Spanish healthcare phrases
Whether you’re a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional who finds yourself with lots of Spanish-speaking patients, planning to volunteer in the healthcare industry in a foreign country, or just want to be prepared for any eventual medical emergencies while traveling, it can be incredibly useful to learn a handful of Spanish medical terminology. We’ve compiled a list at the bottom of this page of 300+ useful Spanish words for healthcare workers. (If you are specifically looking for how to talk about coronavirus, here is a list of COVID-19 symptoms in Spanish.) Here are the top 300 seful Spanish words and phrases that can come in handy in a medical setting:
300 Spanish medical phrases
Spanish | English |
---|---|
el abdomen | abdomen |
la aorta abdominal | abdominal aorta |
el dolor abdominal | abdominal pain |
doloroso | aching |
la manzana de Adán | Adam's apple |
la adrenalina | adrenaline |
la agitación | agitation |
la reacción alérgica | allergic reaction |
el alergista | allergist |
los analgésicos | analgesics |
el choque anafiláctico | anaphylactic shock |
el anestesista | anesthetist |
el tobillo | ankle |
el dolor de tobillo | ankle pain |
los antiácidos | antacids |
la arteria tibial anterior | anterior tibial artery |
los antibióticos | antibiotics |
el antidepresivo | antidepressant |
el antídoto | antidote |
los antihistamínicos | antihistamines |
el antiséptico | antiseptic |
el ano | anus |
la aorta | aorta |
el apéndice vermicular | appendix |
el cayado de la aorta | arch of aorta |
la arcada arterial | arch of foot artery |
el brazo | arm |
la axila | armpit |
la arteria | artery |
la aspirina | aspirin |
el ayudante | assistant |
la arteria braquial | axillary artery |
la vena axilar | axillary vein |
la espalda | back |
el dolor de espalda | back pain |
el bacteriólogo | bacteriologist |
la vena basilica | basilic vein |
el bicarbonato | bicarbonate |
la vejiga | bladder |
la presión | blood pressure |
la arteria braquial | brachial artery |
el cerebro | brain |
el seno | breast |
quemante | burning |
las nalgas | buttocks |
la cafetería | cafeteria |
la pantorrilla | calf |
el dolor de pantorrilla | calf pain |
la cápsula | capsule |
el cardiólogo | cardiologist |
la vena cefálica | cephalic vein |
los cambios visuales | changes in vision |
el pecho | chest |
el dolor en el pecho | chest pain |
el mentón | chin |
el quiropráctico | chiropractor |
la gragea | coated pill |
la codeína | codeine |
el antigripal | cold relief medicine |
la arteria carótida primitiva | common carotid artery |
la arteria ilíaca común | common iliac artery |
el estreñimiento | constipation |
la cortisona | cortisone |
el jarabe para la tos | cough syrup |
la pomada | cream |
el dolor aplastante | crushing pain |
el descongestionante | decongestant |
profundo | deep |
el dolor en los dientes | dental pain |
el dentista | dentist |
la depresión | depression |
el dermatólogo | dermatolotist |
el diafragma | diaphragm |
la diarrea | diarrhea |
el dietista | dietitian |
la dificultad en dormir | difficulty sleeping |
el diurético | diuretic |
los mareos | dizziness |
el consultorio | doctor's office |
la orden médica | doctor's referral |
la arteria del dorso del pie | dorsalis pedis artery |
la licencia de manejar | driver's license |
las gotas | drops |
los ojos secos | dry eyes |
la boca seca | dry mouth |
la oreja | ear |
el dolor del oído | earache |
el codo | elbow |
el dolor de codo | elbow pain |
el ascensor | elevator |
el elixir | elixir |
la sala de emergencia | emergency room |
el endocrinólogo | endocrinologist |
la entrada | entrance |
la epiglotis | epiglottis |
el esófago | esophagus |
el esófago | esophagus |
el esófago | esophagus |
el estrógeno | estrogen |
la salida | exit |
el expectorante | expectorant |
la vena yugular externa | external jugular vein |
el ojo | eye |
las gotas para los ojos | eye drops |
la cara | face |
la fatiga | fatigue |
la arteria femoral | femoral artery |
la vena femoral | femoral vein |
el piso número | floor number |
el pie | foot |
el dolor de pie | foot pain |
el antebrazo | forearm |
la frente | forehead |
el orinar con frecuencia | frequent urination |
la vesícula biliar | gall bladder |
la vesícula biliar | gallbladder |
el gastroenterólogo | gastroenterologist |
la vena safena interna | great saphenous vein |
la ingle | groin |
el ginecólogo | gynecologist |
el pelo | hair |
el pasillo | hallway |
la mano | hand |
el dolor de mano | hand pain |
el dolor de cabeza | headache |
el dolor de cabeza | headache |
el corazón | heart |
el corazón | heart |
