Emergency Spanish
These phrases could save your life - memorize them completely
Querido, in emergencies there's no time for perfect grammar. These phrases will get you help anywhere. Practice them until they're automatic - and always carry a card with your medical conditions written in Spanish!
🚨 MEMORIZE THESE NOW 🚨
¡AYUDA!
HELP!
↻
Yell this loudly
Universal emergency word
Llamen a una ambulancia
Call an ambulance
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"Ambulancia" understood everywhere
Point to phone
No puedo respirar
I can't breathe
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Hand to throat gesture
Asthma/allergic reaction
Me duele el pecho
My chest hurts
↻
Hand on chest
Heart attack symptom
Soy diabético/a
I'm diabetic
↻
Or any condition
Changes treatment
Alérgico a penicilina
Allergic to penicillin
↻
Write it down!
Keep in wallet
Pain Scale - Dolor del 1 al 10
1-2
Leve
(mild)
(mild)
3-4
Molesto
(annoying)
(annoying)
5-6
Moderado
(moderate)
(moderate)
7-8
Fuerte
(strong)
(strong)
9-10
Insoportable
(unbearable)
(unbearable)
Hospital Reality:
Emergency rooms WILL treat you but expect payment upfront. Hospitals won't release you until bills are paid. Travel insurance is ESSENTIAL - bring proof!
Pharmacy Navigation
Get the medicine you need safely
⚠️ CRITICAL UPDATE: Since 2010, ALL antibiotics require prescriptions in Mexico! Many pharmacies have doctors on-site who can prescribe for 25-50 pesos. Also beware: counterfeit medications are common in tourist areas - use major chains only!
Mi amor, Mexican pharmacies can be so helpful! Many medicines that require prescriptions in the US are available here over-the-counter. Always ask "¿Hay genérico?" - generic versions cost 80% less and work just as well!
Essential Pharmacy Phrases
Necesito algo para...
I need something for...
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Most useful phrase!
+ your symptom
¿Hay genérico?
Is there generic?
↻
Saves 80%!
Always ask this
¿Necesito receta?
Do I need prescription?
↻
Always for antibiotics
Since 2010
¿Cómo se toma?
How do you take it?
↻
Dosage instructions
Write it down!
consultorio médico
on-site doctor
↻
25-50 pesos
Can prescribe
¿Efectos secundarios?
Side effects?
↻
Important to know
Sueño = drowsiness
Available Without Prescription
ibuprofeno
ibuprofen
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Pain relief
No prescription
paracetamol
acetaminophen
↻
Fever/pain
Very common
anticonceptivos
birth control
↻
OTC in Mexico!
No age restriction
omeprazol
acid reflux med
↻
Heartburn
Before meals
loratadina
allergy medicine
↻
Antihistamine
Non-drowsy
loperamida
anti-diarrheal
↻
Tourist emergency!
Stay hydrated
jarabe para tos
cough syrup
↻
Many types
Ask pharmacist
Plan B
emergency contraception
↻
OTC available
Postinor-2 brand
Dosage Instructions
cada 8 horas
every 8 hours
↻
3 times daily
Common dosing
con comida
with food
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During or after eating
Protects stomach
en ayunas
empty stomach
↻
1hr before/2hrs after food
Morning usually
antes de dormir
before sleep
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Nighttime dose
May cause drowsiness
⚠️ Pharmacy Safety Warning
AVOID: Tourist area pharmacies with aggressive English marketing, suspiciously cheap prices, unsealed bottles
USE ONLY: Major chains like Farmacias Guadalajara, del Ahorro, Benavides, Similares
WHY: 68% of tested tourist pharmacies sold counterfeit pills containing fentanyl or meth!
Doctor's Office Spanish
Navigate appointments and examinations confidently
Querido, doctors need your history to help you. Write symptoms in Spanish before you go. Costs range from $40-200 USD for specialists. Always ask the price upfront!
Making Appointments
Necesito una cita
I need appointment
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Con el doctor
Specify specialist
¿Hay algo para hoy?
