Spanish Phrases for the Doctor's Office (from a Certified Medical Interpreter)
Frases en español para el consultorio médico
Written by a family medicine physician & certified medical interpreter · Ambos Health
These are the phrases I hear families need most often in clinic. Point to one if the words won't come — it works in both directions.
20 phrases for the visit
| English | Español |
|---|---|
| I need an interpreter, please. | Necesito un intérprete, por favor. |
| I've had this for ___ days. | Tengo esto desde hace ___ días. |
| It hurts here. | Me duele aquí. |
| The pain is ___ out of 10. | El dolor es de ___ de 10. |
| I'm allergic to ___. | Soy alérgico/a a ___. |
| These are all my medicines. | Estas son todas mis medicinas. |
| I feel dizzy. | Me siento mareado/a. |
| I can't breathe well. | No puedo respirar bien. |
| My chest hurts. | Me duele el pecho. |
| I might be pregnant. | Podría estar embarazada. |
| I don't understand. | No entiendo. |
| Please speak more slowly. | Por favor, hable más despacio. |
| Can you write that down? | ¿Me lo puede escribir? |
| What are the side effects? | ¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios? |
| Is there a cheaper generic? | ¿Hay un genérico más barato? |
| When should I come back? | ¿Cuándo debo regresar? |
| Who do I call if it gets worse? | ¿A quién llamo si empeora? |
| I need a refill. | Necesito un resurtido de mi receta. |
| Do I need to fast? | ¿Necesito estar en ayunas? |
| I want a copy of my results. | Quiero una copia de mis resultados. |
Words on medicine labels
| English | Español |
|---|---|
| Once a day | Una vez al día |
| Twice a day | Dos veces al día |
| Every 8 hours | Cada 8 horas |
| With food | Con comida |
| On an empty stomach | Con el estómago vacío |
| At bedtime | Al acostarse |
| As needed | Según sea necesario |
| Until finished | Hasta terminarlo |
Three tips from an interpreter
- Ask for a qualified interpreter instead of relying on family — especially children. In most U.S. clinics it's free.
- Speak to the doctor, not the interpreter, in short sentences.
- Ask for written instructions in Spanish before you leave, and ask the pharmacy to print the label in Spanish.
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Download free · Descargar gratis See the full binderGeneral education, not medical advice. Your own clinician's advice comes first. In an emergency, call 911.