Illnesses and Symptoms (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Illnesses and symptoms
The verb doler (to hurt)
The verb doler is used to express pain or discomfort in Spanish. It works similarly to the verb gustar, using a special structure that might seem unusual at first.
How doler works
Unlike regular verbs, doler uses indirect object pronouns and only appears in two forms: duele (singular) and duelen (plural). The thing that hurts is the subject, and the person experiencing pain receives the action.
| Person | Doler form | English |
|---|---|---|
| me | duele(n) | it hurts me |
| te | duele(n) | it hurts you |
| le | duele(n) | it hurts him/her |
| nos | duele(n) | it hurts us |
| os | duele(n) | it hurts you (plural) |
| les | duele(n) | it hurts them |
Important grammar point: When talking about body parts that hurt, always use the definite article (el, la, los, las) before the body part.
Example sentences:
- Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.)
- ¿Te duelen los dientes? (Do your teeth hurt?)
- A Juan, le duelen los pies. (Juan's feet hurt.)
- Les duelen las gargantas a los niños. (The children's throats hurt.)
Expressing intensity:
- Me duele un poco - it hurts a little
- Me duele mucho - it hurts a lot
- Me duele un montón - it really hurts
Medical symptoms vocabulary
Common illnesses and symptoms
The following vocabulary will help you describe various medical conditions and symptoms when speaking Spanish.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| tener fiebre | to have a fever |
| tener una temperatura | to have a temperature |
| tener gripe | to have flu |
| tener náuseas | to feel nauseous |
| tener tos | to have a cough |
| tener un sarpullido | to have a rash |
| tener un esguince | to have a sprain |
Feeling unwell
These expressions use the verb estar to describe temporary states of illness.
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| estar agotado/a | to be exhausted |
| estar enfermo/a | to be sick |
| estar constipado/a | to have a cold |
| estar resfriado/a | to have a cold |
| estar quemado/a por el sol | to be sunburnt |
| estar mareado/a | to be dizzy |
| estar hinchado/a | to be swollen |
Injuries and actions
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| torcer el tobillo | to twist your ancle |
| romper la pierna | to break your leg |
| cortarse la rodilla | to cut your knee |
| estornudar | to sneeze |
| toser | to cough |
Example sentences:
- Tengo fiebre y me duele la garganta. (I have a fever and my throat hurts.)
- María está resfriada y tose mucho. (María has a cold and coughs a lot.)
- Estoy mareado porque tengo gripe. (I'm dizzy because I have flu.)
Grammar note: When using estar + adjective to describe temporary states of illness, remember that the adjective must agree with the person (masculine/feminine endings).
Indirect object pronouns with doler
The pronouns used with doler are called indirect object pronouns. These are the same pronouns used with other verbs like gustar, encantar, and interesar. In English, these correspond to pronouns with 'to' before them.
Examples in context:
- Le escribí una carta. (I wrote a card to him.)
- Le di un regalo a mi madre. (I gave a present to my mum.)
- A Juan, le duele la mano. (Juan's hand hurts him.)
- A los niños, les duelen las gargantas. (The boys' throats hurt them.)
Useful phrases for doctor visits
When visiting a doctor or describing symptoms, these phrases will help you communicate effectively:
Asking what's wrong:
- ¿Qué te pasa? (What's wrong?)
- ¿Qué te duele? (What hurts?)
Describing symptoms:
- Me encuentro mal. (I feel unwell.)
- No me siento bien. (I don't feel well.)
- Tengo dolor de cabeza. (I have a headache.)
Translation practice
Spanish to English:
- Me duele mucho la espalda.
- ¿Tienes fiebre?
English to Spanish:
- My stomach hurts.
- She has a cold.
Common errors and fixes
Common Mistake 1:
- Error: Me duele cabeza. ✗
- Fix: Me duele la cabeza. ✓
- Reason: Always use the definite article with body parts.
Common Mistake 2:
- Error: Yo duelo la pierna. ✗
- Fix: Me duele la pierna. ✓
- Reason: Doler uses indirect object pronouns, not subject pronouns.
Common Mistake 3:
- Error: Tengo constipado. ✗
- Fix: Estoy constipado. ✓
- Reason: Use estar (not tener) with constipado because it's a temporary state.
Cultural note
Idiom: Estar más sano que una pera
This expression literally translates as "to be healthier than a pear" but means "to be very healthy". For example: "Nunca estoy enfermo. Estoy más sano que una pera." (I'm never sick. I'm very healthy.)
Translation answers
Spanish to English:
- My back hurts a lot.
- Do you have a fever?
English to Spanish:
- Me duele el estómago.
- Ella está resfriada. / Ella tiene un resfriado.
Key Points to Remember:
- Doler works like gustar - use indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les)
- Always use definite articles with body parts when expressing pain
- Use estar (not ser) when describing temporary illness states
- Tener is used with specific symptoms like fiebre, tos, gripe
- The intensity of pain can be expressed with un poco, mucho, or un montón