Visiting the Doctor (Junior Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Visiting the doctor
When you're feeling unwell in a Spanish-speaking country, you'll need to know how to communicate with healthcare professionals and understand medical vocabulary. This note covers essential vocabulary and phrases for pharmacy visits, doctor appointments, and related situations.
At the pharmacy
The pharmacy (la farmacia) is often your first stop when you're feeling unwell. Here's essential vocabulary for items you might need:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| los pañuelos desechables | disposable tissues |
| el protector solar | sun cream |
| el botiquín de primeros auxilios | first aid kit |
| las gotas para los ojos | eye drops |
| la pomada | ointment |
| las tiritas | plasters |
| las pastillas | pills/tablets |
| la venda | bandage |
| el jabón líquido | liquid soap |
| el jarabe para la tos | cough syrup |
| el repelente de mosquitos | mosquito repellent |
| la pasta de dientes | toothpaste |
| el champú | shampoo |
| el acondicionador | conditioner |
| el cepillo de dientes | toothbrush |
Example sentences:
- Necesito unas tiritas para mi herida. (I need some plasters for my wound.)
- ¿Tiene jarabe para la tos? (Do you have cough syrup?)
- Busco gotas para los ojos. (I'm looking for eye drops.)
- Quiero comprar un protector solar. (I want to buy some sun cream.)
Remember that necesitar (to need) and buscar (to look for) are regular verbs that follow standard conjugation patterns.
Doctor visit vocabulary
When visiting the doctor, you'll encounter specific medical terminology. Learning these terms will help you understand diagnoses and treatment recommendations:
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la receta (f.) | prescription |
| el/la paciente (m./f.) | patient |
| la cita (f.) | appointment |
| la herida (f.) | wound |
| el corte (m.) | cut |
| cortarse | to cut oneself |
| sangrar | to bleed |
| recetar | to prescribe |
| la radiografía (f.) | x-ray |
| las muletas (f. pl.) | crutches |
| los consejos (m. pl.) | advice |
| rasgar | to scratch |
| por supuesto | of course |
Example sentences:
- Tengo una cita con el doctor. (I have an appointment with the doctor.)
- Me corté la pierna jugando al fútbol. (I cut my leg playing football.)
- El doctor me va a recetar antibióticos. (The doctor is going to prescribe me antibiotics.)
- ¿Necesito una radiografía? (Do I need an x-ray?)
Notice that body parts use the definite article: me duele la pierna (my leg hurts), not "mi pierna duele". This is a common mistake to avoid when describing pain or injuries.
Useful phrases for medical appointments
These phrases will help you communicate effectively during a doctor visit. Mastering these expressions will make your appointment much smoother:
Asking for help:
- ¿Cómo me puede ayudar? (How can you help me?)
- ¿Puede examinarme la pierna, por favour? (Can you examine my leg, please?)
Describing symptoms:
- Me duele mucho. (It hurts a lot.)
- Sangré mucho. (I bled a lot.)
- Tengo una temperatura. (I have a temperature.)
- Me duele la cabeza. (I have a headache.)
Following instructions:
- ¿Qué debo hacer? (What should I do?)
- Gracias, doctor. (Thank you, doctor.)
Sample Doctor-Patient Conversation:
Doctor: "¿Cómo te puedo ayudar?" Patient: "Me corté la pierna hace dos días." Doctor: "Te voy a recetar antibióticos. Tienes que tomar una pastilla cada ocho horas."
This shows the typical flow: describing the problem, receiving diagnosis, and getting treatment instructions.
Present perfect tense in medical contexts
The present perfect (el pretérito perfecto) is useful for describing recent medical experiences. It combines the present tense of haber with the past participle:
| Haber (present) | + | Past participle |
|---|---|---|
| he | + | tomado (taken) |
| has | + | ido (gone) |
| ha | + | cortado (cut) |
| hemos | + | comido (eaten) |
| habéis | + | venido (come) |
| han | + | sangrado (bled) |
Medical examples:
- He ido al doctor. (I have gone to the doctor.)
- Juan ha tomado los antibióticos. (Juan has taken the antibiotics.)
- Me he lastimado el pie. (I have hurt my foot.)
- ¿Has llamado al doctor? (Have you called the doctor?)
Past participles ending in -ar become -ado, whilst those ending in -er/-ir become -ido. This pattern is consistent across most verbs.
Cultural note - El ratón pérez
Cultural Insight: El Ratón Pérez
In Spanish-speaking countries, when children lose a tooth, they don't wait for the tooth fairy - they wait for El Ratón Pérez (the Pérez Mouse). Children place their lost tooth under their pillow, and El Ratón Pérez leaves a coin in exchange. This tradition is an important part of childhood healthcare culture in Spanish-speaking countries and shows how medical experiences are integrated into local customs.
Phrase bank
At the pharmacy:
- ¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza? (Do you have anything for headaches?)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? (How much does it cost?)
At the doctor's:
- Tengo una cita a las tres. (I have an appointment at three.)
- No me siento bien. (I don't feel well.)
- ¿Es grave? (Is it serious?)
Translation Practice:
Translate to English:
- Necesito una receta para los antibióticos.
- Me he cortado el dedo con un cuchillo.
Translate to Spanish: 3. I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. 4. Can you give me something for the pain?
Answers:
- I need a prescription for the antibiotics.
- I have cut my finger with a knife.
- Tengo una cita con el doctor mañana.
- ¿Me puede dar algo para el dolor?
Key Points to Remember:
- Use me duele + definite article when describing pain in body parts
- The present perfect is formed with haber + past participle
- Pharmacies are your first stop for minor health issues
- Don't forget to say por favour and gracias - politeness is important in medical settings
- El Ratón Pérez is the Spanish equivalent of the tooth fairy