Welcome back — ready to explain your symptoms more clearly? This short lesson helps you talk with a doctor about pain, treatments you tried, and next steps. Have fun practicing aloud!
Level B1: In this lesson you'll practice useful Spanish phrases for a medical appointment: rating pain, saying what you tried, explaining how symptoms affect daily life, and asking about tests, side effects, contagion, and follow-up. CEFR-aligned and focused on real doctor-patient phrases you can use right away.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Describe pain and where it spreads.
Explain what treatments you tried and whether they helped.
Ask about tests, contagion, restrictions, and follow-up (Level B1).
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
En una escala del 1 al 10, es como ___ .
On a scale from 1 to 10, it's about ___ .
Meaning: On a scale from 1 to 10, it's about ___.
When to use: Use this when the doctor asks you to rate your pain or discomfort.
En una escala del 1 al 10, es como 7.
On a scale of 1 to 10, it's like a 7.
Si me preguntas, en una escala del 1 al 10 es como 4.
If you ask me, on a scale it's about a 4.
Tomé ___, pero no me ayudó.
I took ___, but it didn't help.
Meaning: I took ___, but it didn't help.
When to use: Say this to explain medicines or home remedies you tried and that weren't effective.
Tip: Beginners sometimes use past tense confusion; keep 'Tomé' for 'I took' and 'no me ayudó' for 'it didn't help.'
Tomé paracetamol, pero no me ayudó.
I took paracetamol, but it didn't help.
Tomé té de jengibre, pero no me ayudó.
I took ginger tea, but it didn't help.
No he podido ___ por eso.
I haven't been able to ___ because of it.
Meaning: I haven't been able to ___ because of it.
When to use: Use this to explain how symptoms interfere with daily tasks (sleep, work, eat, move).
No he podido dormir por eso.
I haven't been able to sleep because of it.
No he podido trabajar por eso.
I haven't been able to work because of it.
¿Necesito hacerme algún estudio?
Do I need any tests?
Meaning: Do I need any tests?
When to use: Ask this when you want to know if the doctor recommends blood work, X-rays, or other studies.
¿Necesito hacerme algún estudio para esto?
Do I need to have any tests for this?
¿Necesito hacerme algún estudio antes del tratamiento?
Do I need any tests before the treatment?
¿Debo evitar ___ ?
Should I avoid ___ ?
Meaning: Should I avoid ___ ?
When to use: Use this to ask whether certain activities or foods should be avoided during recovery.
¿Debo evitar el ejercicio intenso?
Should I avoid intense exercise?
¿Debo evitar la leche mientras tomo este medicamento?
Should I avoid milk while taking this medicine?
¿Cuándo debo regresar?
When should I come back?
Meaning: When should I come back?
When to use: Ask this to clarify follow-up timing after diagnosis or initial treatment.
¿Cuándo debo regresar para la revisión?
When should I come back for the check-up?
¿Cuándo debo regresar si los síntomas no mejoran?
When should I return if the symptoms don't improve?
Últimamente he notado ___.
I've noticed ___ recently.
Meaning: I’ve noticed ___ recently.
When to use: Use this to describe new or worsening symptoms you observed in recent days or weeks.
Últimamente he notado que me falta el aire.
Lately I've noticed I'm short of breath.
Últimamente he notado moretones sin razón.
Recently I've noticed unexplained bruises.
El dolor se me pasa a ___.
The pain spreads to my ___.
Meaning: The pain spreads to my ___.
When to use: Use this when pain moves from one area to another (e.g., chest to arm).
El dolor se me pasa a la espalda.
The pain spreads to my back.
El dolor se me pasa a la mano derecha.
The pain spreads to my right hand.
¿Podría ser un efecto secundario de ___?
Could this be a side effect of ___?
Meaning: Could this be a side effect of ___?
When to use: Ask this when you suspect a medication or treatment is causing new symptoms.
Tip: Don't confuse 'efecto secundario' with 'reacción alérgica' — one is a side effect, the other can be an allergy.
¿Podría ser un efecto secundario de este antibiótico?
Could this be a side effect of this antibiotic?
¿Podría ser un efecto secundario de la vacuna?
Could this be a side effect of the vaccine?
¿Se puede contagiar?
Is it contagious?
Meaning: Is it contagious?
When to use: Use this to ask whether your illness can spread to other people.
¿Se puede contagiar si estoy cerca de otras personas?
Can it be transmitted if I'm near other people?
¿Se puede contagiar por contacto físico?
Can it spread by physical contact?
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Quick doctor visit
What did Anna say she tried that didn't work?
Anna
Últimamente he notado un dolor fuerte en el pecho.
Lately I've noticed a strong pain in my chest.
David
En una escala del 1 al 10, es como 7.
On a scale of 1 to 10, it's like a 7.
Anna
Tomé ibuprofeno, pero no me ayudó.
I took ibuprofen, but it didn't help.
David
¿Necesito hacerme algún estudio?
Do you need any tests?
Anna
También, ¿Debo evitar hacer ejercicio por ahora?
Also, should I avoid exercising for now?
David
Por ahora sí. ¿Cuándo debo regresar? Volvemos en una semana.
For now, yes. When should you come back? We'll return in a week.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which Spanish phrase means 'Do I need any tests?'
Which phrase would you use to say 'I haven't been able to sleep because of it.'?
How do you ask 'Is it contagious?' in Spanish?
Which phrase asks whether you should avoid something?
After the first appointment, the doctor asks, 'When should I come back?'
After the first appointment, the doctor asks, '___'.
You want to tell the doctor the pain spreads to your left arm: 'The pain spreads to my left arm.'
You want to tell the doctor the pain spreads to your left arm: '___'.
Explaining past attempts: 'I took ibuprofen, but it didn't help.'
Explaining past attempts: '___'.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
