Talking about Health and Wellness in Spanish
Language for the moments when being understood matters
Talking about health requires more than knowing the names of body parts.
Sometimes we need to explain where something hurts, describe a symptom, ask for help, or simply tell someone that we are tired, anxious, or not feeling well.
The following vocabulary and expressions can help you communicate more clearly in everyday health and wellness situations.
The Body
Cabeza
/kaˈβeθa/
English: head
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.
Brazo
/ˈbraθo/
English: arm
Me duele el brazo.
My arm hurts.
Pierna
/ˈpjɛrna/
English: leg
Tengo dolor en la pierna.
I have pain in my leg.
Corazón
/koɾaˈθon/
English: heart
El médico quiere revisar mi corazón.
The doctor wants to check my heart.
Estómago
/esˈtomago/
English: stomach
Tengo una molestia en el estómago.
I have discomfort in my stomach.
Common Symptoms
Dolor
/doˈloɾ/
English: pain
Tengo dolor aquí.
I have pain here.
Fiebre
/ˈfjɛβɾe/
English: fever
Tengo fiebre desde anoche.
I have had a fever since last night.
Tos
/tos/
English: cough
Tengo mucha tos.
I have a bad cough.
Mareo
/maˈɾeo/
English: dizziness
Siento mareo cuando me levanto.
I feel dizzy when I stand up.
Náusea
/ˈnausea/
English: nausea
Tengo náuseas.
I feel nauseous.
Common Illnesses
Resfriado — cold
Gripe — flu
Infección — infection
Alergia — allergy
These are useful when describing what you have already been diagnosed with or what you think may be causing your symptoms.
Tengo un resfriado.
I have a cold.
Soy alérgico/a a los gatos.
I am allergic to cats.
At the Doctor’s Office
A few clear phrases can make a medical conversation much easier.
Tengo dolor en…
I have pain in…
Me siento mal.
I feel unwell.
¿Cuánto tiempo ha tenido estos síntomas?
How long have you had these symptoms?
¿Tiene algún historial médico?
Do you have any medical history?
No puedo respirar bien.
I can’t breathe properly.
Necesito un médico.
I need a doctor.
¿Puede ayudarme, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano?
Where is the nearest hospital?
A Note on Usted
In medical settings, usted is often a useful choice when speaking with someone you do not know or when a more formal tone is appropriate.
For example:
¿Cómo se siente?
How do you feel?
rather than:
¿Cómo te sientes?
Both forms are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the relationship, setting, and regional habits.
Ser or Estar?
Health vocabulary also gives us a useful reminder about ser and estar.
Use estar for many temporary states or conditions:
Estoy enfermo/a.
I am sick.
Estoy cansado/a.
I am tired.
But some descriptions use ser, especially when they describe a characteristic rather than a temporary state.
Soy alérgico/a a los gatos.
I am allergic to cats.
The important thing is not to translate to be mechanically. Spanish chooses between ser and estar according to what is being described.
Talking about Emotional Wellness
Health is not limited to physical symptoms.
These expressions can help when talking about how you feel emotionally:
Me siento estresado/a.
I feel stressed.
Me siento ansioso/a.
I feel anxious.
Necesito hablar con alguien.
I need to talk to someone.
A veces necesito un tiempo para mí.
Sometimes I need some time for myself.
¿Cómo te sientes emocionalmente?
How do you feel emotionally?
Es importante cuidar la salud mental.
It is important to take care of your mental health.
More Wellness Vocabulary
Cansancio — tiredness
Agotamiento — exhaustion
Ansiedad — anxiety
Insomnio — insomnia
Relajación — relaxation
Notice that these words do not all describe illness.
Sometimes health vocabulary is simply the language we use to describe how the body and mind are doing.
Practice
At the Doctor
Imagine that you have been feeling unwell for three days.
You have a fever and body aches.
You could say:
Tengo fiebre y me duele el cuerpo desde hace tres días.
I have a fever, and my body has hurt for three days.
Now try adding one more symptom.
Talking about How You Feel
Imagine that work and daily life have become overwhelming.
You could say:
Me siento abrumado/a por el trabajo y la vida diaria.
I feel overwhelmed by work and daily life.
Now try explaining what you need:
Necesito descansar.
I need to rest.
Necesito hablar con alguien.
I need to talk to someone.
Emergency Phrases
In an emergency, clarity matters more than complexity.
¡Ayuda!
Help!
¡Llamen a una ambulancia!
Call an ambulance!
Es una emergencia.
It is an emergency.
Hay una persona inconsciente.
There is an unconscious person.
When Health Becomes Conversation
Knowing the word for dolor, mareo, ansiedad, or cansancio does more than expand your vocabulary.
It gives you a way to explain what you are experiencing.
You do not need perfect Spanish to begin that conversation.
Sometimes a few clear words are enough to say what matters most.
Master the language of health, from body to mind—Spanish fluency when it matters most!
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