Spanish 5.3. Expressions of Pain & Illness

There are some commonly used expressions in Spanish to describe pain, symptoms, and illness. We will discuss three categories of these expressions:

1. Using the verb “doler” (to hurt) to express pain in a particular body part.

For example:

Me duele la cabeza.	My head hurts.
A mi mamá le duele la mano.	My mom’s hand hurts.
Nos duelen las piernas.	Our legs hurt.
¿Te duelen los dientes?	Do your teeth hurt?

The expression “me duele” literally means “it hurts me.” Thus, “me duele la cabeza” literally means “the head hurts me,” which we translate as “my head hurts.”

2. Using the verb “tener” (to have) to describe symptoms, including pain.

For example:

Tengo fiebre.	I have a fever.
Tenemos resaca.	We have a hangover.
Tuvimos estrés.	We had stress.
Ella tiene dolor de estómago.	She has a stomachache.

3. Using the verb “estar” (to be) to describe symptoms.

For example:

Estoy mareado.	I am dizzy.
Él está cansado.	He is tired.
¿Estás resfriado? [1]	Do you have a cold?

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[1] The verb “tener” can also be used to say: “¿Tienes un resfriado?” (Do you have a cold?).

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