Conversational Phrases in English and Spanish

APPENDIX
C
Conversational Phrases in
English and Spanish
Although English is our official language, a variety of other
languages are spoken in the United States, and prominent
among them is Spanish. The following English-to-Spanish
table has been prepared to help healthcare workers develop
a better rapport with patients who speak only Spanish by
using the translated remarks or sentences when conversing
with them. Before approaching the patient, you should say
these basic phrases aloud several times to someone who
can correct the pronunciation if necessary. This is important, because if said incorrectly, the meanings of the phrases
could be changed enough to insult or bewilder the patient.
The first column of the table is the phrase or word
in English. The second column lists the phrase or word
in Spanish, and the third column offers a phonetic pronunciation. The syllable in each word to be accented is
printed in italic type. Even if you are not proficient in
English-to-Spanish, your Spanish-speaking patients will
appreciate your efforts to converse in their language if
only to say “por favor” and “gracias.” If you find that
you have difficulty pronouncing the words, you can
write them down or point to the Spanish phrase in the
textbook.
English Phrase/Word
Spanish Phrase/Word
Phonetic Pronunciation
Hello.
¡Hola
(o- -lah)
Good morning.
Buenos días.
(bwa--nos de--ahs)
Good afternoon.
Buenas tardes.
(bwa--nahs tahr-da-s)
Good evening.
Buenas noches.
(bwa--nahs no-cha-s)
My name is
Me llamo
(ma- yah-mo-)
I am from the laboratory.
Soy del laboratorio.
(soy da-l lah-bo--rah-to--re--o-)
I am here to take a
blood sample.
Estoy aquí para tomarle
una prueba de sangre.
(a-s-toy ah-ke- pahr-ah to--mahr-la- un-ah
pru--bah da- sahn-gra-⫺)
May I see your wristband?
¿Me permite ver su identificación?
(ma- pa-r-me--ta- va-r su- e--da-n-te--fe--cah-se--o-n?)
Do you understand me?
¿Me entiende?
¿Me ayn-tee-ayn-day?
What is your name?
¿Como se llama?
(co- -mo- sa- yah-mah?)
How old are you?
¿Cuántos años tienes?
¿Kwan-tohs ahn-yos tee-aynjays?
Speak slower.
Habla más despacio.
Ah-blah mahs days-pah-see-oh
It is necessary.
Es necessario.
Ays neh-say-sah-ree-oh.
Your doctor ordered this.
Su doctor ordeno.
(su- do-c-tor or da--no- esto a-s-to⫺)
Mr. or Sir
Señor
(sa--nyor)
Mrs. or Madame
Señora
(sa--nyo- -rah)
Ms. or Miss
Señorita
(sa--nyo--re--tah)
(continued)
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494
APPENDIX C: CONVERSATIONAL PHRASES IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH
English Phrase/Word
Spanish Phrase/Word
Phonetic Pronunciation
Okay.
Muy bien.
(mu--e-- bya-n)
Sit here.
Siéntese aquí.
(sya-n-ta--sa- ah-ke-)
You are the person I need.
Usted es la persona que necesito.
(u-s-te-d a-s lah pa-r-so-n-ah)
Have you eaten?
¿Ha comido?
(ah co--me--do-)
I need . . .
Yo necesito
(ka- na-sa--se--to-)
I am going to . . .
Voy a . .
(voy ah)
I am going to put a tourniquet
on your arm.
Le voy a poner un torniquete
en el brazo.
(la- voy ah po--na-r u-n tor-n e- -ka--ta- a-n
el brah-so-)
Please
Por favor
(por fah-vor)
Close your hand.
Cierra la mano.
(sya--rah lah mah-no-)
Make a fist.
Haga un puño.
(hah-ga u-n pun yo)
Open your hand.
Abra la mano.
(ah-brah lah mah-no-)
Straighten your arm.
Enderezca el brazo.
OR Estire su brazo.
(en-da-r-a-z-kah el brah-so-)
(a-s-te—ra- su- brah-so-)
Relax.
Relájese.
(ra--lah ha--sa-)
It will hurt a little.
Le dolerá un poco.
(la- do--la--rah u-n po- -ko-)
How do you feel?
¿Cómo se siente?
(¿Kob-moh say see-ayn-tay?)
It is important to . . .
Es importánte que . . .
(Ays eem-por-tahn-tay kay . . .)
You need to ask your doctor.
Necesita preguntarle a su doctor.
(na--sa--se--tah pra--gu-ntahr-la- ah su- do-c-tor)
Thank you.
¡Gracias!
(grah-syahs)
Have a good day.
Que le vaya bien.
(ka- la- v-I -yah bya-n)
Someone will be back in
a few minutes.
Alguien regresará en un momento.
(ahl-gwe--a-n ra--gra--sahrah a-n u-n mo--ma-n-to-)
I will get the nurse.
Buscaré a la enfermera.
(bu-s-cah-ra- ah lah a-m-fa-r-ma--rah)
Additional Phrases/Words
Spanish Phrase/Word
Phonetic Pronunciation
One
Uno
(oo-noh)
Two
Dos
(dohs)
Three
Tres
(trays)
Four
Cuatro
(kwah-troh)
Five
Cinco
(sin-koh)
Six
Seis
(says)
Seven
Siete
(see-ay-tay)
Eight
Ocho
(oh-choh)
The throat
La garganta
(lah gar-gan-tah)
Open your mouth.
Abra la boca.
(Ah-brah lah boh-kah)
Empty your bladder.
Orinar.
(Oh-ree-narh)
We need a urine specimen.
Es necesário una muestra
de su orina.
(Ays nay-say-sar-ee-oh oo-nah
mooay-strah day oh-ree-nah)
You can only drink water.
Solo puede tomar agua.
(Soh-loh pway-day toh-mar ah-gwah)
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