Have you ever been traveling in a Spanish-speaking country and suddenly needed to explain that you weren't feeling well? Or perhaps you're preparing for a trip and want to make sure you can communicate effectively if you experience any health issues? Today, we're going to explore the various ways to express pain and discomfort in Spanish, from physical ailments to emotional distress.
Before we explore how to describe pain intensity and discuss medical treatments in Spanish, let's learn how to express immediate pain reactions. In English, we often say 'ouch!' when we feel sudden pain, but what do Spanish speakers say?
The most common pain exclamation in Spanish is "¡Ay!" (pronounced like the English word "eye"). This versatile expression is used throughout the Spanish-speaking world when someone experiences sudden pain:
¿Estás bien ahí? -Sí. Ay, ay... Acá.
Are you OK there? -Yes. Ouch, ouch... Here.
Captions 23-24, Yago 12 Fianza - Part 4
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The intensity of pain is often reflected by repeating "ay" multiple times or extending it:
Mild pain: "¡Ay!"
Moderate pain: "¡Ay, ay!"
Severe pain: "¡Ayyyyy!" (elongated)
Apart from the above expressions, some people may use the interjection "ayayay," to express pain. This common exclamation perfectly captures the experience of pain in Spanish-speaking cultures:
¡Ay, ayayay, ayayay, Flor! ¡Ouch!
Ay, ayayay, ayayay, Flor! Ouch!
Caption 13, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 2 - Part 1
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While "¡Ay!" is universal across Spanish-speaking countries, you might also hear these regional variations:
"¡Ouch!" (pronounced like English "ouch") - Used especially in Mexico and parts of Central America
"¡Uy!" - Used for both pain and surprise
"¡Ay Dios!" or "¡Ay Dios mío!" (Oh God! or Oh my God!) - Used for more intense pain
Ouch. Me quemé.
Ouch. I burned myself.
Caption 73, Recetas de cocina Arepas colombianas
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These exclamations are often followed by descriptions of the pain using the structures we've learned (me duele or tengo dolor de).
In Spanish, there are two main structures used to express physical pain:
This is the most common way to express pain in Spanish. The verb doler (to hurt) is used with the following structure:
Me duele + [singular body part]
Me duelen + [plural body part]
Let's see some examples from our video clips:
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.
Caption 13, Raquel Expresiones para un festival de música.
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Y cuando me duelen las piernas de tanto jugar, mi abuelito me hace masajes con aceite de coco.
And when my legs hurt from playing for so long, my grandpa gives me massages with coconut oil.
Captions 48-49, Guillermina y Candelario Experimentos en la cocina
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Notice that the verb doler agrees with the body part (the thing that hurts), not with the person experiencing the pain. This is because grammatically, the body part is the subject of the sentence.
Another common structure is using the phrase tengo dolor de followed by the body part:
Tengo dolor de cabeza, ¿sí? -¡Ay, Fabiolita!
I have a headache, OK? -Oh, Fabiolita!
Caption 20, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 1 - Part 11
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Aún tengo dolor y uso de vez en cuando
I still have pain, and I wear, once in a while,
Caption 43, Aprendiendo con Silvia Vacaciones y urgencias - Part 2
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Being able to describe the type and intensity of pain you're experiencing can help others understand your situation better:
La salud, muy mal. Me duele mucho la cabeza
My health, very badly. My head hurts a lot
Captions 34-35, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Subjuntivo y condicional
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"¿Por qué no llevas tú la moto? Me duele mucho la mano".
"Why don't you drive the motorcycle? My hand really hurts."
Caption 16, Fermín y Manuel El verbo "llevar" - Part 3
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From our video with Raquel and the doctor, we can learn important phrases for a medical consultation:
Usted dirá: ¿Qué le ocurre? Verá, no me encuentro muy bien. He dormido mal porque he estado toda la noche tosiendo. Y me puse el termómetro y marcaba treinta y ocho grados. Tengo fiebre. ¿Y desde cuándo tiene usted estos síntomas? Mal, mal, desde el lunes. Pero el domingo por la noche, ya me dolía la cabeza. ¿Tiene usted tos fuerte? ¿Le rasca la garganta? Sí, me pica. Sobre todo cuando toso fuerte.
