Health & Emergencies
Describing Basic Symptoms or Needs
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Me duele... | ...hurts (literally "it pains me...") |
| la cabeza | head |
| el estómago | stomach |
| la garganta | throat |
| Tengo fiebre | I have a fever |
| Tengo náuseas | I feel nauseous |
| No me siento bien | I don't feel well |
| Soy alérgico/a a... | I'm allergic to... |
| Tomo esta medicina | I take this medicine |
Me duele is used with a singular body part (Me duele la cabeza = my head hurts); for plural body parts, it becomes Me duelen (Me duelen los pies = my feet hurt).
Asking for a Pharmacy, Doctor, or Hospital
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¿Dónde hay una farmacia? | Where is there a pharmacy? |
| Necesito ver a un médico | I need to see a doctor |
| ¿Dónde está el hospital más cercano? | Where is the nearest hospital? |
| Necesito un doctor que hable inglés | I need a doctor who speaks English |
| ¿Tiene algo para...? | Do you have something for...? |
Example (at a pharmacy):
Buenas tardes, ¿tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza?
Sí, tenemos esto. ¿Tiene alergias?
No, ninguna.
Emergency Phrases and Numbers Awareness
| Spanish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ¡Ayuda! | Help! |
| ¡Emergencia! | Emergency! |
| Llame a una ambulancia, por favor | Call an ambulance, please |
| Llame a la policía, por favor | Call the police, please |
| Es urgente | It's urgent |
Emergency numbers vary by country — 911 works in Mexico and several other Latin American countries, but always confirm the local emergency number before traveling (some countries use different numbers for police, fire, and medical). Save it in your phone in advance.
Staying Calm and Clear Under Stress
In a real emergency, short, simple sentences work better than long or complex ones — both because they're easier for you to produce under stress and easier for a stranger to understand quickly.
- Lead with the most urgent word: "¡Emergencia!" or "¡Ayuda!" to get attention first.
- Follow with one short, direct sentence: "Necesito un médico" rather than a longer explanation.
- If you're struggling to form Spanish under stress, it's completely reasonable to say "¿Habla inglés?" immediately — don't let pride slow down getting real help.
Practice Suggestion
Write down (physically, on a card you carry) your key allergies and any medical conditions in Spanish using "Soy alérgico/a a..." and "Tengo...", along with the local emergency number for your destination. Having it ready beats trying to recall vocabulary under stress.