E? | ¿Dónde está urgencias? / ¿Dónde está la guardia? (Argentina) |
Casualty is urgencias in Mexico, Spain and Colombia, and la guardia in Argentina, which is also the word for the overnight shift.
Ten sentences you can say tomorrow
- Quisiera pedir cita con el médico general. I would like an appointment with a GP. (Spain, Colombia)
- Quería sacar un turno para esta semana. I’d like an appointment this week. (Argentina)
- Me duele aquí desde hace tres días. It has hurt here for three days.
- Es un dolor punzante y va y viene. It is a stabbing pain and it comes and goes.
- Me falta el aire cuando subo escaleras. I get short of breath going up stairs.
- Soy alérgica a la penicilina. I am allergic to penicillin.
- Tengo la presión alta y tomo pastillas. I have high blood pressure and I take tablets. (Mexico, Colombia, Argentina)
- ¿Me lo puede escribir? Hablo poco español. Can you write it down? I speak little Spanish.
- ¿Esto lo cubre el seguro o lo pago particular? Is this covered or am I paying privately?
- ¿Cuándo están los resultados del análisis? When are the test results ready?
Questions people ask
How do I say “GP”? El médico general in all four countries. In Spain people also say el médico de cabecera and el médico de familia, and your assigned one at the health centre is the person you see first.
Cita or turno? Cita in Mexico, Spain and Colombia. Turno in Argentina, where cita means a date. Both are understood, and a receptionist in Buenos Aires will know what you mean.
Can I see a doctor without insurance? Yes, privately, in all four. In Mexico a consultorio next to a pharmacy sees you the same day for a small fee. Public hospitals in Argentina treat anyone who arrives. In Spain and Colombia, emergency care is given and the bill depends on your cover, so ask at the desk how you are being registered.
What is “la obra social”? The Argentine health cover attached to your job through the union. Colombia’s equivalent is the EPS, Mexico’s is the IMSS, and Spain’s is the Seguridad Social.
What does “particular” mean at a clinic? Paying yourself, outside any insurance. Consulta particular is a private appointment, and if you ask ¿cuánto sale la consulta particular? you get the price.
How do I describe pain that comes and goes? Va y viene. Add what brings it on: me duele al caminar, empeora por la noche, solo cuando respiro hondo.
Is it “tensión” or “presión”? Blood pressure is la tensión in Spain and la presión in Mexico, Colombia and Argentina. Both are understood in a clinic in any of them.
Should I use usted with a doctor? Yes, in all four countries, and the doctor will use usted back in Mexico and Colombia. In Spain a young doctor may switch you to tú within a sentence, and following them is correct.
Practise these words
cita, turno, consulta, doler, dolor, fiebre, respirar, mareo, análisis, receta, seguro, urgencias, reposo. Vozelu is a free website for practising Spanish, and it has each of these. You see a sentence with one word missing, you type the word, and a native voice reads the sentence back. Practise the words on this page.