A bedside reference in Latin American Spanish

Medical Spanish phrases for nurses, doctors, and EMTs

150+ everyday bedside phrases worth knowing cold: greetings, vitals, pain assessment, daily check-ins, medications, comfort, and urgent care.

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Reading them is not the same as saying them. FluentPath is an AI speaking tutor: the app runs live patient roleplays that train you to say these lines out loud, not just recognize them.

For everyday comfort conversations. For consents, diagnoses, and care plans, always use a certified medical interpreter.

Quick answers

How do you say "Can I take your vitals?" in Spanish?

¿Puedo tomarle los signos vitales?

Asking with ¿Puedo...? is the courteous opener, and signos vitales is the term patients hear at every intake.

How do you say "I need to take your vitals" in Spanish?

Necesito tomarle los signos vitales.

Necesito (I need to) is still polite but leaves less room for a no, which fits the check that can't wait until later.

How do you say "I'm going to take your vitals" in Spanish?

Voy a tomarle los signos vitales.

Voy a... (I'm going to...) tells the patient what comes next before you touch them, as in Voy a tomarle la presión (I'm going to take your blood pressure).

How do you say "urine sample" in Spanish?

muestra de orina

Necesito una muestra de orina.

The test itself is un examen de orina (análisis de orina is just as common). Handing over the cup: Por favor, orine en este frasco (Please urinate in this container).

How do you say "What brings you in today?" in Spanish at a medical visit?

¿Qué lo trae por aquí hoy?

¿Qué la trae por aquí hoy?

Use lo with a man and la with a woman; at the front desk, the more formal ¿Cuál es el motivo de su visita? asks the same thing.

How do you say "I'm your nurse today" in Spanish?

Soy su enfermero por hoy.

Soy su enfermera por hoy.

Enfermero if you're a man, enfermera if you're a woman. Hoy soy su enfermera works too, and leading with your name makes it warmer: Hola, me llamo Ana y soy su enfermera por hoy.

How do you say "Where does it hurt?" in Spanish?

¿Dónde le duele?

If the answer is hard to follow, add Señale dónde le duele (Point to where it hurts) and let the patient show you.

How do you say "nausea" in Spanish?

náuseas

¿Tiene náuseas?

Spanish uses the plural: tener náuseas is to feel nauseous, so ¿Tiene náuseas? asks Do you feel nauseous? Patients often say it their own way instead: Tengo ganas de vomitar (I feel like throwing up).

How do you say EMT in Spanish?

paramédico

paramédica

The formal title is técnico en emergencias médicas and varies by country, but paramédico (paramédica for a woman) is the word patients across Latin America recognize, so Soy paramédico/a (I'm a paramedic) tells them who you are.

Every phrase below uses the formal usted, which is the right register with patients you don't know well. Stick with it until a patient invites you to switch.

Before you say them out loud

Spanish spelling tells you exactly how a word sounds. Six rules cover almost everything on this page.

The vowels never change.
A, e, i, o, u each have exactly one sound: ah, eh, ee, oh, oo. “Duele” is DWEH-leh, not “dyool.”
J sounds like an English H.
“Bajo” is BAH-ho. And the letter h itself is silent: “hambre” starts with an A sound.
LL sounds like Y.
“Llámeme” is YAH-meh-meh.
Ñ is “ny.”
“Mañana” is mah-NYAH-nah.
Don't sweat the rolled R.
A single quick tap works fine. Patients will understand “respire” without a trill.
Stress the second-to-last syllable.
Unless there's a written accent, which always wins: “estómago” is es-TOH-ma-go.

What are common medical Spanish phrases?

Common medical Spanish phrases are short bedside lines: ¿Cómo se siente? (How are you feeling?), ¿Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?), and Voy a tomarle la presión (I'm going to take your blood pressure). The ten below come up in everyday patient interactions; the full list, grouped by situation, follows further down the page.

