It’s vital that you be able to understand the symptoms that a patient has. This lesson can be used as a reference when Spanish-speaking patients list their symptoms for you. You can also use it to determine what to ask of patients.
If a patient gives you information, they will use the first person ("yo") form of the verb. If you ask a patient a question about themselves (or even about someone else), you will use the third person ("usted," "él," and "ella") form of the verb.
1a. Using Ser and Estar
Use estar when discussing the following conditions:
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am… | Yo estoy… | yo ace-toy… |
| Are you…? | ¿Está usted…? | ace-tah oo-staid… |
| Is he/she…? | ¿Está él / ella…? | ace-tah ale / ay-yah… |
| …pregnant | …embarazada | …aim-bare-ah-sah-dah |
| …breast-feeding | …dándole de pecho | …don-doe-lay day pay-choh |
| …contagious | …contagioso/a | …cone-tah-he-oh-so / sah |
| …dizzy | …mareado/a | …ma-ray-ah-doe / dah |
Note that estar is also used with intoxicado/a. You would hear, "Estoy intoxicado/a" directly from a patient or "Está intoxicado/a" if a caregiver is speaking about the patient.
This deserves special mention because it does not mean "intoxicated/drunk." The Spanish words for intoxicated/drunk are borracho/a, ebrio/a, and embriagado/a. "Intoxicado" means "poisoned." The noun forms for "poisoning" are la intoxicación and el envenenamiento.
Use ser when discussing the following condition:
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| I am hemophilic. | Yo soy hemofílico/a. | yo soy aim-oh-fee-lee-koh / kah |
| Are you hemophilic? | ¿Es usted hemofílico/a? | ace oo-staid aim-oh-fee-lee-koh / kah |
| Is he/she hemophilic? | ¿Es él / ella hemofílico/a? | ace ale / ay-yah aim-oh-fee-lee-koh / kah |
1b. Using Tener
For the rest of the conditions/symptoms that you will need to know, you can use the verb tener (to have). You can simply ask, ¿Tiene usted/él/ella ...? and listen for Yo tengo...
Here’s a sample dialogue to illustrate the use of the extremely important verb tener:
Nurse: Me llamo Stephanie. Voy a ser su enfermera. ¿Cuál es la razón de su visita? (My name is Stephanie. I’m going to be your nurse. What is the reason for your visit?)
Patient: Estoy enfermo. (I'm sick.)
Nurse: ¿Cuáles son sus síntomas? (What are your symptoms?)
Patient: Tengo dolor del estómago. (I have a stomachache.)
Nurse: ¿Tiene usted diarrea? (Do you have diarrhea?)
Patient: No. Tengo vómitos. (No. I have vomiting)
Nurse: ¿Tiene usted dolor de cabeza? (Do you have a headache?)
Patient: No. (No.)
Nurse: ¿Tiene usted fiebre? (Do you have a fever?)
Patient: No sé. (I don't know.)
Nurse: Tengo que tomarle la temperatura. (I have to take your temperature.)
Patient: Okay. (Okay.)
You will ask the patient ¿Tiene usted...? and then fill in the blank with any of the symptoms or conditions listed below.
Alternately, if the person you are asking is not the patient, you will ask ¿Tiene ella...? or ¿Tiene él...? and again fill in the blank with any of the symptoms or conditions in the chart that follows. The chart is organized by symptom (similar symptoms and conditions are grouped together).
If the answer/information comes directly from the patient, listen for (Yo) tengo.... If it comes from someone else, listen for Ella tiene... or Él tiene...
