Being able to communicate with a doctor is one of the most practical skills you can have. In this lesson, you'll learn vocabulary for a doctor's visit, how to describe your symptoms with time references ('since' and 'for'), and important 'tener' expressions for body sensations like hunger, thirst, and sleepiness.
Learning tips
- 'Desde hace' is a key time expression: 'desde hace tres días' means 'for three days' (and it's still ongoing).
- The 'tener' expressions are unique to Spanish — in English you 'are' hungry, but in Spanish you 'have' hunger.
- Practice the sequence: greet the doctor, describe symptoms, answer questions, receive instructions.
- In Colombia, the public health system is called EPS — you'll hear this term often.
Warm-up & Active Recall
Recap: In Lesson 9.3, you learned 'tener que + infinitive' for obligation (tengo que tomar la pastilla) and 'deber + infinitive' for advice (debes descansar).
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| la farmacia | the pharmacy |
| la pastilla | the pill |
| el medicamento | the medicine |
| la receta | the prescription |
| tomar | to take |
| dolor de cabeza | headache |
| el jarabe | the syrup |
| la crema | the cream |
| mejor | better |
| peor | worse |
Dialog
Valentina visits the doctor (Andrés plays the role) for symptoms she's had for three days. Notice the time expression 'desde hace tres días' (for three days). The doctor uses formal commands: 'respire' (breathe), 'abra' (open). Valentina asks if she can show where it hurts using 'mostrar.' The doctor prescribes rest and medicine.
Valentina
Buenas tardes, doctor. Tengo una cita a las tres.
(Good afternoons, doctor. I-have an appointment at the three.)
Good afternoon, doctor. I have an appointment at three.
Andrés
Buenas tardes. Siéntese, por favor. ¿Qué le pasa? Voy a examinar.
(Good afternoons. Sit-down, please. What you happens? I-go to examine.)
Good afternoon. Please sit down. What's the matter? I'm going to examine you.
Valentina
Me siento mal desde hace tres días. Tengo dolor y fiebre.
(Me I-feel bad since makes three days. I-have pain and fever.)
I've been feeling bad for three days. I have pain and fever.
Andrés
Vamos a ver. Respire profundo, por favor. Abra la boca.
(Let's to see. Breathe deep, please. Open the mouth.)
Let's see. Breathe deeply, please. Open your mouth.
Valentina
¿Puedo mostrarle dónde me duele? Aquí, en la espalda.
(Can-I show-you where me hurts? Here, in the back.)
Can I show you where it hurts? Here, in my back.
Andrés
Entiendo. Necesita descansar mucho y tomar esta medicina.
(I-understand. You-need to-rest much and take this medicine.)
I understand. You need to rest a lot and take this medicine.
Valentina
¿Desde cuándo debo tomar la medicina, doctor?
(Since when must-I take the medicine, doctor?)
Starting when should I take the medicine, doctor?
Andrés
Desde hoy. Hace tres días que está enferma. Necesita descansar.
(Since today. Makes three days that you-are sick. You-need to-rest.)
Starting today. You've been sick for three days. You need to rest.
