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:

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

Healthcare-related Places

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

Basic Medical Treatments and Medicine

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

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:

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:

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:

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:

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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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.

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