Feeling unwell (Edexcel GCSE Spanish): Revision Notes
Feeling unwell
Basic health vocabulary
When discussing health problems in Spanish, you need to know key vocabulary and phrases to express how you feel and describe symptoms. These fundamental terms form the foundation for all health-related conversations in Spanish.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| doler | to hurt, ache |
| el cuerpo | body |
| caerse | to fall |
| cortarse | to cut oneself |
| quemarse | to burn oneself |
| romperse | to break |
| el accidente | accident |
| el corazón | heart |
| la farmacia | pharmacy |
| la medicina | medicine |
These reflexive verbs (caerse, cortarse, quemarse, romperse) are particularly important because they describe actions that happen to oneself, which is common when discussing injuries and accidents.
Asking about someone's wellbeing
The standard question to ask about health is ¿Cómo estás? (How are you?). When someone is unwell, you can also ask ¿Qué te duele? (What hurts you?).
These phrases are essential conversation starters that show care and concern for someone's wellbeing in Spanish-speaking cultures.
Understanding the verb "doler"
The verb doler is essential for expressing pain and discomfort. This verb has special characteristics that make it different from regular verbs.
Doler functions similarly to the verb "gustar" and is also a stem-changing verb. The part of the body that hurts becomes the subject of the sentence, which means the verb agrees with the body part, not the person experiencing the pain.
This unique grammar structure is crucial to master because it appears frequently in health-related conversations. Unlike English, where we say "My head hurts" (with "head" as the object), Spanish treats the body part as the subject of the sentence.
Present tense examples
Present Tense Usage of Doler:
- Me duele la cabeza = My head aches
- Le duelen los pies = His/her feet hurt
Notice how duele is used with singular body parts and duelen with plural body parts.
Imperfect tense examples
Past Continuous Pain (Imperfect Tense):
- Me dolía la rodilla = My knee was hurting
- Me dolían los hombros = My shoulders were aching
The imperfect tense is used to describe ongoing pain in the past or habitual pain that occurred regularly.
Body parts vocabulary
Learning body parts vocabulary is fundamental for medical communication. This comprehensive list covers the most commonly referenced body parts when discussing health issues.
| Spanish | English | Spanish | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| el brazo | arm | la garganta | throat |
| la boca | mouth | el hombro | shoulder |
| la cabeza | head | la mano | hand |
| la cara | face | la nariz | nose |
| el dedo | finger | el pie | foot |
| el diente | tooth | la pierna | leg |
| la espalda | back | la rodilla | knee |
| el estómago | stomach |
Example sentences using body parts
These practical sentences demonstrate how body parts vocabulary combines with the verb doler in real-world contexts:
Practical Sentences with Body Parts:
- Me duele el brazo después del accidente = My arm hurts after the accident
- A María le duelen los dientes = María's teeth hurt
- Nos dolía la espalda tras el viaje largo = Our backs were aching after the long journey
- ¿Te duele la garganta cuando hablas? = Does your throat hurt when you speak?
Medical and health vocabulary
Building on the basic vocabulary, these medical terms are essential for more serious health discussions and hospital visits.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| el hospital | hospital |
| enfermo/a | ill |
| la condición | condition |
| el doctor / la doctora | doctor |
| el / la médico/a | doctor |
| me hice daño en... | I hurt my... |
Context sentences
Understanding these terms in context helps you navigate medical situations more confidently:
- Fui al hospital porque me caí = I went to the hospital because I fell
- Está enfermo y necesita medicina = He is ill and needs medicine
- El médico examinó mi condición = The doctor examined my condition
The phrase me hice daño en... is particularly useful because it allows you to specify exactly where you hurt yourself, making it essential for emergency situations.
Pronunciation tips
Proper pronunciation is crucial for clear communication in medical situations. These tips will help you speak more confidently:
Key Pronunciation Guidelines:
- Doler: The 'o' changes to 'ue' in present tense (duele/duelen)
- Médico: Remember the stress is on the first syllable (MÉ-di-co)
- Farmacia: Pronounced far-MA-cia with stress on the second syllable
Translation practice
Practice is essential for mastering health vocabulary. Try these translations to test your understanding:
Translation Exercise:
Spanish to English:
- Me duele la cabeza y tengo fiebre
- Fueron al hospital después del accidente
English to Spanish:
- My stomach hurts
- She went to the pharmacy
Answers:
- My head hurts and I have a fever / Me duele el estómago
- They went to the hospital after the accident / Fue a la farmacia
Exam tips
When preparing for Spanish health vocabulary exams, focus on these key strategies for success:
Essential Exam Strategies:
- Remember that doler agrees with the body part, not the person
- Use me duele for singular body parts and me duelen for plural
- Practice describing different types of injuries and illnesses
- Learn to distinguish between present tense pain (duele) and past continuous pain (dolía)
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The verb doler works like "gustar" - the body part is the subject
- Use duele with singular body parts and duelen with plural ones
- ¿Qué te duele? is the key question for asking what hurts
- Past pain is expressed using the imperfect tense (dolía/dolían)
- Body parts vocabulary is essential for describing health problems accurately