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| el médico | /ˈme.ði.ko/ | the doctor | Can also say 'el doctor / la doctora' informally |
| la cita | /ˈsi.ta/ | the appointment | Also means 'date' in romantic context |
| examinar | /ek.sa.mi.ˈnaɾ/ | to examine | What the doctor does during a checkup |
| respirar | /res.pi.ˈɾaɾ/ | to breathe | Formal command: 'respire profundo' (breathe deeply) |
| abrir | /a.ˈβɾiɾ/ | to open | 'Abra la boca' = open your mouth |
| mostrar | /mos.ˈtɾaɾ/ | to show | Stem-changing: o→ue (muestro, muestras, muestra) |
| desde | /ˈdes.ðe/ | since, from | Time reference: 'desde el lunes' = since Monday |
| hace | /ˈa.se/ | ago, for (time) | 'Hace tres días' = three days ago / for three days |
| la medicina | /me.ði.ˈsi.na/ | the medicine | Less formal than 'medicamento' |
| descansar | /des.kan.ˈsaɾ/ | to rest | Doctor's most common advice! |
Passive words
| Word | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| la consulta | /kon.ˈsul.ta/ | the consultation | |
| el consultorio | /kon.sul.ˈto.ɾjo/ | the doctor's office | |
| el seguro médico | /se.ˈɣu.ɾo ˈme.ði.ko/ | health insurance | |
| la EPS | /ˈe.pe.ˈe.se/ | the EPS (health provider) | Colombian public health system |
| el diagnóstico | /djaɣ.ˈnos.ti.ko/ | the diagnosis | |
| la urgencia | /uɾ.ˈxen.sja/ | the emergency |
Useful chunks
| Word | Translation |
|---|---|
| desde hace | since / for (ongoing duration) |
| ¿qué le pasa? | what's wrong with you? (formal) |
Pronunciation: The word 'médico' is stressed on the first syllable: MÉ-di-co. It's a 'palabra esdrújula' (stressed on the third-to-last syllable), which always gets a written accent. 'Examinar' is stressed on the last syllable: e-xa-mi-NAR. Practice: 'El MÉ-di-co va a e-xa-mi-NAR.'
Grammar: 'Tener' expressions — tener hambre, tener sed, tener sueño, tener frío, tener calor, tener miedo
| Expression | Meaning |
|---|---|
| tener hambre | to be hungry |
| tener sed | to be thirsty |
| tener sueño | to be sleepy |
| tener frío | to be cold |
| tener calor | to be hot |
| tener miedo | to be afraid |
| tener fiebre | to have a fever |
| tener dolor | to have pain |
Spanish uses tener (to have) for many physical sensations where English uses to be:
- tener hambre = to be hungry (lit. 'to have hunger')
- tener sed = to be thirsty (lit. 'to have thirst')
- tener sueño = to be sleepy (lit. 'to have sleep')
- tener frío = to be cold (lit. 'to have cold')
- tener calor = to be hot (lit. 'to have heat')
- tener miedo = to be afraid (lit. 'to have fear')
- tener fiebre = to have a fever
- tener dolor = to have pain
Important: Don't use 'ser' or 'estar' for these — always 'tener'!
- Correct: Tengo hambre. (I'm hungry.)
- Incorrect: ~~Estoy hambre.~~
To ask: ¿Tienes hambre? (Are you hungry?) ¿Tiene frío? (Are you cold?)
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the missing word.
- Tengo una con el médico. (appointment)(a scheduled meeting with the doctor)
- El doctor va a al paciente. (examine)(what the doctor does to check you)
- profundo, por favor. (Breathe)(what you do with air, in and out)
- Estoy enfermo hace tres días. (since)(time word meaning 'from a point in time')
- Necesitas y tomar la medicina. (rest)(what the doctor tells you to do at home)
Grammar Application
Complete each 'tener' expression with the correct sensation word.
- I'm hungry → Tengo .(the sensation of wanting food)
- She's thirsty → Tiene .(the sensation of wanting drink)
- We're sleepy → Tenemos .(the sensation of wanting sleep)
- He's cold → Tiene .(the sensation of low temperature)
- They're afraid → Tienen .(the sensation of fear)
Translation (English → Spanish)
Translate each sentence into Spanish.
- I have an appointment with the doctor.
- Breathe deeply and open your mouth.
- I've been sick for three days.
- I need to rest and take medicine.
- Can I show you where it hurts?
Creative Construction
Write a short doctor's visit scene. Include greeting the doctor, describing symptoms with time references, and receiving advice.
Takeaway
Use 'tener' for body sensations: tener hambre (hungry), tener sed (thirsty), tener sueño (sleepy), tener frío (cold), tener calor (hot), tener miedo (afraid). For duration, use 'desde hace': 'estoy enfermo desde hace tres días' (I've been sick for three days).
Culture note: Colombia has a public-private healthcare system. The EPS (Entidad Promotora de Salud) is the public health provider that most Colombians use. While waiting times can be long, the quality of medical care is generally good, especially in major cities like Bogotá and Medellín. Many Colombians also visit private doctors for faster service. In emergencies, any hospital must attend you regardless of insurance — this is called 'urgencias.'
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