How are you feeling?: ¿Cómo se siente?; KOH-moh seh SYEN-teh
Where does it hurt?: ¿Dónde le duele?; DOHN-deh leh DWEH-leh
I'm going to take your blood pressure.: Voy a tomarle la presión.; voy ah toh-MAR-leh lah preh-SYOHN
Do you need something for the pain?: ¿Necesita algo para el dolor?; neh-seh-SEE-tah AHL-goh PAH-rah el doh-LOR
I'm here to help you.: Estoy aquí para ayudarle.; es-TOY ah-KEE PAH-rah ah-yoo-DAR-leh
Do you understand me?: ¿Me entiende?; meh en-TYEN-deh
Please speak more slowly.: Hable más despacio, por favor.; AH-bleh mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fah-VOR
Do you need to use the bathroom?: ¿Necesita ir al baño?; neh-seh-SEE-tah eer al BAH-nyoh
Take a deep breath.: Respire profundo.; res-PEE-reh proh-FOON-doh
Press the button if you need me.: Presione el botón si me necesita.; preh-SYOH-neh el boh-TOHN see meh neh-seh-SEE-tah

Vitals and intake phrases in Spanish

Ask permission first with ¿Puedo...? (Can I...?), then announce each step with Voy a... (I'm going to...). The rows below run from the blood pressure cuff through the intake questions.

Can I take your vitals?: ¿Puedo tomarle los signos vitales?; PWEH-doh toh-MAR-leh lohs SEEG-nohs vee-TAH-lehs
Can I take your blood pressure?: ¿Puedo tomarle la presión?; PWEH-doh toh-MAR-leh lah preh-SYOHN
Please roll up your sleeve.: Súbase la manga, por favor.; SOO-bah-seh lah MAHN-gah, por fah-VOR
Put this under your tongue.: Póngase esto debajo de la lengua.; POHN-gah-seh ES-toh deh-BAH-hoh deh lah LEN-gwah
Breathe normally.: Respire normalmente.; res-PEE-reh nor-mahl-MEN-teh
What is your name?: ¿Cuál es su nombre?; kwahl es soo NOHM-breh
What is your date of birth?: ¿Cuál es su fecha de nacimiento?; kwahl es soo FEH-chah deh nah-see-MYEN-toh
What brings you in today?: ¿Cuál es el motivo de su visita?; kwahl es el moh-TEE-voh deh soo vee-SEE-tah
Are you allergic to any medication?: ¿Es alérgico/a a algún medicamento?; es ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah al-GOON meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh
Do you take any medications at home?: ¿Toma medicamentos en casa?; TOH-mah meh-dee-kah-MEN-tohs en KAH-sah

How do you say "as needed" in Spanish for medication?

"As needed" on medication instructions is según sea necesario (seh-GOON SEH-ah neh-seh-SAH-ryoh). You will also see and hear si es necesario and cuando sea necesario; all three work. The dosage and frequency lines below cover the rest of a typical instruction.

as needed: según sea necesario; seh-GOON SEH-ah neh-seh-SAH-ryoh
once a day: una vez al día; OO-nah vehs al DEE-ah
twice a day: dos veces al día; dohs VEH-sehs al DEE-ah
every eight hours: cada ocho horas; KAH-dah OH-choh OH-rahs
with food: con comida; kohn koh-MEE-dah
on an empty stomach: en ayunas; en ah-YOO-nahs
before bed: antes de acostarse; AHN-tehs deh ah-kohs-TAR-seh
Take one pill.: Tome una pastilla.; TOH-meh OO-nah pahs-TEE-yah
Take half a tablet.: Tome media pastilla.; TOH-meh MEH-dyah pahs-TEE-yah
Don't skip any doses.: No se salte ninguna dosis.; noh seh SAHL-teh neen-GOO-nah DOH-sees
Finish all the medication.: Termine todo el medicamento.; tehr-MEE-neh TOH-doh el meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh

For prescription counseling, dosage changes, and side effects, use a certified medical interpreter. These lines are for the everyday reminders around a medication a clinician has already explained.

How do you assess pain in Spanish?

Start with location: ¿Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?). Then scale: Del cero al diez, ¿qué tan fuerte es el dolor? (From zero to ten, how bad is the pain?). Then quality, using the words below, since a patient who rates pain "cinco" may still be describing anything from burning to cramping.