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| hunger (hungry) | hambre | ahm-bray |
| thirst (thirsty) | sed | said |
| sleepy | sueño | s'wayne-yo |
| cold (temperature) | frío | free-oh |
| hot | calor | kah-lore |
| a fever | fiebre | fee-ay-bray |
| difficulty breathing | dificultad en respirar | dee-fee-cool-todd ain race-pee-rar |
| difficulty walking | dificultad en caminar | dee-fee-cool-todd ain kah-me-nar |
| difficulty swallowing | dificultad en tragar | dee-fee-cool-todd ain trah-gar |
| difficulty seeing | dificultad en ver | dee-fee-cool-todd ain bare |
| difficulty sleeping | dificultad en dormir | dee-fee-cool-todd ain door-meer |
| fatigue | la fatiga | la fah-tee-gah |
| drowsiness | la somnolencia | la soam-no-lane-see-ah |
| pain of the/ache in the (body part) | dolor de (body part) | doe-lore day (body part) |
| headache | dolor de cabeza | doe-lore day kah-bay-sah |
| stomach ache | dolor de estómago | doe-lore day ace-toe-mah-go |
| sore throat | dolor de garganta | doe-lore day gar-gahn-tah |
| migraine | una migraña | me-grahn-yah |
| a cramp | un calambre | oon kah-lahm-bray |
| menstrual cramps | dolor menstrual | doe-lore main-strew-all |
| nausea | la náusea | la now-see-ah |
| diarrhea | la diarrea | la dee-ah-ray-ah |
| an upset stomach |
el revuelto del estómago OR trastorno estomacal |
ale ray-b'well-toe dale ace-toe-mah-go ale trass-tore-no ace-toe-mah-call |
| heartburn | la acidez del estómago | la ah-see-dace dale ace-toe-mah-go |
| indigestion | la indigestión | la een-dee-hace-tee-own |
| vomiting spells | los vómitos | lohs bow-me-tohs |
| constipation | el estreñimiento | ale ay-strain-yee-me-ain-toe |
| lactose intolerance | la intolerancia a la lactosa | la een-toe-lay-rahn-see-ah ah la lack-toe-sah |
| bronchitis | la bronquitis | la broan-key-tiece |
| tonsillitis | la amigdalitis | la ah-meeg-dah-lee-tiece |
| flu | la influenza/la gripe | la een-flu-ain-sah / la gree-pay |
| a common cold | un resfriado / un catarro | oon race-free-ah-doe / oon kah-tah-row |
| allergy symptoms | los síntomas de alergias | lohs seen-toe-mahs day ah-lair-he-ahs |
| a cough | una tos | oo-nah tohs |
| congestion | la congestión | la cone-hay-stee-own |
| a runny nose | la mocosidad / la moquera | la moh-koh-see-dahd / la moh-kay-rah |
| watery eyes | el líquido en los ojos | ale lee-key-doe ain lohs oh-hohs |
| dry mouth | una boca seca | oo-nah bow-kah say-kah |
| coldsores | las úlceras en los labios | lahs ool-say-rahs ain lohs la-bee-ohs |
| mouth ulcers/canker sores | las úlceras en la boca | lahs ool-say-rahs ain la bow-kah |
| a virus | un virus | oon bee-roose |
| a bacteria | una bacteria | oo-nah bahk-tay-ree-ah |
| a urinary tract infection | una infección del tracto urinario | oo-nah een-fake-see-own dale trahk-toe oo-ree-nah-ree-oh |
| frequent urination | la orinación frecuente | la oh-ree-nah-see-own fray-k'wayne-tay |
| ear infection | una infección del oído | oo-nah een-fake-see-own dale oh-ee-doe |
| a yeast infection | los hongos | lohs own-gohs |
| dizziness/light-headedness | el mareo | ale ma-ray-oh |
| fainting spells | los desmayos | lohs dace-my-ohs |
| weakness | la debilidad | la day-bee-lee-dahd |
| a sleep disorder | un trastorno del sueño | oon trahs-tore-no dale s'wayne-yo |
| weight loss | una pérdida de peso | oo-nah pair-dee-dah day pay-so |
| weight gain | un aumento de peso | oon ow-main-toe day pay-so |
| poor appetite | poco apetito | po-koh ah-pay-tee-toe |
| a cut | una cortada | oo-nah core-tah-dah |
| a wound | una herida | oo-nah air-ee-dah |
| swelling/inflammation | una inflamación | oo-nah een-flah-ma-see-own |
| a burn | una quemadura | oo-nah kay-ma-doo-rah |
| sunburn | una quemadura de sol | oo-nah kay-ma-doo-rah day sole |
| a burning during urination | una quemadura al orinar | oo-nah kay-ma-doo-rah all oh-ree-nar |
| a bite/sting | una picadura | oo-nah pee-kah-doo-rah |
| an itch | una picazón | oo-nah pee-kah-soan |
| poison ivy | la hiedra venenosa | la yay-drah bay-nay-no-sah |
| jock itch | la tiña inguinal | la teen-ya een-guee-nall |
| athlete’s foot | el pie de atleta | ale pee-ay day at-lay-tah |
| a callus | un callo | oon kah-yo |
| a blister | una ampolla | oo-nah ahm-poe-yah |
| acne | el acne | ale ahk-nay |
| a rash | una erupción | oo-nah ay-roop-see-own |
| chicken pox | la varicela | la ba-ree-say-la |
| asthma | la asma | la ahs-ma |
| angina | la angina | la ahn-he-nah |
| glaucoma | el glaucoma | ale gla-ow-koe-ma |
| cataract | la catarata | la kah-tah-rah-tah |
| blurred vision | la visión nublada | la bee-see-own noo-blah-dah |
| epilepsy | la epilepsia | la ay-pee-lape-see-ah |
| ulcers | las úlceras | lahs ool-say-rahs |
| a cyst | una quiste | oo-nah key-stay |
| cancer | el cáncer | ale kahn-sair |
| AIDS | la SIDA (syndrome d'immuno déficience acquise) | la see-dah |
| arthritis | la artritis | la are-tree-tiece |
| dysentery | la disentería | la dee-sane-tay-ree-ah |
| ADHD | el trastorno de hiperactividad y un déficit de atención | ale trass-tore-no day ee-pair-ahk-tee-bee-dod ee oon day-fee-seat day ah-tain-see-own |
| hepatitis | la hepatitis | la ay-pa-tee-tiece |
| anemia | la anemia | la ah-nay-me-ah |
| meningitis | la meningitis | la may-nane-he-tiece |
| whooping cough | una tos ferina | oo-nah tohs fay-ree-nah |
| diabetes | las diabetes | lahs dee-ah-bay-tace |
