Spanish · A1 · Family moment
A poorly day in Spanish
Comforting a sick child is a vital part of parenting. This guide focuses on identifying pain, basic care instructions, and offering reassurance using simple Spanish phrases appropriate for beginners.
What you'll learn
- Ask where a child feels pain
- Identify common body parts related to illness
- Give simple care instructions like drinking water or resting
- Provide reassurance using the future tense
Spanish phrases for a poorly day
¿Dónde te duele?
Where does it hurt?
The verb 'doler' is used to express pain.
Me duele la barriga.
My tummy hurts.
'Barriga' is a common child-friendly word for tummy/stomach.
Tienes fiebre.
You have a fever.
We use the verb 'tener' (to have) for symptoms like fever.
Bebe un poco de agua.
Drink some water.
A gentle command using the informal 'tú' form.
Vamos a descansar en el sofá.
Let's rest on the sofa.
'Vamos a' followed by a verb means 'Let's' or 'We are going to'.
Aquí tienes tu medicina.
Here is your medicine.
Literally: 'Here you have your medicine'.
Te sentirás mejor pronto.
You will feel better soon.
'Sentirás' is the future tense of the reflexive verb 'sentirse'.
Me quedo contigo.
I am staying with you.
'Contigo' is a special form meaning 'with you'.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Doler
To hurt
This verb functions like 'gustar'; you say 'it hurts to me'.
La barriga
The tummy
Informal word for stomach.
La medicina
The medicine
Cognate (looks like the English word).
Descansar
To rest
Essential verb for recovery.
Using the Verb 'Doler'
To say something hurts, use: [Pronoun] + duele + [The Body Part]. If the body part is plural (like eyes), use 'duelen'. Note that in Spanish, we use 'the' (la/el) instead of 'my' for body parts.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| To me (My...) | Me duele... | Me duele la cabeza. |
| To you (Your...) | ¿Te duele...? | ¿Te duele la garganta? |
More examples
¿Te duele la cabeza, mi amor?
Does your head hurt, my love?
Adding an endearment softens the question.
Tengo sueño y me duele todo.
I am sleepy and everything hurts.
A common way a child might describe feeling generally unwell.