Anything today?
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Same day request
Es urgente
¿Cuánto cuesta?
How much?
↻
La consulta
Ask upfront!
Describing Your Symptoms
Desde hace...
For... (time)
↻
Tres días
Duration key
Me duele...
My... hurts
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Most common form
+ body part
Va y viene
Comes and goes
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Not constant
Intermittent
Es constante
It's constant
↻
All the time
Never stops
Como punzadas
Like stabbing
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Sharp pain
Dolor agudo
Como presión
Like pressure
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Squeezing
Chest pain type
Cultural Note:
Family members often accompany patients to appointments. This is normal! Use formal "usted" with doctors, not informal "tú".
Women's Health
Essential vocabulary with cultural sensitivity
Mi amor, these topics are health, not embarrassment! But remember - in Mexican culture, family involvement is expected in healthcare decisions. You can request a female doctor if preferred.
⚠️ CRITICAL False Friend ⚠️
"Estoy embarazada" = "I am PREGNANT" (NOT embarrassed!)
"Tengo vergüenza" or "Me da pena" = "I'm embarrassed"
This mistake could cause serious medical confusion!
Reproductive Health
la regla
period
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Also: menstruación
Most common term
cólicos
cramps
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Menstrual pain
Muy fuertes
toallas sanitarias
pads
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Or "toallas femeninas"
At any pharmacy
tampones
tampons
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Less common in Mexico
Available in cities
anticonceptivos
birth control
↻
OTC in Mexico!
Píldoras/pastillas
preservativos
condoms
↻
Or "condones"
No prescription
Pregnancy & Gynecology
prueba de embarazo
pregnancy test
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At pharmacy
No prescription
ginecólogo/a
gynecologist
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Women's doctor
Can request female
papanicolau
pap smear
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Screening test
Preventive care
infección vaginal
yeast infection
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Common issue
Treatment available
Medical Conditions & Allergies
Explain your medical history accurately
Querido, chronic conditions change everything about your treatment. Write these on a card in Spanish. Your life could depend on it!
Common Chronic Conditions
diabetes
diabetes
↻
Tipo 1 o 2
Need insulin?
presión alta
high blood pressure
↻
Hipertensión
Common issue
asma
asthma
↻
Inhalador needed
Carry always
epilepsia
epilepsy
↻
Convulsiones
Seizures
problemas del corazón
heart problems
↻
Cardíaco
Specify type
riñones
kidneys
↻
Renal problems
Affects meds
Allergies & Reactions
Soy alérgico/a a...
I'm allergic to...
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CRITICAL phrase
Memorize this!
mariscos
shellfish
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Common allergy
Camarones too
cacahuates
peanuts
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Or "maní"
Life-threatening
látex
latex
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Medical gloves
Tell staff!
Mental Health Basics
It's okay to ask for help - here's how
Cultural Sensitivity: Mental health remains highly stigmatized in Mexican culture. Many people express emotional distress as physical symptoms. "Me duele el corazón" often means emotional pain, not chest pain.
Mi amor, mental health is health! But understand - only 35% of Latinos with mental illness seek care. Many prefer family support over individual therapy. Be patient with cultural differences.
Mental Health Vocabulary
ansiedad
anxiety
↻
Muy común
Treatable
depresión
depression
↻
Serious condition
Seek help
no puedo dormir
can't sleep
↻
Insomnio
Common symptom
nervios
nerves/anxiety
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Cultural term
Physical + emotional
mucho estrés
lots of stress
↻
Affects health
Valid concern
psicólogo
psychologist
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Therapist
Talk therapy
Cultural Understanding:
"Necesito ayuda con mi salud mental" (I need mental health help) is understood but family/community support is often preferred over individual therapy in Mexican culture.
Ready to Navigate Healthcare in Spanish?
"Mi amor, you now have the medical Spanish to protect your health! Remember - carry a card with your conditions in Spanish, use major pharmacy chains only, and get travel insurance. ¡Cuídate mucho!" - Maria 💊