Vocabulary Guide to Types of Medicine in Spanish
Knowing the names of medicines in Spanish is essential for travelers in Latin America and Spain.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to maintaining optimal health. The best way to determine which medicine in Spanish you need is to be prepared and know what cures what.
It’s important to note that this is not a medical guide, but rather a vocabulary guide to many types of medicine in Spanish. Be prepared for your next trip to Spanish-speaking lands or to speak with a native Spanish speaker wherever you happen to be. In Latin American culture, it’s also common to use natural herbal remedies.
This guide to different types of medicine in Spanish has your back! Use it to know what you need and how to ask for it.
If you want to practice How to Discuss Your Health in Spanish, this post will help you out. Knowing how to say what’s wrong in Spanish is essential when it comes to asking for the right medicine at the right time.
Medicine in Spanish Vocabulary
It’s time to learn how to discuss medicine in Spanish. Read on for the common medicines in Spanish, as well as ways to administer medicine.
I’ve also included several natural remedies because many people in the Spanish-speaking world love to try out natural remedies first and then move to pharmaceutical remedies if necessary. Let’s get to it!
Common Medicines in Spanish
El medicamento – Medicine
El tratamiento – Treatment
La receta – Prescription
Medicina sin receta – Over-the-counter medicine
El antibiótico – Antibiotic
El antidepresivo – Antidepressant
El ansiolítico – Anti-anxiety pill
El somnífero – Sleeping pills
El jarabe de tos – Cough syrup
El antialérgico – Anti-allergy medicine
El analgésico – Painkiller
El antigripal – Cold relief medicine
El laxante – Laxative
El antihistamínico – Antihistamine
La insulina – Insulin
La penicilina – Penicillin
El ibuprofeno – Ibuprofen
El antiácido – Antacid
El acetaminofén – Acetaminophen
La aspirina – Aspirin
Las gotas para los ojos – Eye drops
Ways to Administer Medicine
El jarabe – Syrup
El linimento – Liniment
El diurético – Diuretic
El unguento – Ointment
Las gotas – Drops
La pomada – Balm
La crema – Cream
La loción – Lotion
La pastilla – Pill
La cápsula – Capsule
La inyección – Injection
El supositorio – Suppository
El suero – Serum
Natural Remedies
Las vitaminas – Vitamins
Los minerales – Minerals
Las hierbas – Herbs
Los aceites esenciales – Essential oils
El té de menta – Mint tea
El té de manzanilla – Chamomile tea
El té de orégano – Oregano tea
El té de limoncillo – Lemongrass tea
El aceite y el jugo de naranja – Oil with orange juice
Remedio Flores de Bach – Bach Flower remedies
La ruda – Rue
El albahaca – Basil
La manzanilla – Chamomile
El agua con lima – Water with lemon/lime
Las sales de Epsom – Epsom salts
El bicarbonato – Baking soda
El vinagre – Vinegar
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Traditional alternative medicine includes different forms of therapy such as acupuncture, homeopathy and Chinese medicine. It’s becoming more and more common for people to use these effective forms of medicine because many of the times these healthy practices avoid you getting sick. Here are some of the most popular ones:
La acupuntura – Acupuncture
La Ayurveda – Ayurveda
Homeopatía – Homeopathy
Naturopatía – Naturopathy
Body and Mind
El quiropráctico – Chiropractic
El masaje – Massage
El tai chi – Tai Chi
El yoga – Yoga
Una dieta sana – A healthy diet
La meditación – Meditation
La hipnosis – Hypnosis
El biorretroalimentación – Biofeedback
How to Translate Medicine Names into Spanish
As a bilingual blogger, Spanishdict and Wordreference are two of my favorite translators to use. You can quickly translate almost any kind of medication you might be looking for. Make sure to cross-reference at least two websites so that you’ll get the medicine in Spanish that you need.
If you’re traveling, the local pharmacists are friendly and helpful and can find a way to get you the appropriate medicine in Spanish for your condition. You’ll find that many remedies are similar in Spanish and English.
How to Ask for Medicine in Spanish
Here is a sample conversation related to asking for the medicine in Spanish that you need:
¿Cuál es el problema?
– Me duele el estómago.
¿Eres alérgico a algún medicamento?
– Sí, a la penicilina.
What’s the matter?
– I have a stomach ache.
Are you allergic to any medication?
– Yes, penicillin.
¿Dónde te duele?
– Aquí.
Where does it hurt?
– Here.
¿ Me puede recetar algo?
– Claro.
Could you prescribe something for me?
– Of course.
Tome este antibiótico cada ocho horas por una semana.
– Perfecto, gracias.
Take these antibiotics every eight hours for a week.
– Perfect, thank you.
More Useful Phrases
Now that you’ve got the vocabulary down, let’s go over some common phrases you might hear or need to say when discussing medicine in Spanish or in an emergency situation when you need to ask for medicine in Spanish.
Estoy enfermo/a.
I am sick.
Necesito medicina.
I need medicine.
No me siento bien.
I don’t feel well.
Algo está mal.
Something’s wrong.
Tuve un accidente.
I had an accident.
¿Dónde está la farmacia?
Where is the pharmacy?
Necesito ver un médico.
I need to see a doctor.
Me duele ______.
My ______ hurts.
Me golpeé…
I hit my…
Tengo fiebre.
I have a fever.
Tome cuarenta y ocho horas de reposo.
Take 48 hours of rest.
Tome mucho líquido.
Drink lots of liquids.
Tome el antibiótico cada ocho horas por siete días.
Take the antibiotics every eight hours for seven days.
Immerse Yourself
Knowing how to ask for medicine is Spanish is both interesting and necessary. There continue to be more and more Spanish speaking people around the world and with it the wanderlust to travel more. The number of Spanish speakers in the U.S. continues to increase. These are just a couple of the many reasons to learn Spanish today.
There’s no better way to learn a second language more effectively than by immersing yourself. Sign up for a free class and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of Spanish. It’s rich with beautiful literature, food, and sounds that you’ll love. Start to speak Spanish today and expand your horizon!
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