Will you tell me: What's going on with you? You see, I don't feel very well. I have slept badly because I was coughing all night. And I used the thermometer and it read thirty-eight degrees [Celsius]. I have a fever. And since when have you had these symptoms? Badly, badly, since Monday. But on Sunday night, my head was already hurting. Do you have a strong cough? Is your throat scratchy? Yes, it itches me. Especially when I cough strongly.
Captions 8-19, Raquel Visitar al Médico
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Similarly, in Cleer's consultation, we see how to describe symptoms:
Cleer, cuénteme, ¿qué puedo hacer por usted? Doctora, hace cuatro días tengo mucha tos y dolor en todo el cuerpo.
Cleer, tell me, what can I do for you? Doctor, for four days now I've had a bad cough and pain in my whole body.
Captions 6-7, Cita médica La cita médica de Cleer - Part 2
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In both doctor consultations, we see vocabulary related to medications:
From Cleer's visit:
Le voy a recetar Paracetamol. Esto le ayudará para el dolor en el cuerpo y por si le sube fiebre. También le recetaré un jarabe. El Paracetamol se lo toma cada seis horas durante siete días y el jarabe se lo toma tres veces al día hasta que lo termine. Intente beber agua por favor.
I'm going to prescribe Paracetamol. This will help for your body pain and in case you get a fever. I will also prescribe you a syrup. You take the Paracetamol every six hours for seven days and you take the syrup three times a day until you finish it. Try to drink water, please.
Captions 24-29, Cita médica La cita médica de Cleer - Part 2
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From Raquel's visit:
Se va a tomar usted este antibiótico. Durante siete días. Si usted ve que al tercer o cuarto día se encuentra mejor, no suspenda el tratamiento.
You are going to take this antibiotic. For seven days. If you see that by the third or fourth day you feel better, don't stop the treatment.
Captions 28-31, Raquel Visitar al Médico
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Once you have a prescription, you'll need to find a pharmacy. Here are some useful phrases:
"¿Dónde queda la farmacia más cercana?"
"Where's the nearest pharmacy?"
Caption 48, Aprendiendo con Silvia Significados, usos y expresiones con "quedar" - Part 1
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o, "Disculpe, ¿hay una farmacia por aquí?"
or, "Excuse me, is there a pharmacy around here?"
Caption 11, Curso de español Direcciones en la ciudad
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When communicating about pain or discomfort in Spanish, having a rich vocabulary can help you explain your symptoms more precisely. Here's a comprehensive list of terms to help you describe different types of pain and related medical conditions:
Dolor agudo - Acute/sharp pain
Dolor crónico - Chronic pain
Dolor punzante - Stabbing pain
Dolor palpitante - Throbbing pain
Dolor sordo - Dull pain
Dolor ardiente - Burning pain
Calambres - Cramps
Hormigueo - Tingling
Entumecimiento - Numbness
Picazón - Itching
Dolor de muelas - Toothache
Dolor de oídos - Earache
Fiebre - Fever
Náuseas - Nausea
Mareos - Dizziness
Vómitos - Vomiting
Diarrea - Diarrhea
Estreñimiento - Constipation
Tos - Cough
Congestión - Congestion
Fatiga - Fatigue
Erupciones - Rashes
Inflamación - Inflammation
Hinchazón - Swelling
Estornudar - To sneeze
Toser - To cough
Vomitar - To vomit
Sentirse mareado/a - To feel dizzy
Tener escalofríos - To have chills
Me siento débil - I feel weak
No puedo dormir - I can't sleep
Estoy resfriado/a - I have a cold
Tengo gripe - I have the flu
Estoy enfermo/a - I'm sick
Necesito descansar - I need to rest
¿Es contagioso? - Is it contagious?
In most Spanish-speaking countries, you'll find pharmacies (farmacias) quite easily in urban areas. They often have a green cross sign that may be illuminated at night. Some medications that require prescriptions in countries like the United States are available over the counter in many Spanish-speaking countries, though this varies by country and medication. When visiting a doctor, you might encounter terms like:
médico de cabecera (primary care physician)
consulta (doctor's appointment or office)
urgencias (emergency room)
seguro médico (health insurance)
Being able to express pain in Spanish is an essential skill, especially when traveling. Remember the two main structures: "Me duele/duelen + body part" and "Tengo dolor de + body part." With these structures and the vocabulary we've covered, you'll be well-prepared to communicate any discomfort you might experience and seek appropriate medical help.
