At the doctor's you check in, wait, and then say what's wrong. With me duele and tengo you can describe most everyday complaints.

Your turn

What's wrong with this person?

Me duele la cabeza. Tengo fiebre.

The main idea

Me duele la cabeza.
I have a headache.
Me duele la garganta.
I have a sore throat.
Me duele el estómago.
I have a stomachache.
Me duele la espalda.
My back hurts.
Me duelen los pies.
My feet hurt.
Tengo fiebre.
I have a fever.
Tengo tos.
I have a cough.
Estoy resfriado.
I have a cold.
Estoy resfriada.
I have a cold.
Desde ayer.
Since yesterday.
Tengo fiebre desde el lunes.
I've had a fever since Monday.

Me duele works like me gusta: the body part is what hurts, so it is duele for one (la cabeza) and duelen for several (los pies). Tengo fiebre and Tengo tos take no una, unlike a fever and a cough. With desde (since), Spanish uses the present where English says I've had: Tengo fiebre desde el lunes. resfriado changes to resfriada when a woman says it. In Mexico, the flu is often la gripa; elsewhere it is la gripe.

Me duele mi cabeza. Less natural
Me duele la cabeza.
My head hurts.

At the reception

Ben arrives for his appointment.

Ben: Buenas tardes. Tengo cita a las cinco con el doctor Ruiz.
Good afternoon. I have an appointment with Dr. Ruiz at five.
Recepcionista: ¿Es la primera vez que viene?
Is this your first visit?
Ben: Sí.
Yes.
Recepcionista: Llene este formulario, por favor, y tome asiento.
Please fill out this form and have a seat.

Llene (fill out) and tome asiento (have a seat) are polite instructions in the usted form, like the ones you hear when you ask for directions.

With the doctor

Doctor: Buenas tardes. ¿Qué le pasa?
Good afternoon. What seems to be the problem?
Ben: Me duele la garganta y tengo fiebre.
I have a sore throat and a fever.
Doctor: ¿Desde cuándo?
Since when?
Ben: Desde ayer.
Since yesterday.
Doctor: ¿Tiene tos?
Do you have a cough?
Ben: Sí, un poco.
Yes, a little.

Quick check

Your turn

Choose the usual way to say I have a headache: Me duele ___ cabeza.

Your turn

Complete: Me ___ los pies.

Your turn

Say that you have a fever:

Tengo .
Your turn

The doctor asks ¿Desde cuándo? Answer:

Your turn

Tell the doctor that your stomach hurts and that you have had a fever since Monday.

Take with you

Tengo cita a las cinco.
I have an appointment at five.
Me duele la cabeza.
I have a headache.
Me duele la garganta.
I have a sore throat.
Me duele el estómago.
I have a stomachache.
Tengo fiebre.
I have a fever.
Tengo tos.
I have a cough.
Estoy resfriado.
I have a cold.
Estoy resfriada.
I have a cold.
Desde ayer.
Since yesterday.

Me duele and la or el with the body part, tengo and the complaint, and desde for since when.