las palpitaciones del corazón | heart palpitations |
el talón | heel |
la presión alta | high blood pressure |
la cadera | hip |
el dolor de cadera | hip pain |
las ronchas | hives |
las hormonas | hormones |
el cuarto | hospital room |
el hambre | hunger |
la vena cava inferior | inferior vena cava |
el inhalador | inhaler |
la inyección | injection |
el insomnio | insomnia |
la insulina | insulin |
la tarjeta de seguro médico | insurance card |
la sala de cuidados intensivos | intensive care |
la arteria ilíaca interna | internal iliac artery |
la vena yugular interna | internal jugular vein |
el internista | internist |
los intestinos | intestines |
intravenoso | intravenous |
los latidos cardíacos irregulares | irregular heartbeat |
el comezón | itching |
el dolor de las articulaciones | joint pain |
el riñón | kidney |
la rodilla | knee |
el dolor de rodilla | knee pain |
el laboratorio | laboratory |
la laringe | larynx |
el laxante | laxative |
el pulmón izquierdo | left lung |
la pierna | leg |
el dolor de pierna | leg pain |
el mareo | light-headedness |
el linimento | liniment |
el líquido | liquid |
el hígado | liver |
el hígado | liver |
el vestíbulo | lobby |
la región lumbar | loin |
la loción | lotion |
la presión baja | low blood pressure |
el lóbulo inferior | lower lobe |
la pastilla | lozenge |
el pulmón | lung |
la sala de maternidad | maternity ward |
el medicamento | medication |
la medicina | medicine |
el dolor menstrual | menstrual pain |
el lóbulo medio | middle lobe |
más energía | more energy |
la boca | mouth |
el músculo | muscle |
los dolores musculares | muscle aches |
el dolor de los músculos | muscle pain |
la nuca | nape |
la cavidad nasal | nasal cavity |
la náusea | nausea |
el ombligo | navel |
el cuello | neck |
el dolor del cuello | neck pain |
el neurólogo | neurologist |
el pezón | nipple |
el enfermero | nurse |
el nutricionista | nutritionist |
el tocólogo | obstetrician |
el terapeuta ocupacional | occupational therapist |
el ungüento | ointment |
el oncólogo | oncologist |
la sala de operaciones | operating room |
el oftalmólogo | ophthalmologist |
el optometrista | optometrist |
la cavidad bucal | oral cavity |
la cavidad bucal | oral cavity |
el practicante | orderly |
el ortodoncista | orthodontist |
el ortopédico | orthopedist |
el dolor en los ovarios | ovarian pain |
el páncreas | pancreas |
el páncreas | pancreas |
la pleura parietal | parietal pleura |
el estacionamiento | parking lot |
el parche | patch |
el patólogo | pathologist |
el pediatra | pediatrician |
la penicilina | penicillin |
el pene | penis |
el pericardio | pericardium |
el farmacéutico | pharmacist |
la farmacia | pharmacy |
la faringe | pharynx |
la faringe | pharynx |
el flebotomista | phlebotomist |
el terapista físico | physical therapist |
la píldora | pill |
la cavidad pleural | pleural cavity |
el podólogo | podiatrist |
el mal apetito | poor appetite |
la vena porta | portal vein |
el pliegue anal | posterior rugae |
la potencia | potency |
el polvo | powder |
la presión | pressure |
el proctólogo | proctologist |
el psiquiatra | psychiatrist |
el psicólogo | psychologist |
el pubis | pubis |
la arteria pulmonar | pulmonary artery |
la arteria pulmonar | pulmonary artery |
la vena pulmonar | pulmonary vein |
pulsativo | pulsating |
el pulso | pulse |
el purgante | purgative |
el radiólogo | radiologist |
el pulso rápido | rapid pulse |
el salpullido | rash |
la sala de recuperación | recovery room |
la arteria renal | renal artery |
la vena renal | renal vein |
el bronquio derecho | right bronchus |
el pulmón derecho | right lung |
las glándulas salivales | salivary glands |
la báscula | scale |
el dolor en el escroto | scrotal pain |
el escroto | scrotum |
el sedante | sedative |
el dolor punzante | shooting pain |
la falta de aire | shortness of breath |
el hombro | shoulder |
el omóplato | shoulder blade |
el dolor del hombro | shoulder pain |
el dolor al lado | side pain |
la piel | skin |
el cráneo | skull |
el pulso lento | slow pulse |
la tarjeta de seguro social | social security card |
el trabajador social | social worker |
el dolor de garganta | sore throat |
el esfínter anal | sphincter muscle of anus |
la espina dorsal | spinal cord |
el bazo | spleen |
el atomizador | spray |
las escaleras | stairs |
el esteroide | steriod |
el estómago | stomach |
el estómago | stomach |
el dolor del estómago | stomach pain |
el sabor raro en la boca | strange taste in your mouth |
la arteria subclavia | subclavian artery |
la vena subclavia | subclavian vein |
la arteria mesentérica superior | superior mesenteric artery |
