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March 25, 2021 by Carmen Rizzo Spanish Vocabulary 0 comments

How to Discuss Your Health in Spanish

If you plan to travel or live in any Spanish-speaking country, it’s important to know how to talk about your health in Spanish—not only for your own safety but for those around you, too! 

The topic of health is present in everyday, casual conversations, as well as in more serious ones, like when you apply for a job, or fill a travel form, or have a doctor’s appointment. 

Because of these, and many more reasons, this article will provide you with enough vocabulary to discuss your health in Spanish with ease, like a native speaker would. 

Let’s begin! 

Let’s Talk About Health in Spanish

First and foremost, salud or la salud means “health” in Spanish, and to be able to discuss yours or anybody else’s is important to have in mind that health encompasses a lot of elements, like illnesses, health experts and health services, to name just a few. 

But, of course, you don’t need to know all the fancy medical terms or the most recent health and medicine breakthroughs to discuss health in Spanish.

Healthcare Experts

Healthcare is cuidados de la salud in Spanish, and is the organized provision of medical care to individuals or a community. 

The people that give medical care are called healthcare experts, expertos en salud in Spanish.  

Here is a list of some health fields in Spanish:

SpanishEnglish
BacteriologíaBacteriology
BiofísicaBiophysics 
BiologíaBiology
BioquimicaBiochemistry
EnfermeríaNursing
FisioterapiaPhysiotherapy
GeriatríaGeriatry
GinecologíaGynecology
Medicina GeneralGeneral Medicine
Medicina AlternativaAlternative Medicine
NutriciónNutrition 
OdontologíaOdontology
OftalmologíaOphthalmology
OptometríaOptometry
PediatríaPediatrics
PodologíaPodology
PsicologíaPsychology
PsiquiatríaPsychiatry
Terapia OcupacionalOccupational therapy

This is the list for health related words and healthcare professionals:

SpanishEnglish
El Cirujano / La CirujanaSurgeon
La ComadronaMidwife
Los Cuidados de la saludHealthcare
El DentistaDentist
El Doctor / La DoctoraDoctor
El Enfermero / La EnfermeraNurse
El FisioterapeutaPhysiotherapist
La GeriatraGeriatrician
El Ginecólogo / La GinecólogaGynecologist
El Médico general / El Médico de cabeceraGeneral Practitioner
El Médico EspecialistaSpecialist
El/La NutricionistaNutritionist
El/La OdontólogoOdontologist
El Oftalmólogo / La OftalmólogaOphthalmologist
El/La PacientePatient
El/La ParamédicoParamedic
El/La PediatraPediatrician 
El Podólogo/La PodólogaPodologist
El Psicólogo/La PsicólogaPsychologist
Los Primeros auxiliosFirst aids
El / La Terapista OcupacionalOccupational therapist
La saludHealth
health in Spanish

Healthcare-related Places

This section is about the places we can access service and healthcare in Spanish. Take a look at the list:

SpanishEnglish
La AmbulanciaAmbulance
La AseguradoraInsurance carrier
El Centro de Salud / La ClínicaClinic
La Farmacia / DrogueríaDrug Store
El HospitalHospital
El PabellónWard
La Sala de esperaWaiting room
La Sala de operacionesOperating room
El SanatorioSanatorium

Basic Medical Treatments and Medicine

When discussing health in Spanish, you can’t ignore the different treatments and services that healthcare provides. 

SpanishEnglish
El AnalgésicoAnalgesic
El AntibióticoAntibiotic
El Calmante/TranquilizanteTranquilizer
El Chequeo médicoMedical check
La Cita médicaMedical appointment
La DosisDose
Las Drogas (médicas)Drugs
La InyecciónInjection
La MedicinaMedicine
La Medicina por prescripciónPrescription medicine
La Medicina para la tosCough syrup
La Medicina de venta libreOver-the-counter medicine
La OperaciónSurgery
La Pastilla/TabletaTablet
La Prescripción médicaMedical prescription
La PildoraPill
La RCPCPR
La Receta de medicinaMedicine prescription
El Seguro de VidaLife insurance
El Seguro médicoInsurance
La Transfusión sanguíneaBlood transfusion
La VacunaVaccine
El VendajeBandage
Las VitaminasVitamins

Illnesses and Minor Injuries

When you talk about health in Spanish, it is important that you can express your discomfort and symptoms in case you have some kind of illness.

Take a look at this words:

SpanishEnglish
La AlergíaAllergy
La  AsfixiaSuffocation
El AsmaAsthma
El Ataque al corazón/Paro cardiacoHeart attack
El CalambreMuscle cramp
El CancerCancer
El Chinchón / Hematoma Head bump
El CorteCut
La DeshidrataciónDehydration
La DiabetesDiabetes 
La DiarreaDiarrhea
El DolorAche/Pain
El Dolor de cabezaheadache
El Dolor de gargantaThroat pain
El Dolor de estómagoStomachache
El Dolor de dienteToothache
La EnfermedadDisease
La Enfermedad cardiacaHeart disease 
La Enfermedad infecciosa Infectious disease
Los EscalofríosShaking chills
La FracturaFracture
La FiebreFever
La GripeFlu
La HeridaWound
La HipotermiaHypothermy
La InfecciónInfection
La IntoxicaciónIntoxication
El MalestarDiscomfort
El Morete/MoretónBruise
La NáuseaNausea
El RaspónGraze
El ResfriadoCold
El SangradoBleeding
La TosCough
El TumorTumor
El VirusVirus
El VomitoVomit

Health-related Verbs

When talking about health in Spanish, you have to know certain verbs to be able to communicate better your needs, discomfort and even symptoms. 

