Lesson 15 · 6 min read
Spanish Body Parts and Talking About Health
Whether you're describing a minor ache or need to explain symptoms to a doctor, this vocabulary covers the body and the most common ways Spanish speakers talk about feeling unwell.
1. Parts of the body
Body parts take the definite article where English uses a possessive: "me duele la cabeza", my head hurts, literally "the head hurts to me". Getting this habit early saves a lot of unlearning later.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la cabeza | head |
| el brazo | arm |
| la pierna | leg |
| el estómago | stomach |
| la espalda | back |
| la mano | hand |
| el pie | foot |
| los ojos | eyes |
| la garganta | throat |
2. Feeling unwell
"Doler" works backwards from the English verb: the body part is the subject, so it is "me duele el brazo" for one thing and "me duelen los pies" for two. "Tener" carries most symptoms — tengo fiebre, tengo tos — where English would use "I have a" or "I am".
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Me duele la cabeza. | I have a headache. |
| Tengo fiebre. | I have a fever. |
| Estoy enfermo/a. | I am sick. |
| Me siento mal. | I feel bad. |
| Tengo tos. | I have a cough. |
3. At the doctor or pharmacy
In much of the Spanish-speaking world the pharmacy is the first stop for minor problems, and pharmacists expect to be consulted directly. "Me encuentro mal" is the general opener; "¿Necesito receta?" asks whether you need a prescription.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| Necesito un médico. | I need a doctor. |
| ¿Dónde está la farmacia? | Where is the pharmacy? |
| Tengo alergia a la penicilina. | I am allergic to penicillin. |
| ¿Qué me recomienda? | What do you recommend? |
4. Explaining a symptom clearly
Three patterns cover almost every symptom you will need. Me duele plus the body part for pain. Tengo plus a noun for conditions — tengo fiebre, tengo tos, tengo náuseas. And estoy plus an adjective for how you feel overall — estoy mareado, estoy agotado. Pharmacies in Spain and across Latin America are staffed by pharmacists who expect to advise on minor complaints and can dispense a great deal without a prescription. Describing the symptom to them directly, rather than asking for a brand name you know from home, will get you further.
| Spanish | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Me duele aquí | It hurts here | Me duele aquí, desde ayer. — It hurts here, since yesterday. |
| desde hace dos días | for two days now | Me duele desde hace dos días. — It's hurt for two days now. |
| estoy mareado | I feel dizzy | Estoy un poco mareado. — I feel a bit dizzy. |
| ¿Necesito receta? | Do I need a prescription? | ¿Necesito receta para esto? — Do I need a prescription for this? |
| una farmacia de guardia | a duty (all-night) pharmacy | ¿Dónde hay una farmacia de guardia? — Where's there an all-night pharmacy? |
Use it in context
A short visit to the chemist's, which is where most of this vocabulary gets used first.
- Me duele la cabeza desde hace dos días.
I've had a headache for two days. - Creo que tengo fiebre y me siento mal.
I think I have a temperature and I feel unwell. - Me duelen mucho las piernas.
My legs hurt a lot. - ¿Dónde está la farmacia más cercana?
Where is the nearest chemist's? - Tengo alergia a la penicilina.
I'm allergic to penicillin. - —¿Necesito receta? —No, para esto no.
'Do I need a prescription?' 'No, not for this.'
Common mistakes
Mi cabeza duele → Me duele la cabeza
Doler works like gustar: the body part is the subject and you are the indirect object. Literally, the head hurts to me.
Me duele los pies → Me duelen los pies
The verb agrees with the body part. Two feet means duelen, not duele.
Soy enfermo → Estoy enfermo
Ser enfermo describes a chronically sick person as an identity. A passing illness is a state, so it takes estar.
Quick check
___ duele la cabeza. — Me / Mi
Show the answer
Me — Doler works like gustar: the head hurts to me.
Me ___ los pies. — duelen / duele
Show the answer
duelen — The verb agrees with the body part, and that is two feet.
___ enfermo esta semana. — Estoy / Soy
Show the answer
Estoy — A passing illness is a state.