la vena mesentérica superior | superior mesenteric vein |
la vena cava superior | superior vena cava |
la vena cava superior | superior vena cava |
el supositorio | suppository |
el cirujano | surgeon |
la suspensión | suspension |
el hinchazón | swelling |
el jarabe | syrup |
la tableta | tablet |
el técnico | technician |
el teléfono | telephone |
la temperatura | temperature |
la sien | temple |
el bronquiolo terminal | terminal bronchiole |
el terapeuta | therapist |
el muslo | thigh |
el tórax | thorax |
la garganta | throat |
la tensión | tightness |
de hormigueo | tingling |
el cansancio | tiredness |
el dedo del pie | toe |
los servicios | toilet |
la lengua | tongue |
el tónico | tonic |
la tráquea | trachea |
los tranquilizantes | tranquilizers |
el tronco | trunk |
la parte superior del brazo | upper arm |
el lóbulo superior | upper lobe |
el malestar en el estómago | upset stomach |
el dolor cuando orina | urinary pain |
el urólogo | urologist |
el dolor en la matriz | uterine pain |
la vena | vein |
el apéndice | vermiform appendix |
la vitamina | vitamin |
la cuerda vocal | vocal cord |
el vómito | vomiting |
la vulva | vulva |
la cintura | waist |
la sala de espera | waiting room |
la debilidad | weakness |
el peso | weight |
el aumento de peso | weight gain |
la pérdida de peso | weight loss |
la tráquea | windpipe |
la muñeca | wrist |
el dolor de muñeca | wrist pain |
Obviously it could take years of study to learn Spanish translations for all of the medical lexicon out there, but you don’t necessarily need to know the specific jargon. With a couple of key words and phrases, you can be confident that you can express yourself well enough to communicate (or understand) basic needs and keep yourself or your patients safe.
More tips for learning medical Spanish
For those looking to take a deeper dive into Spanish medical terminology, here are some fantastic resources:
Spanish Resources for Healthcare workers
Image | Publisher | Product | Author | Length | Type | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Touri Language Learning | Learn Medical Spanish in 100 Days | Cesar Torreblanca | 7 hours and 24 minutes | Audiobook | Free download | |
KAMMS Consulting | Spanish for Health Care | Stacey Kammerman | 2 hours and 12 minutes | Audiobook | Free download | |
5 Hour Learning | Spanish for the Busy Medical Professional | David Rappoport | 6 hours and 4 minutes | Audiobook | Free download | |
McGraw-Hill Education | Complete Medical Spanish | Joanna Rios | 512 pages | Kindle | Buy now | |
The Pocket Idiot's Guide | Guide to Spanish For Health Care Professionals | K.D. Sullivan | 320 pages | Kindle | Buy now | |
iUniverse | Medical Spanish Mix and Match: Health Care Spanish | Murnez Blades | 182 pages | Kindle | Buy now | |
Beginning Spanish | ¿Qué le Duele? (What hurts?) | Carolina Academic Press | 156 pages | Paperback | Buy now | |
W B Saunders Co | Say It in Spanish: A Guide for Health Care Professionals | Esperanza Villanueva Joyce | 348 pages | Paperback | Buy now | |
Living Language | Essential Spanish for Healthcare | Dr. Miguel Bedolla | 352 pages | Paperback | Buy now | |
American Heart Association | Learn Medical Spanish in 100 Days | American Heart Association | 100 pages | Paperback | Buy now | |
Barron's Educational Series | On Target: Spanish for Health Care Providers | Frank Nuessel | 0.04236111111 | Audio CD | Buy now |
Try watching your favorite medical shows, such as Grey’s Anatomy, ER, or Scrubs in Spanish. Start out watching in English with Spanish subtitles. When you start feeling a bit more comfortable, switch to Spanish with English subtitles. Once you start to master the medical vocabulary, shut off the subtitles altogether.
Spend some time volunteering at a hospital. As a bonus, try to do it in a Spanish speaking country.
Take some online courses, such as these:
Use this link for 25% off Babbel’s premium language learning app. Results are guaranteed, or your money back, and you can cancel anytime.
Rocket Languages knows more about learning a new language than anyone on the planet. They offer multiple award-winning language learning courses.
The one constant across all languages and cultures (well, besides taxes) is the need for healthcare. Healthcare outcomes are substantially better when the patient and the medical professional can articulate themselves clearly and be understood by one another. There’s no substitute for instruction from a qualified Spanish teacher or immersion education, but by mastering these Spanish medical words, you’ll be well on your way.
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