Medical Spanish
Updated October 29, 2026
WanderMundo is an AI language learning app, and this guide covers medical Spanish: the Spanish clinicians use to greet patients, ask about symptoms, explain next steps and give instructions. Learn the core phrases below, then practice them in realistic patient role plays. With WanderMundo you can create your own mission, for example "take a patient’s history", and practice it by voice with the AI tutor.
Greetings and introductions
With patients, use formal usted. It is respectful everywhere and the verb forms match él/ella (usted tiene, usted toma).
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Buenos días. / Buenas tardes. | Good morning. / Good afternoon. |
| Soy la enfermera Smith. / Soy el doctor Lee. | I’m nurse Smith. / I’m Dr. Lee. |
| ¿Cómo se llama? | What is your name? |
| ¿Cuál es su fecha de nacimiento? | What is your date of birth? |
| Mucho gusto. Siéntese, por favor. | Nice to meet you. Please sit down. |
| Voy a hacerle unas preguntas. | I’m going to ask you some questions. |
Asking about symptoms
Short questions work best. Pause after each one and let the patient answer.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Qué le pasa? | What’s wrong? / What brings you in? |
| ¿Dónde le duele? | Where does it hurt? |
| ¿Desde cuándo tiene el dolor? | Since when have you had the pain? |
| Del 1 al 10, ¿cuánto le duele? | From 1 to 10, how much does it hurt? |
| ¿Tiene fiebre? | Do you have a fever? |
| ¿Tiene náuseas? | Are you nauseous? |
| ¿Le duele más por la noche? | Does it hurt more at night? |
Medical history
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| ¿Toma algún medicamento? | Do you take any medication? |
| ¿Es alérgico/alérgica a algún medicamento? | Are you allergic to any medication? (to a man / a woman) |
| ¿Ha tenido cirugías? | Have you had any surgeries? |
| ¿Tiene diabetes o presión alta? | Do you have diabetes or high blood pressure? |
| ¿Fuma? | Do you smoke? |
| ¿Está embarazada? | Are you pregnant? |
Giving instructions
Instructions use the formal command form. Say them slowly and add por favor.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Respire profundo. | Breathe deeply. |
| Abra la boca. | Open your mouth. |
| Acuéstese, por favor. | Lie down, please. |
| Tome esta pastilla dos veces al día. | Take this pill twice a day. |
| No coma nada antes del análisis. | Don’t eat anything before the test. |
| Vuelva si tiene más dolor. | Come back if you have more pain. |
Body parts
To say something hurts, use me duele + singular or me duelen + plural: me duele la cabeza (my head hurts), me duelen las piernas (my legs hurt).
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la cabeza | head |
| el pecho | chest |
| el estómago | stomach |
| la espalda | back |
| el brazo | arm |
| la pierna | leg |
| la garganta | throat |
How to practice with role plays
Phrases stick when you use them under a little pressure, the way you would with a real patient. Role plays give you that safely:
- Create your own mission in WanderMundo, such as "take a patient’s history" or "explain how to take a medication". The AI tutor plays the patient and answers in Spanish.
- Practice by voice with the microphone or a live call, so you get used to listening and replying in real time.
- Read your corrections: when you slip (for example tú instead of usted), a correction card shows the right sentence and a one-line reason in English.
- Tap words to save them; they become flashcards in Review, along with phrases you got wrong.
- Use Walk & Talk on your commute: a hands-free spoken lesson with headphones, 10 minutes a day on the free plan.
Medical Spanish course vs practice apps
Many medical Spanish courses exist. They are usually structured programs built for healthcare workers, and some offer continuing education credit; if you need credit, check whether a course offers it before you enroll.
A practice app like WanderMundo is different: it does not teach a medical curriculum or give certificates or credit. What it does well is daily speaking practice with corrections, so the phrases you learn in a course or on this page turn into things you can actually say. Many clinicians combine both. If your general Spanish is still basic, start with conversational Spanish and Spanish conversation practice.
Who it's for
- Nurses, doctors, medical assistants and front-desk staff who want to connect with Spanish-speaking patients
- Healthcare students practicing patient conversations
- Clinicians with some Spanish who want speaking practice
Who it's not for
- Anyone needing continuing education credit or certification
- Situations that require a qualified medical interpreter
- People looking for a structured medical curriculum
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn medical Spanish?
It depends on your general Spanish. If you already have basic conversation, you can learn core patient phrases in a few weeks of daily practice. Starting from zero, build everyday Spanish first; the FSI estimates 24 to 30 weeks of full-time study for professional proficiency.
Can I learn medical Spanish with an app?
An app can help you practice phrases and patient conversations by voice. WanderMundo lets you create your own role-play missions with corrections, but it is not a medical course and does not give credit.
What are the most important medical Spanish phrases?
Greetings and introductions, ¿Qué le pasa?, ¿Dónde le duele?, ¿Desde cuándo?, the 1-to-10 pain scale, medication and allergy questions, and simple instructions like Respire profundo.
Is medical Spanish different from regular Spanish?
It is regular Spanish with specific vocabulary and a formal usted tone. You still need everyday grammar to understand patients’ answers.
Should I use an interpreter?
Yes. For diagnosis, consent and important instructions, use a qualified medical interpreter. Your Spanish helps build trust and handle small talk, but it does not replace an interpreter.
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