From zero to ten, how bad is the pain?: Del cero al diez, ¿qué tan fuerte es el dolor?; del SEH-roh al dyehs, keh tahn FWEHR-teh es el doh-LOR
Point to where it hurts.: Señale dónde le duele.; seh-NYAH-leh DOHN-deh leh DWEH-leh
Does it hurt when I press?: ¿Le duele cuando presiono?; leh DWEH-leh KWAN-doh preh-SYOH-noh
Does it hurt when you breathe?: ¿Le duele al respirar?; leh DWEH-leh al res-pee-RAR
Is it a burning pain?: ¿Siente ardor?; SYEN-teh ar-DOR
Is it throbbing?: ¿Es un dolor pulsante?; es oon doh-LOR pool-SAHN-teh
Is it like a cramp?: ¿Es como un calambre?; es KOH-moh oon kah-LAHM-breh
Does the pain spread anywhere else?: ¿El dolor se extiende a otra parte?; el doh-LOR seh eks-TYEN-deh ah OH-trah PAR-teh
Is it worse at night?: ¿Empeora en la noche?; em-peh-OH-rah en lah NOH-cheh
Did the pain medicine help?: ¿Le ayudó la medicina para el dolor?; leh ah-yoo-DOH lah meh-dee-SEE-nah PAH-rah el doh-LOR

Which phrases matter most for your role?

Most of this page carries across the building. These are the handfuls each role reaches for first, with a deeper page for each.

Spanish phrases for nurses

For nurses the Spanish that comes up first is the med pass and the hourly round: comfort, pain, bathroom, mobility. The full lists above are already bedside-first; these four start the shift.

I'm your nurse for today.: Soy su enfermero/a por hoy.; soy soo en-fehr-MEH-roh por oy
It's time for your medication.: Es hora de su medicamento.; es OH-rah deh soo meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh
I'm going to check your IV.: Voy a revisar su suero.; voy ah reh-vee-SAR soo SWEH-roh
Is there anything else you need before I go?: ¿Necesita algo más antes de que me vaya?; neh-seh-SEE-tah AHL-goh mahs AHN-tehs deh keh meh VAH-yah

Practicing them out loud is what the Spanish for nurses app page is about.

Spanish phrases for doctors

For doctors the core is history-taking: what brought the patient in, how long it has lasted, and what makes it better or worse. Everything clinical beyond the opening questions belongs with an interpreter.

What brings you in today?: ¿Qué lo/la trae por aquí hoy?; keh loh TRAH-eh por ah-KEE oy
How long have you had this?: ¿Desde cuándo tiene esto?; DES-deh KWAN-doh TYEH-neh ES-toh
I'm going to examine you.: Voy a examinarlo/a.; voy ah ek-sah-mee-NAR-loh
Have you had this before?: ¿Ha tenido esto antes?; ah teh-NEE-doh ES-toh AHN-tehs

The exam-room versions live on the Spanish for doctors page.

Spanish phrases for dentists

Dental Spanish is mostly directions to a patient who cannot answer with words: open, bite, rinse, raise your hand if it hurts.

Open your mouth, please.: Abra la boca, por favor.; AH-brah lah BOH-kah, por fah-VOR
Bite down gently.: Muerda despacio.; MWEHR-dah des-PAH-syoh
Rinse, please.: Enjuáguese, por favor.; en-HWAH-geh-seh, por fah-VOR
Raise your hand if it hurts.: Levante la mano si le duele.; leh-VAHN-teh lah MAH-noh see leh DWEH-leh

Chairside practice, numbing talk included, is the Spanish for dentists page.

Spanish phrases for EMTs and paramedics

In the field there is no interpreter line, so prehospital Spanish is short and loud: what happened, where it hurts, we're taking you to the hospital.

What happened?: ¿Qué pasó?; keh pah-SOH
We're here to help you.: Estamos aquí para ayudarle.; es-TAH-mohs ah-KEE PAH-rah ah-yoo-DAR-leh
We're taking you to the hospital.: Lo/La vamos a llevar al hospital.; loh VAH-mohs ah yeh-VAR al ohs-pee-TAHL
Try not to move.: Trate de no moverse.; TRAH-teh deh noh moh-VEHR-seh

The on-scene version is the Spanish for paramedics page.