Do you have any experiences with expressing pain in Spanish? Have you ever needed to visit a doctor or pharmacy while traveling in a Spanish-speaking country? Let us know and don't forget to send us your comments and questions.
If you find yourself a bit lost in a Spanish-speaking country or simply need to know where the closest restaurant, train station, landmark, etc., is located, it's important to know how to ask for directions in Spanish. Today's lesson will teach you some important phrases and vocabulary for doing so.
To approach a stranger, you might say some polite equivalent of "Excuse me," like Permiso, Disculpe or Mande in certain countries, or perhaps some greeting like Hola (Hello) or Buenos días (Good Morning), Buenas tardes (Good afternoon) or Buenas noches (Good evening), depending upon the time of day. We also recommend that, of the many ways to say "you" in Spanish, you choose the more formal one: usted, and/or address the person as señor (sir), señora (ma'am) or señorita (miss). Armed with this information, let's learn some fixed expressions that you could use as openers, all of which essentially mean "Can/could you tell me...?"
¿(Usted) me puede/podría decir...?
¿(Usted) me puede/podría indicar...?
¿(Usted) me puede/podría señalar...?
Now let's hear one of the aforementioned phrases connected to a typical way to ask about the location of something in Spanish:
Eh... ¿Me puede decir dónde está la calle Güemes?
Um... Can you tell me where Güemes Street is?
Caption 33, Español para principiantes Saludos y encuentros
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As we hear, ¿Dónde está(n)...? (Where is/are...?) is one of the most common ways to ask about location in Spanish. Let's learn some more useful phrases to do so:
¿Cómo llego a...? (How do I get to...?)
¿Hay un/a... cerca de aquí? (Is there a... around here?)
¿Sabe si está por aquí...? (Do you know if... is around here?)
¿Cuál es la mejor forma de llegar/ir a...? (What's the best way to get to...?)
Busco/Estoy buscando... (I'm looking for...)
¿Me puede mostrar en el mapa...? (Can you show me on the map...?)
Now, let's hear some of these, on their own or in combination, in action:
Disculpe, ¿hay un aeropuerto por aquí?
Excuse me, is there an airport around here?
Caption 11, Curso de español ¿Disculpe, hay un aeropuerto por aquí?
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Eh... ¿Podría decirme cómo llegar al aeropuerto?
Um... Could you tell me how to get to the airport?
Caption 13, Curso de español ¿Disculpe, hay un aeropuerto por aquí?
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Por cierto, ¿cómo llego a la cascada?
By the way, how do I get to the waterfall?
Caption 69, Aprendiendo con Priscilla Pidiendo direcciones
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¿Usted sabe dónde está el museo del Prado? Usted.
Do you [formal] know where the Prado Museum is? "Usted."
Caption 15, Fundamentos del Español 6 - Tú y Usted
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Next, let's learn some useful vocabulary in anticipation of some answers we might receive upon asking for directions in Spanish.
Let's start with the basic directions, right and left, as well as the cardinal and ordinal directions in Spanish:
la izquierda: left
la derecha: right
el norte: north
el sur: south
el este: east
el oeste: west
el noreste/nordeste: the northeast
el noroeste: the northwest
el sudeste/sureste: the southeast
el sudoeste/suroeste: the southwest
Note that when indicating directions, these words are usually used with the prepositions a (to) or hacia (to/toward). Let's see some examples:
está situado al este de la bahía.
is located to the east of the bay.
Caption 22, Viajando con Fermín Pasajes (Pasaia) - Part 1
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Por ejemplo, si tenemos que ir hacia la derecha, deberemos girar el volante hacia la derecha y si queremos ir hacia la izquierda, deberemos girar el volante hacia la izquierda.
For example, if we have to go right, we will have to turn the steering wheel to the right and if we want to go left, we will have to turn the steering wheel to the left.
Captions 38-41, Raquel y Marisa Aprender a conducir - Part 2
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Interestingly, all of the above-mentioned nouns can also function as adjectives, for example, la punta norte (the northern tip) or el lado izquierdo ("the left side," noting the change from a final "a" to an "o" to agree grammatically with the singular masculine noun). Another example of this is the fact that, like in English, Spanish uses the word mano (hand) to talk about "the right" or "left hand side":
Ve, entrá y la primera oficina que encontrás a mano derecha; ahí es.
