15 I dont feel well

Question 1

to arrange an appointment

Me gustaría pedir hora para la médica de cabecera.

I would like to arrange an appointment with the GP.

Escucha el diálogo.

la sala de espera

the waiting room

Por favor pase a la sala de espera.

Please go to the waiting room.

la consulta

the consulting room

Pase a consulta.

Go to the consulting room.

Me duele… / tengo dolor de…

I have (a) sore… / I have (a) … ache

Me duele la cabeza. / Tengo dolor de cabeza.

My head is sore. / I’ve got a headache.

Me he torcido… / Me he roto…

I have twisted… / I have a broken…

Me he torcido el tobillo. / Me he roto el brazo.

I have twisted my ankle. / I have broken my arm.

Here’s a tip
In this unit, we will learn how to arrange a doctor’s appointment and some phrases for the conversation you might have when you get to the surgery. Since this is a formal context, we are going to use the verb forms we use with “usted” (formal “you”).

In Spain, you normally see a GP first, and then, if necessary, the GP will refer you to a consultant. The word for GP is “médico / médica de cabecera” and a consultant is called an “especialista”.

Let’s see a typical dialogue spoken by someone who goes to the surgery and asks for an appointment:

Hola buenos días, me gustaría pedir hora para la médica de cabecera. (Hello, good morning. I would like to make an appointment to see the GP.)
¿Me dice nombre y fecha de nacimiento? (Can you tell me your name and date of birth?)
Sí, Alejandro Sánchez García, 20 de febrero de 1986. (Yes, Alejandro Sánchez García, 20th of February 1986.)
La primera cita disponible es el viernes 12 a las diez y media. (The first date available is Friday the 12th at half past ten.)
Estupendo, gracias. (Great, thanks.)
Now let’s see the transcript of the audio you just listened to:

Hola tengo una cita con el médico de cabecera. (Hello, I have an appointment with the GP.)
Por favor pase a la sala de espera. (Please go to the waiting room.)
Alejandro Sánchez pase a consulta. (Alejandro Sánchez, please go to the doctor’s office.)
We use the verb “tener” to describe a condition, sensation or pain in our body. Let’s see some examples:

Tengo alergia al polen. (I have hay fever.)
Tengo dolor de pecho. (I have chest pain.)
Tengo fiebre. (I’ve got a temperature.)
Tengo tos. (I’ve got a cough.)
Tengo calor. (I’m hot.)
Dialogue
Miguel: Hola buenos días.

Miguel: Hello, good morning.

doctora: Dígame qué le pasa.
doctora: Tell me, what can I do for you?

Miguel: Tengo dolor de cabeza y me cuesta respirar.

Miguel: I’ve got a headache and difficulty breathing.

doctora: Coja aire, suelte el aire, ahora tosa.
doctora: Breath in, breathe out, now cough.

Miguel: (tose)

Miguel: (coughs)

doctora: ¿Le duele aquí?
doctora: Does it hurt here?

Miguel: Sí, me duele el pecho.

Miguel: Yes, my chest hurts.

doctora: Creo que tiene alergia, le voy a hacer un volante para el especialista.
doctora: I think you have an allergy. I’m going to refer you to a specialist.

Answer 1

pedir hora / pedir una cita