Reading a phrase list is the easy part. Saying these lines out loud to a worried patient is the skill. FluentPath practices these exact phrases in spoken roleplays with an AI patient that talks back. Try your first conversation free:

Android coming soon

Greetings & getting oriented

Good morning.: Buenos días.
Good evening.: Buenas noches.
Hello, I'm your nurse.: Hola, soy su enfermero/a.
How are you feeling?: ¿Cómo se siente?
I'm here to help you.: Estoy aquí para ayudarle.
How can I help you?: ¿Cómo puedo ayudarle?
Do you speak English?: ¿Habla inglés?
I speak a little Spanish.: Hablo un poco de español.
Do you understand me?: ¿Me entiende?
Can you repeat that, please?: ¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Please speak more slowly.: Hable más despacio, por favor.
One moment, please.: Un momento, por favor.

Vitals & routine care

I'm going to take your blood pressure.: Voy a tomarle la presión.
I'm going to check your temperature.: Voy a tomarle la temperatura.
I'm going to listen to your heart and lungs.: Voy a escuchar su corazón y sus pulmones.
I'm going to check your blood sugar.: Voy a revisar su nivel de azúcar.
I'm going to check your oxygen level.: Voy a revisar su nivel de oxígeno.
I need a urine sample.: Necesito una muestra de orina.
I'm going to change your IV.: Voy a cambiarle el suero.
I'm going to give you your medication.: Voy a darle su medicamento.
You'll feel a small pinch.: Va a sentir un pequeño pinchazo.
This might feel cold.: Esto puede sentirse frío.
Please don't remove this.: Por favor, no se quite esto.

Pain & symptoms

Where does it hurt?: ¿Dónde le duele?
Does it hurt here?: ¿Le duele aquí?
Do you have a headache?: ¿Le duele la cabeza?
From zero to ten, how bad is the pain?: Del cero al diez, ¿qué tan fuerte es el dolor?
Is the pain sharp or dull?: ¿El dolor es agudo o sordo?
Is the pain constant, or does it come and go?: ¿El dolor es constante, o va y viene?
Does anything make it better or worse?: ¿Hay algo que lo mejore o lo empeore?
When did it start?: ¿Cuándo empezó?
Do you feel nauseous?: ¿Tiene náuseas?
Have you vomited?: ¿Ha vomitado?
Do you have a fever?: ¿Tiene fiebre?
Do you have chills?: ¿Tiene escalofríos?
Are you dizzy?: ¿Está mareado/a?
Do you have trouble breathing?: ¿Tiene dificultad para respirar?
Have you been able to go to the bathroom?: ¿Ha podido ir al baño?

Daily check-in

Did you sleep well?: ¿Durmió bien?
Have you eaten yet?: ¿Ya comió?
Are you hungry?: ¿Tiene hambre?
Are you thirsty?: ¿Tiene sed?
Do you want more water?: ¿Quiere más agua?
Are you cold?: ¿Tiene frío?
Are you hot?: ¿Tiene calor?
Do you want another blanket?: ¿Quiere otra cobija?
Do you need to use the bathroom?: ¿Necesita ir al baño?
Can you stand up?: ¿Puede pararse?
Do you need help walking?: ¿Necesita ayuda para caminar?
Did you take your medication?: ¿Tomó su medicamento?
Did the medicine help?: ¿Le ayudó el medicamento?

Hygiene & the bathroom

Do you need to urinate?: ¿Necesita orinar?
I'm going to help you wash up.: Voy a ayudarle a asearse.
I'm going to help you brush your teeth.: Voy a ayudarle a cepillarse los dientes.
I'm going to change your sheets.: Voy a cambiar las sábanas.
I'll close the curtain for your privacy.: Voy a cerrar la cortina para darle privacidad.
Call me when you're done.: Llámeme cuando termine.

Positioning & moving safely

Turn onto your side.: Voltéese de lado.
Sit up slowly.: Siéntese despacio.
Bend your knees.: Doble las rodillas.
Hold on to the rail.: Agárrese del barandal.
Use the walker.: Use el andador.
We're going to move you to the chair.: Vamos a pasarlo/a a la silla.
Don't get up by yourself.: No se levante solo/a.
Press the button if you need me.: Presione el botón si me necesita.
Lean on me.: Apóyese en mí.
Try to relax.: Trate de relajarse.

Medications

This is for the pain.: Esto es para el dolor.
Do you need something for the pain?: ¿Necesita algo para el dolor?
I'm going to bring your pain medicine.: Le voy a traer su medicina para el dolor.
Swallow it with water.: Tráguela con agua.
Don't chew it.: No la mastique.
This may make you sleepy.: Esto puede darle sueño.
Do you take any medications at home?: ¿Toma medicamentos en casa?

