Greetings
What you might say to a patient
What a patient might say
Clinic basics
Conjugation
100

A greeting used in the afternoon

Buenas tardes — Good afternoon


100

How do you feel today? 

¿Cómo se siente? (formal — used with patients, polite/clinical)

¿Cómo se siente hoy? — How do you feel today?



100

My head hurts a lot 


  • Me duele mucho la cabeza. — My head hurts a lot.





100

Ask the patient their name and date of birth 

  • ¿Cuál es su nombre y su fecha de nacimiento? — What is your name and date of birth?


100

What conjugation should you use to address the patient

In a clinic, you should use the formal “usted” (Ud.) form when speaking to patients.


200

Provide 3 different ways to greet the patient

  • Buenos días, ¿cómo está? -- Good morning, how are you?
  • Buenas tardes, bienvenido/a -- Good afternoon, welcome
  • Hola, señor / señora -- Hello, sir / madam 
200

Do you have any allergies? 

¿Tiene alergias? — Do you have allergies? 

  • ¿Tiene alguna alergia? — Do you have any allergy? (more specific)





200

A patient says this when they don't understand you

  • Perdón, no entiendo. — Sorry, I don’t understand.
  • No comprendo. — I don’t comprehend / understand. 
200

Tell the patient you need to take their blood pressure.

  • Necesito tomarle la presión arterial. — I need to take your blood pressure.


200

“I only speak a little spanish”

  • Solo hablo un poco de español. — I only speak a little Spanish.


300

Introduce yourself in Spanish (team name, student at UCSD)


Hola, soy estudiante en UCSD y mi nombre es ___.

300

Tell the patient you will find someone who speaks Spanish 

Voy a buscar a alguien que hable español. — I will find someone who speaks Spanish.

Voy a encontrar a una persona que hable español. — I will find a person who speaks Spanish.

300

A patient says: “I need pain medicine”

  • Necesito medicina para el dolor. — I need pain medicine.


300

Ask the patient where it hurts and for how long

  • ¿Dónde le duele y desde cuándo le duele? — Where does it hurt and since when does it hurt?
  • ¿En qué parte le duele y desde cuándo? — In what area does it hurt and since when?
300

They have an appointment in the afternoon

  • Tiene una cita por la tarde. — They have an appointment in the afternoon.


400

How to tell the patient goodbye and you hope they feel better

  • Que tenga un buen día y que se mejore.
    Have a good day and feel better.
  • Adiós, que se mejore pronto.
    Goodbye, hope you recover soon.
  • Gracias, cuídese. Que se sienta mejor.
    Thank you, take care. Hope you feel better.
400

Use this phrase when you do not understand the patient and need them to say it again 

¿Puede repetir, por favor? No entiendo. — Can you please repeat? I don’t understand.

¿Cómo? — What? / Pardon?

400

A patient says this to explain they have not eaten all day 

No he comido en todo el día. — I have not eaten all day.

  • No he comido nada en todo el día. — I haven’t eaten anything all day.
  • No he comido hoy. — I haven’t eaten today.
  • Estoy ayunando. — I am fasting.
400

Ask the patient if they are taking any medications

  • ¿Está tomando algún medicamento? — Are you taking any medications?
  • ¿Toma algún medicamento? — Do you take any medication?





400

When do you use ser versus estar

give an example sentence for each

  • both are to be
  • SER = what something is
  • ESTAR = how someone feels / where they are / temporary conditions


  • El doctor es amable. → The doctor is kind (SER = characteristic)
  • El paciente está enfermo. → The patient is sick (ESTAR = condition)
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