Common Spanish Phrases for Nurses

Rapport and respect can be built with just one “Hola”. A few key Spanish phrases can help nurses and hospital staff build trust, prevent misunderstandings, and support safer care.

These phrases won’t make you fluent, but they will help you connect with patients faster and reduce communication anxiety.

The importance of having Spanish speakers in healthcare settings

Language barriers can lead to miscommunication, compromising patient safety and the quality of care. Effective nurse-patient Spanish communication is critical to closing the language gap and building trust.

Did you know?

More than 41 million people in the U.S. speak Spanish at home.
Many Spanish-speaking patients may not feel comfortable discussing healthcare topics in English.

Spanish helps nurses initiate rapport, gather basic comfort information, and reduce fear—not replace full medical communication.

Important note: While speaking a few phrases can build rapport, U.S. healthcare regulations require that nurses use qualified medical interpreters for clinical discussions, informed consent, discharge instructions, medication details, and any situation where misunderstanding could affect care.

Language gaps and their consequences

Language gaps can lead to:

Missed symptoms or inaccurate reporting
Poorly-understood medication and procedure instructions
Lower patient trust and satisfaction

Even a few common Spanish phrases for nurses can make all the difference in a patient's experience in the hospital.

What you’ll get from this guide:

Polished, accurate phrases you can use right away
Terms to support patient comfort and help nurses understand initial concerns while waiting for an interpreter
Quick-practice plan, pronunciation pointers, and a grab-and-go cheat sheet

Basic Spanish tips for nurses: Foundation and vocabulary

Use “usted”, not “tu”, for professional and respectful communication
Keep sentences short and direct
Speak slowly, pause for confirmation

How to pronounce key sounds in Spanish

Pronunciation quick wins:

Vowels are pure and short: a (ah), e (eh), i (ee), o (oh), u (oo)
J sounds like the English h (trabajar → traba-HAR)
H is silent (hola → O-la)
Ll often sounds like the English y (llamar → Ya-mar)

Greeting patients warmly and with confidence

The tone you set does matter. Greet every patient in their own language, and you will set the foundation for trust.

Greetings

Essential greetings:

Buenos días (Good morning)
Buenas tardes (Good afternoon)
¿Cómo se siente hoy? (How are you feeling today?)
Con permiso (Excuse me/come in)

A helpful introduction

Introduce yourself and your role:

Me llamo Ana. Soy su enfermera. (My name is Ana, I’m your nurse.)

Kind phrases for patients

Reassure with kindness:

No se preocupe. (Don’t worry.)
Estoy aquí para ayudarle. (I’m here to help.)
Puede decirme si necesita algo. (Let me know if you need anything.)
¿Prefiere español o inglés? (Do you prefer Spanish or English?)
Voy a llamar a un intérprete profesional ahora (I’ll call a professional interpreter now.)

Asking about language preference is a part of culturally competent care and is also required documentation in many settings.

When to use an interpreter

Use a qualified interpreter when:

Explaining procedures or obtaining consent
Discussing medications, dosage, or risks
Providing discharge or follow-up instructions
Anytime patient understanding is uncertain

Legal reminder: Federal law (Title VI of the Civil Rights Act & ACA Section 1557) requires healthcare providers receiving federal funds to provide free language assistance to patients with limited English proficiency.

Helpful Spanish vocabulary for nurses

You don't have to be proficient, but just memorize these key words; they are used in almost every hospital conversation.

Body parts

Cabeza (head)
Cara (face)
Garganta (throat)
Estómago (stomach)
Espalda (back)
Brazo (arm)
Mano (hand)
Pierna (leg)
Pecho (chest)
Cadera (hip)
Cuello (neck)

Basic health terms

Basic health terms to assess conditions:

Dolor (pain)
Fiebre (fever)
Presión arterial (blood pressure)
Pulso (pulse)
Temperatura (temperature)
Infección (infection)
Desmayo (fainting)
Herida (wound/injury)
Nausea (nausea)
Vomito (vomiting)
Diarrea (diarrhea)
Estreñimiento (constipation)
Alergia (allergy)

Understand how the patient is feeling

To describe how a patient feels, use:

Cansado (tired)
Mareado (dizzy)
Con náuseas (nauseated)
Mejor (better)
Peor (worse)
Débil (weak)
Fuerte (strong)
Cómodo(a)/incomodó(a) (comfortable/uncomfortable)
Ansioso(a)/tranquilo(a) (anxious/calm)
Con frío/con calor (cold/hot)

Try to practice three new Spanish medical words during every lunch break.

Basic comfort-level instructions (not for clinical consent)

These phrases are meant for rapport, comfort, and basic interaction only. They are not intended to replace a certified medical interpreter when discussing treatment, procedures, risks, medications, or consent.