Here is a list with some health related verbs in Spanish:

SpanishEnglish
Acatarrar To have a cold
AccidentarTo crash/ To have an accident
Aliviar To relieve
Automedicarse To self-medicate
EnfermarGet sick
EstornudarTo sneeze
ContagiarTo spread
CurarTo cure
DesmayarTo pass out
InternarTo intern
HospitalizarTo hospitalize
LastimarTo hurt
LesionarTo Injure
Prescribir/RecetarTo prescribe
OperarTo operate on/To perform surgery
Tomar medicinaTo take medicine
SanarTo heal
Sentirse malTo feel sick
ToserTo cough
TratarTreat
VacunarTo vaccinate

Health-related Adjectives:

Just like with the verbs, to talk properly about health in Spanish, you need to learn some adjectives to better express yourself. 

Take a look at this list of adjectives:

SpanishEnglish
AgotadoExhausted
AdormiladoSleepy
AnsiosoAnxious
BuenoGood
CurativoCurative
DebilWeak
DolorosoPainful
EficazEffective
En formaFit
EnfermoIll/Sick
EquilibradoBalanced
EstresadoStressed
FuerteStrong
IndispuestoUnwell
InflamadoInflamed
IrritadoIrritated
MareadoDizzy
NutritivoNutritious
Poco SanoUnhealthy
RotoBroken
SaludableHealthy
TorcidoTwisted

Living a Healthy Lifestyle: Vocabulary in Spanish

When discussing health in Spanish, it’s essential to discuss the foundations of a healthy lifestyle. Not only does this help to avoid illness but also to set goals for a better life quality and better health.

Here is a list of words to help you talk about a healthy lifestyle:

SpanishEnglish
La Actividad FísicaPhysical Activity
Los CarbohidratosCarbohydrates
Cortar azucaresTo Cut sugars
La Dieta balanceadaBalanced Diet
Dormir suficienteTo get enough sleep
EjercitarseTo Exercise
Estar en buena formaTo be fit
Evitar el estresTo avoid stress
Los hábitos saludablesHealthy habits 
Ir al gimnasioGo to the gym
Ir de caminataGo hiking
Levantar pesasLift weight
Mantenerse en formaTo stay in shape
NadarTo swim
Perder pesoTo lose weight
La ProteinaProtein
El RelajarseTo relax
Renunciar a un vicioTo quit an addiction
Salir a correrGo to run/ Go jogging
La Salud mentalMental Health
Tomar suficiente aguaTo drink enough water
La Vida SanaHealthy Living
El YogaYoga

Example Sentences About Health in Spanish

It’s the first day of your long-awaited vacation trekking through Latin America, and you begin to feel a little bit sick. Is it the flu? Is it just an allergy? Could it be something more serious? 

It’s time to ask for a consultation with a doctor. Where do you begin? 

Let’s take a look at some examples on how to talk about your health in Spanish:

Me siento mal.
I feel sick.

Me siento mareado.
I feel dizzy.

Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.

Me fracturé el tobillo.
I broke my ankle.

Tengo seguro de vida.
I have life insurance.

Yo estoy aprendiendo hábitos saludables para una mejor vida.
I am learning healthy habits for a better life.

¡Vencí al cáncer hace 5 años!
I beat cancer 5 years ago!

Tengo asma.
I have asthma.

How to talk about others’ health in Spanish:

Tu mamá está hospitalizada.
Your mom is hospitalized.

Tu papá tiene diabetes, debe cortar sus azúcares.
Your dad is diabetic, he has to cut his sugar.

A tu hermano le duele la cabeza.
Your brother has a headache

El está en forma.
He is fit.

El joven se desmayó y se lastimó la cabeza.
The young man passed out and hurt his head.

El niño tiene un chinchón muy grande en su frente.
The boy has a big head bump in his forehead.

Here are some example sentences about general truths of health in Spanish:

El yoga es un buen ejercicio.
Yoga is a good exercise. 

Es importante tomar mucha agua al día para evitar deshidratarse.
Is important to drink a lot of water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. 

Lo más recomendado es hacer 30 minutos de ejercicio al día.
The most recommended is to exercise 30 minutes a day.

Deja de fumar o te arruinarás los pulmones.
Quit smoking or you will ruin your lungs.

Si hay una emergencia, llama al 911 para una ambulancia.
If there is an emergency, call 911 for an ambulance. 

Ir de caminata es un excelente ejercicio.
Hiking is an excellent exercise. 

Las medicinas de prescripción no se pueden comprar sin una prescripción médica.
Prescription medicine can’t be bought without a medical prescription.

Es importante hacerse chequeos médicos de rutina.
Is important to do medical routinary checks. 

How to Ask for Medical Help in Spanish

If you ever feel sick or need help while in a Spanish-speaking country, these phrases can save your life!

¡Ayuda por favor!
Please help! 

No sé si tomé la medicina adecuada.
I am not sure if I took the right medicine.

Soy alérgico a :
I am allergic to:

¡Llamen a una ambulancia!
Call an ambulance! 

¿Dónde está el hospital?
Where is the hospital?

Por favor, llamen a mi doctor.
Please, call my doctor.

Time to Discuss Health in Spanish

Practice makes perfect—and don’t let your lack of a Spanish language partner get in your way! Join us at Homeschool Spanish Academy where our friendly, certified native Spanish-speaking teachers start at your level and bring you up to fluency fast. Give us a try with a risk-free, free trial class! Practice your Spanish health vocabulary in a 1-on-1, relaxing environment, and in no time you’ll be speaking about health in Spanish with total confidence and fluency!

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Sign up for your FREE TRIAL CLASS today!

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  • Author
  • Recent Posts
Carmen Rizzo
Carmen Rizzo
Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy
I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.
Carmen Rizzo
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