Spanish medical glossary for symptoms, conditions and specialists

Terms used

• Médico de familia — The médico de familia is your general practitioner, the first doctor you see and the one who refers you to specialists.
• Analítica — The analítica is a set of blood or urine tests.
• Psiquiatra — The psiquiatra is a doctor who treats mental health conditions and can prescribe medication.
• Psicólogo clínico — The psicólogo clínico is a therapist who treats mental health conditions through talking therapy, not medication.

Key rules

• First contact: Start with your médico de familia, who refers you to any specialist.
• Psiquiatra or psicólogo: A psiquiatra prescribes medication; a psicólogo clínico offers therapy.
• Allergies: Say "no tengo alergias" or name the medicine, for example "sí, a la penicilina".
• Prepare: Note your medicines, doses and allergies in Spanish before you go.

Which specialist is which

Start with the médico de familia (also called médico de cabecera). This is your first contact, and this doctor refers you to a specialist if you need one.

Tests you may be sent for

• analítica: blood and urine tests. You may also hear "análisis de sangre".
• radiografía: X-ray, often called "placa".
• ecografía: ultrasound.
• resonancia magnética: MRI, often "RM".
• TAC or escáner: CT scan.
• electrocardiograma: heart trace (ECG).
• espirometría: lung function.
• mamografía, densitometría (bone density), citología (smear test).
• endoscopia, colonoscopia: cameras to look inside the digestive system.
• biopsia, cultivo: lab tests on a tissue or fluid sample.
• prueba de esfuerzo: heart test during exercise.

Conditions and symptoms

• Everyday illness: gripe (flu), resfriado (cold), fiebre, tos (cough), dolor de garganta (sore throat), infección de orina, gastroenteritis.
• Stomach and gut: náuseas, vómitos, diarrea, estreñimiento.
• Ongoing conditions: hipertensión (high blood pressure), colesterol, diabetes, asma, alergia, anemia.
• Muscles and bones: lumbalgia (low back pain), esguince (sprain), fractura.
• Head and mind: migraña, ansiedad, depresión, mareo (dizziness).
• Skin: erupción (rash).

Doctors also group problems by body system: cardiovascular, respiratorio, digestivo, nervioso, musculoesquelético, urinario, endocrino, piel.

Questions you will be asked

• ¿Qué le pasa? or ¿Qué le trae por aquí?: What brings you here?
• ¿Desde cuándo tiene los síntomas?: Since when? Answer: "desde hace tres días".
• ¿Dónde le duele?: Where does it hurt? Answer: "Me duele aquí", and point.
• ¿Es un dolor punzante, sordo o continuo?: Sharp, dull or constant?
• ¿Tiene fiebre?: Do you have a fever?
• ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?: Answer "no tengo alergias" or "sí, a la penicilina".
• ¿Toma alguna medicación?: Give the name and dose: "tomo... una vez al día".
• ¿Tiene alguna enfermedad crónica?: Any long-term illness?
• ¿Le han operado alguna vez?: Any past operations?
• ¿Fuma o bebe alcohol?: Do you smoke or drink?
• ¿Está embarazada?: Are you pregnant?
• ¿Hay antecedentes familiares de diabetes, corazón o cáncer?: Family history?
• ¿Ha viajado recientemente?: Have you travelled recently?
• ¿Ha mejorado o empeorado?: Better or worse?
• ¿Cómo duerme? and ¿Cómo come?: Sleep and eating.

Write your medicines, doses and allergies in Spanish on your phone before the visit. It saves time and avoids mistakes.

The questions and answers below cover the most common mix-ups, such as psiquiatra versus psicólogo clínico.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a psiquiatra and a psicólogo clínico?

A psiquiatra is a medical doctor who can prescribe medication for mental health, while a psicólogo clínico offers therapy. If you need both, you may be seen by each of them. Ask your médico de familia which one to start with.

What is the difference between a rehabilitador and a fisioterapeuta?

A rehabilitador is a doctor who diagnoses and plans your recovery, while a fisioterapeuta is the physiotherapist who carries out the exercises and treatment. A referral for rehabilitation often involves both.

How do I say I am allergic to a medicine in Spanish?

Say "Soy alérgico a la penicilina" (or the medicine's name) if you are allergic, or "No tengo alergias" if not. The doctor will usually ask "¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?". Write down the names of your medicines and doses before you go.

How do I describe the type of pain to a doctor in Spanish?

Point and say "Me duele aquí", then say whether the pain is punzante (sharp), sordo (dull) or continuo (constant). You will often hear "¿Desde cuándo tiene los síntomas?"; answer with "desde hace tres días" or the right length of time.