Siéntese (Sit down)
Acuéstese (Lie down)
Levántese despacio (Stand up slowly)
Puede moverse aquí (You can move here)
No se levante solo (Don’t get up alone)

Respire profundo (Take a deep breath)
No se mueva, por favor (Please don’t move)
Espere aquí un momento (Wait here a moment)

Ensure patients feel comfortable and ready before helping them move.

Quick pain assessment in Spanish

These questions help identify basic comfort and safety concerns while waiting for interpreter support. They should not be used to give medication instructions, confirm dosing, or make clinical decisions.

¿Cómo se llama? (What is your name?)
¿Cuál es su fecha de nacimiento? (What is your date of birth?)
¿Tiene alergias a medicamentos? (Do you have any medication allergies?)
¿Dónde le duele? (Where does it hurt?)
¿Tiene fiebre, tos o falta de aire? (Do you have fever, cough, or shortness of breath?)
¿Le duele mucho o poco? (Does it hurt a lot or a little?)
¿Desde cuándo tiene este dolor? (How long have you had this pain?)

Help the patient describe their pain

Descriptive pain terms include:

Punzante (sharp/stabbing)
Ardor/quemante (burning)
Opresivo (tight/pressure-like)
Sordo (dull)
Calambre (cramp)
Puntilleo/hormigueo (tingling)

Quantify discomfort

Use the pain scale question to quantify discomfort:

En una escala del uno al diez, ¿cuánto le duele? (On a scale of one to ten, how much does it hurt?)

Phrases you may hear when an interpreter is present

These phrases are commonly used during clinical assessments when a qualified medical interpreter is facilitating communication. Nurses may hear these terms, but should not rely on them in lieu of professional language services.

Use this section to recognize what is being communicated—not to replace an interpreter or provide clinical instructions in Spanish.

Voy a medir su presión arterial. (I’m going to take your blood pressure.)
Voy a revisar su temperatura. (I’m going to check your temperature.)
Voy a escuchar su corazón y sus pulmones. (I’m going to listen to your heart and lungs)

These phrases help you understand what an interpreter may be relaying on your behalf so you can better follow the flow of patient care.

Reminder: Nurses should not initiate, explain, or confirm procedures in Spanish unless they are clinically fluent. Interpretation ensures patients fully understand what is happening and have the opportunity to ask questions safely.

Emotional support and comfort phrases

Emotional distress is common. If possible, calm patients with supportive words in their native language.

For comfort:

Está en buenas manos. (You’re in good hands.)
Todo va a estar bien. (Everything will be okay.)
Trate de relajarse. (Try to relax.)

Show empathy by saying:

Entiendo que tiene miedo. (I understand you’re scared.)
Voy a quedarme con usted. (I’ll stay with you.)

Emotional support phrases help patients feel safe while waiting for diagnostic conversations guided by an interpreter.

What are some tips for learning medical Spanish?

Tips for healthcare professionals for learning and practicing medical Spanish:

Repeat a set of three key phrases each day.
Use flashcards or sticky notes in your workspace to help you stay organized.
Listen to medical Spanish podcasts or audio lessons while on the go.
Practice common hospital scenarios with co-workers.
Practice exchanging phrases with Spanish-speaking coworkers or friends.
Expose yourself to various Spanish accents for a broadened understanding.
Focus on phrases you will use repeatedly—repetition builds retention.
Use a language-learning app, such as Duolingo.

Set a goal to practice Spanish for two minutes every day. The progress will be fast!

Quick reference: Spanish cheat sheet for nurses

Use these phrases to support rapport. For clinical decisions or instructions, always involve a qualified interpreter.

Greetings

Hola (Hello)
Buenos días (Good morning) / Buenas tardes (Good afternoon) / Buenas noches (Good evening)
¿Cómo se siente hoy? (How do you feel today?)

Comfort and Support

No se preocupe. (Don't worry.)
Está en buenas manos. (You are in good hands.)
Estoy aquí para ayudarle. (I am here to help you.)

Interpreter Offer

¿Prefiere español o inglés? (Do you prefer Spanish or English?)
Voy a llamar a un intérprete profesional ahora. (I am going to call a professional interpreter now.)

Symptoms

Dolor (Pain)
Fiebre (Fever)
Náusea (Nausea)

Pain Types

Punzante (Sharp)
Quemante (Burning)
Opresivo (Tight)
Sordo (Dull)
Calambre (Cramp)

Instructions

Respire profundo (Breathe deeply)
Siéntese (Sit down)

Keep your cheat sheet visible—it's the quickest path to confidence.

Knowing a little Spanish can change the patient experience

Familiarity with everyday Spanish phrases for nurses enhances effective communication, fosters trust between the patient and nurse, and elevates the level of care. Basic Spanish helps nurses create comfort and trust, especially in diverse patient populations.

Speaking basic Spanish can strengthen rapport and reduce anxiety, but safe and compliant care always includes a qualified interpreter for medical conversations. When nurses combine empathy, cultural awareness, and proper language access services, patient trust and safety thrive.

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