| a blood clot | un coágulo | oon koh-ah-goo-low |
| high cholesterol | un nivel alto de colesterol | oon nee-bail all-toe day koh-lace-tay-role |
| high blood pressure | la hipertensión / la alta presión arterial | la ee-pair-tain-see-own / la all-tah pray-see-own are-tay-ree-all |
| low blood pressure | la hipotensión / la baja presión arterial | la ee-po-tain-see-own / la ba-ha pray-see-own are-tay-ree-all |
| a heart condition | una condición del corazón | oo-nah cone-dee-see-own dale koh-rah-soan |
| a pacemaker | un marcapaso | oon marr-kah-pah-so |
| a thyroid condition | una condición del tiroideo | oo-nah cone-dee-see-own dale tee-roy-day-oh |
| a prostate condition | una condición de la próstata | oo-nah cone-dee-see-own day la pro-stah-tah |
| a respiratory condition | una condición respiratoria | oo-nah cone-dee-see-own race-pee-rah-toe-ree-ah |
| kidney disease | la enfermedad del riñon | la ain-fair-may-dod dale reen-yoan |
| lung disease | la enfermedad de los pulmones | la ain-fair-may-dod day lohs pool-moan-ace |
| pneumonia | la pulmonía | la pool-mo-nee-ah |
| Alzheimer’s disease | la enfermedad de Alzheimer | la ain-fair-may-dod day all-sigh-mare |
| heart disease | la enfermedad del corazón | la ain-fair-may-dod dale koh-rah-soan |
| STD | la enfermedad de transmisión sexual | la ain-fair-may-dod day trahns-me-see-own sake-sue-all |
| venereal disease | la enfermedad venérea | la ain-fair-may-dod bay-nay-ray-ah |
| liver disease | la enfermedad del hígado | la ain-fair-may-dod dale ee-gah-doe |
Note that dolor de... means a pain/ache in/of the.... So, "Tengo dolor de cabeza" means "I have a headache/I have a pain in my head."
But sometimes you will hear this instead: "Me duele la cabeza," which literally means "My head hurts me." They both convey the same meaning. If patients are talking about more than one body part, they will say, "Me duelen": "Me duelen las rodias" means "My knees hurt me." Just be aware that this is how some patients will phrase this, and that "Tengo dolor de..." and "Me duele..." essentially mean the same thing.
The chart below provides some follow-up questions and phrases for you to use once you determine what a patient's symptoms are.
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| For how long? | ¿Hace cuánto tiempo? | ah-say k'wann-toe tee-aim-poe |
| Is this the first time? | ¿Es la primera vez? | ace la pre-may-rah base |
| When was the last time? | ¿Cuándo fue la última vez? | k'wann-doe f'way la ool-tee-ma-base |
| You should see your doctor. | Debe ver a su doctor/a. | day-bay bare ah sue doke-tore/ah |
| You should go to the hospital. | Debe ir al hospital. | day-bay ear all ose-pee-tall |
| Call 911! | ¡Llame nueve, uno, uno! | ya-may noo-ay-bay oo-no oo-no |
| You should take... (name of medicine). | Debe tomar... (name of medicine) | day-bay toe-mar... (name of medicine) |
| Have you taken ____? | ¿Ha tomado ____? | ah toe-mah-doe ____ |
[MUSIC PLAYING] [SPEAKING SPANISH]. Let's practice. This is a translation activity. First, you will simply look at the English phrases and work out how to say them in Spanish. You can pause and take all the time you need in order to do that. You might want to do this on a piece of paper or open up a notes app or a Word document so that you'll have a record of what you think the correct answers are before you move along to hear me give you the translation for each. So go ahead and pause now and take all the time you need to do these translations.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
She's thirsty would be [SPEAKING SPANISH]. You can include [SPEAKING SPANISH], if you like. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has difficulty sleeping. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. You can, of course, put [SPEAKING SPANISH] in front. She has a headache. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a sore throat. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has heartburn. [SPEAKING SPANISH].
She has the flu. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a cold. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a cough. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She is congested. [SPEAKING SPANISH], or [SPEAKING SPANISH]. And again, you can put the [SPEAKING SPANISH] in front of all of these. If it, of course, is talking about a male, you would put [SPEAKING SPANISH] in front.
OK, let's try it she has an ear infection. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She's dizzy. [SPEAKING SPANISH] or [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a cut. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a sunburn. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has chickenpox. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has asthma. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has diabetes. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has high blood pressure. [SPEAKING SPANISH] or [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has high cholesterol. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has a heart condition. [SPEAKING SPANISH]. She has pneumonia. [SPEAKING SPANISH]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact SpanishforNursesSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.
Source: This content has been adapted from "Spanish for Nurses" by Stephanie Langston.