Go, go in, and the first office you'll find on the right hand side; it's there.
Caption 74, La Sucursal del Cielo Capítulo 1 - Part 12
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Let's take a look at some additional directional words and phrases.
abajo: down
arriba: up
al lado de: next to
cerca de: close to
enfrente de: in front of/across from
derecho: straight/straight ahead/right
detrás de: behind
recto: straight/straight ahead
todo derecho/recto: straight ahead
As we already learned that the adjective derecho means "right," you may have been surprised to see in the list above that it can also mean "straight" or "straight ahead." Let's see examples of each usage:
¿Sigo derecho y no lo saludo?
Keep going straight and not say hi to him?
Caption 26, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 4 - Part 12
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"Mi guitarra está al lado derecho mío".
"My guitar is on my right side."
Caption 17, Kowy Vocabulario
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Let's take a look at many oft-used verbs for talking about how to get places in Spanish, a few of which we've already seen:
estar: to be located
quedar: to be located
llegar: to get there
seguir: to continue, keep going
doblar: to turn
girar: to turn
tomar: to take
pasar: to pass
cruzar: to cross
Now, let's see a couple of these in clips from the Yabla Spanish video library:
Señora, ¿y usted sabe dónde queda esa whiskería?
Ma'am, and do you know where that whisky bar is?
Caption 82, Confidencial: Broma pesada Capítulo 3 - Part 1
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debo girar por la calle de la izquierda.
I should turn down the street on the left.
Caption 50, Raquel Las direcciones
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Finally, we'll look at just a few of the many directions-related nouns that might come up as things to keep your eyes out for on your way to some destination:
el edificio: the building
la señal de pare/alto: the stop sign
el semáforo: the stop light:
el camino: the road
la carretera: the highway
la calle: the street
la esquina: the corner
la intersección: the intersection
Let's conclude today's lesson with a little blurb that includes several of the terms we have learned today:
Cuando salgas, caminas a la derecha, cruzas el semáforo y a tu derecha verás un edificio blanco grande.
When you leave, you walk to the right, you cross the traffic light, and to your right, you'll see a big white building.
Captions 22-24, Cleer y Lida Llegando a una nueva ciudad
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We hope that this vocabulary will help you to feel more confident both asking for directions in Spanish and understanding many potential answers when you do... and don't forget to write us with your questions and suggestions!
Do you know how to say that something "is necessary" in Spanish? Do you like telling people what "has to" be done? We'll teach you a simple formula!
To say something "is necessary" in Spanish, you might use the literal phrase es necesario (it's necessary) plus a verb's infinitive, or "to" form:
Es necesario usar papel, carbón o madera para encenderlo.
It's necessary to use paper, charcoal, or wood to light it.
Caption 22, El Aula Azul Adivina qué es - Part 1
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And, to tell someone what they "have to" do, you could use verbs like tener que (to have to) or deber (must) plus the infinitive:
Tienes que mejorar esto.
You have to improve this.
Caption 28, El Aula Azul La Doctora Consejos: Hay y estar
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Bueno, primero debemos hacer la lista de invitados
Well, first, we must make the guest list
Caption 15, Cleer y Carolina Organizando la fiesta del abuelo
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However, if you are looking for a non-literal, conjugation-free alternative (to conjugate just the present indicative tense of tener que, for example, you have to memorize tengo que, tienes que, tiene que, tenemos que, tenéis que, and tienen que), we invite you to use the following, very simple formula, which can express the same thing as the previous three options in various contexts:
Hay que + infinitive
Don't get us wrong— you are going to have to learn those verb conjugations sooner or later! But, perhaps while you do, or as a viable alternative that native speakers often employ, you could opt for hay que + infinitive.
Hay comes from the Spanish verb haber, which is an auxiliary, or helping, verb that means "to have" or "to be" and appears in its conjugated forms as part of different verb tenses (e.g. the present perfect, pluperfect, etc.). Hay is haber's impersonal form, which never changes (it is always just hay in the present tense) and can mean "there is" or "there are." However, when hay is combined with que + infinitive, it becomes a fixed expression that means "it's necessary" (to do something). Let's see a couple of examples:
hay que darle la oportunidad de defenderse.
it's necessary to give him the opportunity to defend himself.
