How to Assess Pain in Spanish: 25 Essential Medical Spanish Phrases

August 24, 2026 - By Anna A

Learning how to assess pain in Spanish involves more than asking ¿Dónde le duele? In addition, healthcare professionals may need to ask when the pain began, how it feels, whether it travels, and what makes it better or worse.

A pain assessment commonly considers location, intensity, quality, timing, and the effect pain has on daily function. For that reason, the 25 Medical Spanish phrases below follow those broad areas and use the formal usted form commonly used with adult patients.

These phrases can help physicians, nurses, NPs, PAs, and other healthcare professionals begin a conversation with a Spanish-speaking patient. In addition, they can help learners recognize some of the answers a patient may give.

Looking for a broader intro first? Start with our guide to 35 essential Medical Spanish phrases.

How to assess pain in Spanish: location and radiation

Begin with an open question, then ask the patient to identify the location as clearly as possible. A patient may feel pain in more than one place or feel it extend into another area.

¿Tiene dolor?
Do you have pain?
¿Dónde le duele?
Where does it hurt?
¿Puede señalar dónde le duele?
Can you point to where it hurts?
¿Le duele en más de un lugar?
Does it hurt in more than one place?
¿El dolor se extiende a otra parte del cuerpo?
Does the pain spread to another part of your body?

Asking when the pain began

Timing can help clarify whether the pain began suddenly or developed gradually. It is also useful to ask whether the pain is constant, returns at intervals, or has happened before.

¿Cuándo comenzó el dolor?
When did the pain start?
¿Comenzó de repente o poco a poco?
Did it start suddenly or gradually?
¿El dolor es constante o aparece y desaparece?
Is the pain constant, or does it come and go?
¿Cuánto dura el dolor cuando aparece?
How long does the pain last when it occurs?
¿Ha tenido este dolor antes?
Have you had this pain before?

How to ask what pain feels like in Spanish

Patients describe pain in different ways. Instead of assuming which word applies, begin with an open question and offer examples only when clarification is needed.

¿Cómo describiría el dolor?
How would you describe the pain?
¿Es un dolor punzante, sordo, pulsátil o con ardor?
Is the pain sharp or stabbing, dull, throbbing, or burning?
¿Siente presión, ardor u hormigueo?
Do you feel pressure, burning, or tingling?
¿Siente entumecimiento o debilidad?
Do you feel numbness or weakness?
¿Le duele cuando toco esta zona?
Does it hurt when I touch this area?

Common Spanish words used to describe pain

These are some descriptions a patient may use. The preferred word may differ by country or region.

Dolor sordo: dull pain or ache
Dolor punzante: sharp, stabbing, or piercing pain
Dolor pulsátil or palpitante: throbbing pain
Ardor or quemazón: burning sensation
Hormigueo: tingling or pins and needles
Entumecimiento: numbness
Presión: pressure or tightness

The word agudo can describe sharp pain, but it can also refer to acute pain depending on the context. If the patient’s meaning is unclear, ask a follow-up question rather than relying on one term alone.

How to ask about pain severity in Spanish

A numerical scale can provide one way to discuss pain intensity, but the number should be considered alongside the patient’s description and how the pain affects function.

En una escala de cero a diez, ¿cuánto le duele ahora?
On a scale from zero to ten, how much does it hurt right now?
Cero significa que no tiene dolor y diez es el peor dolor imaginable.
Zero means no pain, and ten is the worst pain imaginable.
¿Cuál ha sido el dolor más fuerte que ha sentido hoy?
What is the worst the pain has been today?
¿El dolor le impide caminar, dormir o hacer sus actividades habituales?
Does the pain keep you from walking, sleeping, or doing your usual activities?

Asking what makes pain better or worse

Movement, position, breathing, medication, and other factors may change how a patient experiences pain. Ask open questions before giving examples whenever possible.

¿Qué hace que el dolor empeore?
What makes the pain worse?
¿Qué hace que el dolor mejore?
What makes the pain better?
¿El dolor empeora cuando se mueve o respira?
Does the pain get worse when you move or breathe?
¿Ha tomado algún medicamento para el dolor?
Have you taken any medication for the pain?
¿Cuándo tomó la última dosis?
When did you take the last dose?
¿Tiene otros síntomas, como fiebre, náuseas o dificultad para respirar?
Do you have other symptoms, such as fever, nausea, or difficulty breathing?

Common patient responses you may hear

Learning the questions is only part of the conversation. These are examples of responses a Spanish-speaking patient may use:

Me duele aquí.
It hurts here.
Va y viene.
It comes and goes.
Comenzó de repente.
It started suddenly.
El dolor se extiende hacia la espalda.
The pain spreads toward my back.
Siento ardor.
I feel a burning sensation.
Siento como punzadas.
I feel stabbing or pricking pains.
Me duele más cuando respiro.
It hurts more when I breathe.
No puedo dormir por el dolor.
I cannot sleep because of the pain.

Medical Spanish pain assessment FAQ

How do you ask “Where does it hurt?” in Spanish?

The most direct question is ¿Dónde le duele? Then, you can follow it with ¿Puede señalar dónde le duele?, meaning “Can you point to where it hurts?”

How do you ask someone to rate their pain in Spanish?

For example, you can ask: En una escala de cero a diez, ¿cuánto le duele ahora? This means, “On a scale from zero to ten, how much does it hurt right now?” In addition, explain what the ends of the scale mean rather than assuming the patient is familiar with it.

What do dolor punzante, dolor sordo, and dolor pulsátil mean?

Dolor punzante describes pain that feels sharp, stabbing, or piercing. By comparison, dolor sordo is a dull pain or ache. Dolor pulsátil is pain that throbs or pulses. However, patients may use other words depending on where they are from.

How do you ask whether pain comes and goes in Spanish?

Ask: ¿El dolor es constante o aparece y desaparece? For example, a patient may answer Va y viene, meaning “It comes and goes.”

Can Medical Spanish phrases replace a medical interpreter?

No. A phrase list may support basic communication. However, it does not replace a qualified medical interpreter when accurate, detailed communication is needed. Therefore, healthcare professionals should follow their organization’s language-access policies and recognize the limits of their own Spanish proficiency.

Does Medical Spanish vary between countries?

Yes. The phrases in this guide are intended to be broadly understandable. However, words for pain, symptoms, medications, and parts of the body can vary across Spanish-speaking regions. As a result, when a patient uses an unfamiliar word, ask them to describe or point to what they mean and use appropriate interpretation support.

Keep building your Medical Spanish skills

Pain assessment is only one part of communicating with a Spanish-speaking patient. Continue with our broader guide to 35 essential Medical Spanish phrases or read more about why healthcare professionals learn Medical Spanish.

Watch highlights from a MedTreks trip to Cuba, where Medical Spanish workshops were offered as part of the experience.

MedTreks is a high-touch adventure travel company built by medical professionals, creating thoughtfully curated trips with optional CME woven in. We are also developing future Medical Spanish immersion opportunities for healthcare professionals. Explore upcoming MedTreks CME adventures and join the MedTreks email list to hear when the next program is announced.

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