Best Spanish Phrases for Nurses: A Complete Guide for Healthcare Workers
Essential Spanish phrases every nurse should know — patient intake, pain assessment, medication instructions, and emergencies. With phonetic pronunciation guides.
You don't need to be fluent to make a difference
A Spanish-speaking patient arrives at your unit. They're in pain. They're scared. And the interpreter isn't available — or the situation is moving too fast to wait.
You don't need to be fluent. You need the right phrases, right now.
This guide covers the 20 most essential Spanish phrases for nurses, organized by clinical scenario. Every phrase includes phonetic pronunciation — designed to be read on your phone during a shift, not memorized in advance.
Patient intake (5 phrases)
These are the first questions you'll ask any new patient. Master these five and you can handle the first 5 minutes of any encounter.
**1. ¿Cómo se siente hoy?**
*(KOH-moh seh see-EHN-teh oy)*
How are you feeling today?
**2. ¿Tiene alguna alergia?**
*(tee-EH-neh ahl-GOO-nah ah-LEHR-hee-ah)*
Do you have any allergies?
**3. Voy a tomar sus signos vitales**
*(voy ah toh-MAR soos SEEG-nos vee-TAH-les)*
I'm going to take your vital signs
**4. ¿Qué medicamentos toma?**
*(keh meh-dee-kah-MEN-tos TOH-mah)*
What medications do you take?
**5. ¿Tiene seguro médico?**
*(tee-EH-neh seh-GOO-roh MEH-dee-koh)*
Do you have health insurance?
Pain assessment (5 phrases)
Pain is the most common presenting complaint — and the hardest to assess through a language barrier. The OPQRST framework works in any language, but you need the Spanish to ask the questions.
**6. ¿Dónde le duele?**
*(DOHN-deh leh DWEH-leh)*
Where does it hurt?
**7. Del uno al diez, ¿qué tan fuerte es el dolor?**
*(del OO-noh ahl dee-EHS, keh tahn FWEHR-teh ehs ehl doh-LOHR)*
On a scale of 1 to 10, how strong is the pain?
**8. ¿Desde cuándo tiene este dolor?**
*(DEHS-deh KWAHN-doh tee-EH-neh EHS-teh doh-LOHR)*
How long have you had this pain?
**9. ¿Tiene fiebre, náuseas o mareo?**
*(tee-EH-neh fee-EH-breh, NOW-seh-ahs oh mah-REH-oh)*
Do you have fever, nausea, or dizziness?
**10. ¿Le falta el aire?**
*(leh FAHL-tah ehl EYE-reh)*
Are you short of breath?
Medication instructions (5 phrases)
Medication errors happen when instructions aren't understood. These five phrases cover the most common scenarios.
**11. Tome este medicamento una vez al día**
*(TOH-meh EHS-teh meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh OO-nah vehs ahl DEE-ah)*
Take this medication once a day
**12. Tome con comida**
*(TOH-meh kohn koh-MEE-dah)*
Take with food
**13. No deje de tomar el medicamento sin hablar con su médico**
*(noh DEH-heh deh toh-MAR ehl meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh seen ah-BLAHR kohn soo MEH-dee-koh)*
Don't stop taking the medication without talking to your doctor
**14. Este medicamento puede causar sueño**
*(EHS-teh meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh PWEH-deh kow-SAHR SWEH-nyoh)*
This medication may cause drowsiness
**15. Termine todo el medicamento, aunque se sienta mejor**
*(tehr-MEE-neh TOH-doh ehl meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh, ah-OON-keh seh see-EHN-tah meh-HOHR)*
Finish all the medication, even if you feel better
Emergency & urgent care (5 phrases)
When seconds count, these phrases get the critical information you need.
**16. Es una emergencia — necesito ayuda**
*(ehs OO-nah eh-mehr-HEN-see-ah — neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-YOO-dah)*
It's an emergency — I need help
**17. Quédese quieto, por favor — no se mueva**
*(KEH-deh-seh kee-EH-toh, pohr fah-VOHR — noh seh MWEH-vah)*
Stay still, please — don't move
**18. ¿Es alérgico a algún medicamento?**
*(ehs ah-LEHR-hee-koh ah ahl-GOON meh-dee-kah-MEN-toh)*
Are you allergic to any medication?
**19. Respire profundo — ya va a pasar**
*(rehs-PEE-reh proh-FOON-doh — yah vah ah pah-SAHR)*
Breathe deeply — it will pass soon
**20. Vamos a llamar a su familia**
*(VAH-mohs ah yah-MAHR ah soo fah-MEE-lee-ah)*
We're going to call your family
One rule that makes everything easier
In Spanish, there are two ways to say "you": **tú** (informal) and **usted** (formal). In healthcare, always use **usted**. It shows respect — and with patients who are vulnerable, scared, or in pain, respect builds trust. Trust means they share more symptoms, follow instructions more carefully, and return for follow-up care.
Go deeper
These 20 phrases will get you through most shifts. But if you want 208 phrases organized across 11 clinical sections — including physical exam commands, pediatric phrases, and cultural tips — check out our Basic Spanish for Healthcare Workers workbook. Every phrase includes English, Spanish, and phonetic pronunciation. $19, instant PDF — use it on your phone during shifts.
The patient who doesn't speak your language is someone's parent, child, or partner. A few phrases show them they're in good hands.