Caption 22, Los casos de Yabla Problemas de convivencia - Part 2
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¡Hay que reclamar el premio antes de las diez de la noche!
You have to claim the prize before ten p.m.!
Caption 61, Extr@: Extra en español Ep. 6: El día de la Primitiva - Part 4
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Note that the second example has been translated with "you have to," a more colloquial equivalent of "it's necessary" that includes the "universal you," implying "people" or "everyone." "One has to" or "one must" would also be valid translations.
The construction hay que + infinitive can be used in basically any context in which you want to say that "it's necessary" to do a particular thing. That said, we have included below a few scenarios in which you are likely to come across it. When reading the translations, keep in mind that while this impersonal construction has no specific subject, in cases in which the context or sentence makes clear who the speaker feels "has to" or "must" act in a particular way, the construction is often translated as if the subject were explicitly stated.
Since the construction hay que + infinitive explains what "people have to do," it only makes sense that it is often heard when talking about perceived wisdom about life:
En la vida hay que saber relajarse,
In life, you need to know how to relax,
Caption 44, Ana Teresa 5 principios del yoga
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El pasado hay que olvidarlo, hay que enterrarlo,
The past, you have to forget it, you have to bury it,
Captions 38-39, Yago 2 El puma - Part 1
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As we mentioned earlier, you might use the expression hay que + infinitive to tell someone what to do without explicitly saying "you must," as in these two examples from the popular series Confidencial: Asesino al Volante:
Yo sé que les dijimos que no vinieran por acá pero hay que darles la buena noticia.
I know we told them not to come here, but we have to give them the good news.
Captions 65-66, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 2 - Part 11
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Hay que demostrar que tú no eres ningún criminal,
You have to show that you're no criminal,
Caption 61, Confidencial: Asesino al Volante Capítulo 3 - Part 10
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In other cases, one might give a suggestion as to what they generally feel that "people" should do:
pues, hay que ir a México.
well, you have to go to Mexico.
Caption 32, World Travel Market en Londres Raúl nos habla de México
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Since giving directions entails explaining what "has to be done," you will often hear the construction hay que + infinitive in this context:
Después hay que torcer la primera calle a la izquierda.
Then you have to turn to the left on the first street.
Caption 34, Curso de español Disculpe, ¿hay un cine por aquí?
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Primero hay que ir todo derecho, ¿sí?
First you have to go straight ahead, right?
Caption 23, Curso de español Direcciones en la ciudad
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Similarly, hay que + infinitive will often be heard in contexts where specific instructions are given, such as cooking a particular recipe or for some other process:
Hay que añadir el agua poco a poco y vamos amasando hasta obtener una mezcla homogénea.
It's necessary to add the water little by little and we start kneading until obtaining a homogeneous mixture.
Captions 11-12, Recetas de cocina Arepas colombianas
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Cuando se bañan, hay que estar seguros de que no se mojen,
When they are bathed, you have to make sure they don't get wet,
Caption 39, La veterinaria "Huesos" visita a la doctora - Part 1
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These are, of course, just a few of the many situations in which you might use or encounter the construction hay que + infinitive.
While haber que + infinitive is probably most commonly seen the present indicative tense, it can also be found in other tenses. Let's see some examples in the imperfect tense , the preterite tense, and the future tense:
Definitivamente había que dejar el trabajo para dedicarme al restaurante.
I definitely had to leave my job to dedicate myself to the restaurant.
Caption 13, La Sub30 Familias - Part 9
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hubo que salir corriendo porque la Señora Di Carlo se moría.
we had to leave running because Mrs. Di Carlo was dying.
Caption 84, Muñeca Brava 2 Venganza - Part 6
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En fin, supongo que habrá que esperar hasta el lunes.
Anyway, I guess that it will have to wait until Monday.
Caption 86, Negocios La solicitud de empleo - Part 2
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And remember that, just like for the present, you only have to remember one form of haber for each tense: había que for the imperfect, hubo que for the preterite, and habrá que in the future. Yabla's lesson entitled Había o habían muchos libros? elaborates further.
As you've probably surmised from our plethora of examples, the construction haber que + infinitive is extremely common and useful, and now that you're familiar with it: hay que practicarlo mucho (you have to practice it a lot)! And don't forget to leave us your suggestions and comments.
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