At the doctor
Describe symptoms, get advice and understand a prescription
Context
Listen to the dialogue. Tap the speaker to hear each line.
Doctor
Buenos días, pase y siéntese. ¿Qué le pasa? ¿Cómo se siente desde ayer?
Good morning, come in and sit down. What's wrong? How have you been feeling since yesterday?
Paciente
Me duele mucho la cabeza y tengo fiebre desde anoche. Además, me duele la garganta cuando trago.
My head hurts a lot and I've had a fever since last night. Also, my throat hurts when I swallow.
Doctor
Voy a revisarlo. Abra la boca, por favor. Sí, tiene la garganta un poco roja e inflamada.
Let me check you. Open your mouth, please. Yes, your throat is a bit red and inflamed.
Paciente
¿Es grave? ¿Necesito antibióticos?
Is it serious? Do I need antibiotics?
Doctor
No se preocupe, no es grave. Es una infección leve. Le voy a recetar un medicamento para el dolor y la fiebre.
Don't worry, it's not serious. It's a mild infection. I'm going to prescribe a medicine for the pain and the fever.
Paciente
¿Cuántas veces al día debo tomarlo? ¿Hay algún efecto secundario?
How many times a day should I take it? Are there any side effects?
Doctor
Tome una pastilla cada ocho horas, después de comer. Descanse y tome mucha agua. En dos días va a estar mejor.
Take one pill every eight hours, after eating. Rest and drink lots of water. In two days you'll be better.
Paciente
Muchas gracias, doctor. ¿Necesito pedir una cita para volver?
Thank you very much, doctor. Do I need to make an appointment to come back?
Practice the dialogue
Choose a role. You'll hear my line and then record yours, automatically, turn by turn.
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Dialogue recorded! Press play to hear the full conversation.
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Vocabulary
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la cita
Tengo una cita con el doctor a las diez.
'Cita' is an appointment. 'Pedir una cita' = to book one.
the appointment
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la cabeza
Me duele la cabeza.
'Me duele la cabeza' = I have a headache. Literally: 'the head hurts me'.
the head
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la garganta
Tengo dolor de garganta.
Very common symptom: 'dolor de garganta' (sore throat).
the throat
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el estómago
Me duele el estómago después de comer.
To say 'I have a stomachache': 'me duele el estómago'.
the stomach
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la fiebre
Tengo fiebre desde anoche.
'Tener fiebre' = to have a fever. Check it with a thermometer.
the fever
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el dolor
Siento un dolor fuerte aquí.
'Dolor' + de + body part: dolor de cabeza, dolor de espalda.
the pain
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el medicamento
Tome el medicamento tres veces al día.
'Medicamento' and 'remedio' both mean medicine.
the medicine
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la receta
El doctor me dio una receta.
'Receta' is the prescription. 'Recetar' is the verb: the doctor prescribes.
the prescription
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la pastilla
Tome una pastilla cada ocho horas.
'Pastilla' is a pill; 'tableta' also works.
the pill
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descansar
Debe descansar dos días.
'Descanso' is the rest (noun): 'necesito un descanso'.
to rest
SaveGrammar in 1 minute
Me duele / me duelen (it hurts me)
Use 'me duele' + singular body part and 'me duelen' + plural. The body part is the subject: 'me duele la cabeza' (the head hurts me), 'me duelen los pies' (the feet hurt me).
Me duele la garganta. Me duelen los pies. ¿Le duele aquí?
The verb agrees with the body part, not with 'me'.
Tener + symptoms
Use 'tener' (to have) with symptoms: 'tengo fiebre' (I have a fever), 'tengo dolor de cabeza', 'tengo tos' (I have a cough). It's the same pattern as 'tengo hambre' (I'm hungry).
Tengo fiebre. Tengo dolor de garganta. Tiene tos desde el lunes.
For emotions or states we use 'tener', never 'ser' or 'estar'.
Advice with 'debe' (you should)
The doctor gives advice with 'debe' + infinitive: 'debe descansar' (you should rest), 'debe tomar agua'. In Latin America the formal 'usted' form is common with patients.
Debe descansar dos días. Debe tomar mucha agua. No debe comer cosas frías.
'Debe' + infinitive is the standard way to give polite recommendations.
Interactive practice
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What symptoms?
Listen and choose the symptoms the patient mentions.
What are the patient's symptoms?
It hurts me
Write the missing verb form.
Accents optional: write "como estas" and it works.
Body and medicine words
Connect each Spanish word with its English meaning.
Tell the doctor
Write a sentence saying your throat hurts.
Write in Spanish: 'My throat hurts.'
Suggested answer: Me duele la garganta.
Repeat the recommendation
Listen, pause and repeat out loud.
Descanse y tome mucha agua.
Rest and drink lots of water.
Listen, pause and repeat out loud. Repeat 3 times until it sounds natural.
Pronunciation trainer
Final quiz
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