Feeling under the weather? Learning to describe common illnesses and symptoms in Spanish is crucial for your health and well-being. From el resfriado to la gripe, knowing these terms helps you communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking healthcare providers.
Mastering the use of "tener" and "estar" to express your symptoms is key. Whether it's "Tengo fiebre" or "Estoy enfermo/a," these phrases will help you convey your health status clearly in Spanish-speaking environments.
Common illnesses and symptoms in Spanish
Recognizing and listing common illnesses
- el resfriado (cold) characterized by la congestión nasal (nasal congestion), los estornudos (sneezing), and la secreción nasal (runny nose)
- la gripe (flu) characterized by la fiebre alta (high fever), los escalofríos (chills), el dolor muscular (muscle aches), and el cansancio extremo (extreme fatigue)
- la fiebre (fever)
- la tos (cough)
- el dolor de cabeza (headache)
- el dolor de estómago (stomachache)
- la diarrea (diarrhea)
Identifying common symptoms
- el dolor de garganta (sore throat)
- las náuseas (nausea)
- los vómitos (vomiting)
- el sarpullido (rash)
- Chronic illnesses such as la diabetes (diabetes), la hipertensión (hypertension), and el asma (asthma) have specific ongoing symptoms
Expressing personal experiences with illnesses
Using appropriate verbs to describe symptoms
- Use the verb "tener" (to have) to describe experiencing symptoms, such as "Tengo fiebre" (I have a fever) or "Tenía dolor de cabeza" (I had a headache)
- Employ the verb "estar" (to be) to express states of being ill, like "Estoy enfermo/a" (I am sick) or "Estaba resfriado/a" (I was having a cold)
Discussing past experiences with illnesses
- Utilize the preterite tense to discuss past experiences with illnesses, such as "Tuve gripe la semana pasada" (I had the flu last week)
- Apply the imperfect tense for ongoing or recurring illnesses in the past, like "De niño, siempre tenía alergias en primavera" (As a child, I always had allergies in spring)
- Incorporate time expressions such as "desde hace..." (for... [time]) or "durante..." (during) to specify the duration of an illness, like "Tengo tos desde hace tres días" (I have been coughing for three days)
Health and illness comprehension in Spanish
Understanding questions related to health
- Understand questions using the verb "tener" (to have), such as "¿Tienes fiebre?" (Do you have a fever?) or "¿Qué síntomas tienes?" (What symptoms do you have?)
- Recognize inquiries with the verb "estar" (to be), like "¿Estás enfermo/a?" (Are you sick?) or "¿Cómo estás?" (How are you?)
Responding appropriately to health-related questions
- Respond appropriately using "tener" or "estar" along with specific symptoms or illnesses, such as "Sí, tengo dolor de garganta" (Yes, I have a sore throat) or "No, no estoy resfriado/a" (No, I am not having a cold)
- Reply to questions about the duration of an illness using time expressions, like "Tengo tos desde hace tres días" (I have been coughing for three days)
- Answer follow-up questions regarding the severity of symptoms or the need for medical attention, such as "¿Es una fiebre alta?" (Is it a high fever?) or "¿Necesitas ver a un médico?" (Do you need to see a doctor?)
Minor vs severe illnesses in Spanish
Characteristics of minor illnesses
- Minor illnesses like el resfriado (cold) and la gripe (flu) typically involve symptoms such as la fiebre baja (low-grade fever), la tos (cough), and el dolor de cabeza leve (mild headache)
- Minor illnesses usually resolve within a few days to a week
- Symptoms of minor illnesses generally do not significantly impair one's ability to carry out normal daily activities
Identifying severe illnesses
- Severe illnesses are characterized by more intense or prolonged symptoms, such as la fiebre alta persistente (persistent high fever), el dolor agudo (acute pain), or la dificultad para respirar (difficulty breathing)
- Certain symptoms, like el dolor en el pecho (chest pain), la confusión (confusion), or la pérdida de consciencia (loss of consciousness), may indicate a serious condition requiring immediate medical attention
- Severe illnesses often persist longer than minor illnesses
- The impact of symptoms on daily functioning helps differentiate minor from severe illnesses, with the latter often significantly impairing one's ability to carry out normal activities