Comfort & reassurance

Everything is going to be okay.: Todo va a estar bien.
You're doing very well.: Lo está haciendo muy bien.
I'm right here with you.: Estoy aquí con usted.
You're safe here.: Está seguro/a aquí.
It's normal to feel nervous.: Es normal sentirse nervioso/a.
Take a deep breath.: Respire profundo.
Tell me if you need anything.: Dígame si necesita algo.
Do you have any questions for me?: ¿Tiene alguna pregunta para mí?
Do you want me to call your family?: ¿Quiere que llame a su familia?
Try to rest.: Trate de descansar.
I'll be back soon.: Regreso pronto.

Time & what happens next

The doctor comes in the morning.: El doctor viene en la mañana.
Your test is this afternoon.: Su examen es esta tarde.
They're going to take you for an X-ray.: Lo/La van a llevar a rayos X.
It will take about an hour.: Va a tardar como una hora.
Nothing to eat or drink after midnight.: No coma ni beba nada después de la medianoche.
I'll be back in ten minutes.: Regreso en diez minutos.

Urgent & emergency

Can you hear me?: ¿Me escucha?
Look at me.: Míreme.
Squeeze my hand.: Apriete mi mano.
Can you breathe?: ¿Puede respirar?
Point to where it hurts.: Señale dónde le duele.
Do you have chest pain?: ¿Tiene dolor en el pecho?
Are you allergic to any medication?: ¿Es alérgico/a a algún medicamento?
Don't move.: No se mueva.
Stay calm.: Mantenga la calma.
Help is coming.: Ya viene la ayuda.
The doctor is on the way.: Ya viene el doctor.

Talking with family

Are you family?: ¿Es familiar?
What is your relationship to the patient?: ¿Qué relación tiene con el/la paciente?
He/She is resting.: Está descansando.
The doctor will speak with you soon.: El doctor hablará con usted pronto.
For medical questions, we'll bring an interpreter.: Para preguntas médicas, traeremos un intérprete.
Please wait here.: Por favor, espere aquí.
You can come in now.: Puede pasar ahora.
Visiting hours end at eight.: El horario de visitas termina a las ocho.
Only two visitors at a time.: Solo dos visitantes a la vez.

What your patients will say to you

Half of bedside Spanish is understanding what comes back. These are the lines you'll hear most, English meaning first.

It hurts a lot.: Me duele mucho.
I'm cold.: Tengo frío.
I can't sleep.: No puedo dormir.
I want water.: Quiero agua.
I need to go to the bathroom.: Necesito ir al baño.
I feel dizzy.: Me siento mareado/a.
I feel bad / unwell.: Me siento mal.
When is the doctor coming?: ¿Cuándo viene el doctor?
Can you help me?: ¿Me puede ayudar?

Saying them is the part that takes practice.

Rehearse these out loud with an AI tutor that answers back, in the scenes you actually work in. See the medical Spanish app or the version for nurses.

Android coming soon

Medical Spanish phrases for nurses, doctors, and EMTs

All phrases by category

Quick answers

How do you say "Can I take your vitals?" in Spanish?

How do you say "I need to take your vitals" in Spanish?

How do you say "I'm going to take your vitals" in Spanish?

How do you say "urine sample" in Spanish?

How do you say "What brings you in today?" in Spanish at a medical visit?

How do you say "I'm your nurse today" in Spanish?

How do you say "Where does it hurt?" in Spanish?

How do you say "nausea" in Spanish?

How do you say EMT in Spanish?

Before you say them out loud

What are common medical Spanish phrases?

Vitals and intake phrases in Spanish

How do you say "as needed" in Spanish for medication?

How do you assess pain in Spanish?

Which phrases matter most for your role?

Spanish phrases for nurses

Spanish phrases for doctors

Spanish phrases for dentists

Spanish phrases for EMTs and paramedics

Greetings & getting oriented

Vitals & routine care

Pain & symptoms

Daily check-in

Hygiene & the bathroom

Positioning & moving safely

Medications

Comfort & reassurance

Time & what happens next

Urgent & emergency

Talking with family

What your patients will say to you

Saying them is the part that takes practice.