In this audio lesson, we practice discussing symptoms of COVID19 in Spanish. We used information from the CDC to make this lesson. We start by reviewing symptoms we have covered in prior lessons. Then, we cover some new symptoms, such as loss of smell or taste. After we review the symptoms, we will practice asking questions about and discussing the symptoms of COVID19 in Spanish. Finally, we will talk about worrisome symptoms that would indicate that someone should seek medical attention.
Check all our free lessons covering Spanish for COVID-19
Special thanks to: Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, my dear friend, Sonja Um Siri, who reviews each audio lesson prior to publication and to Erin Gaines who proofreads the show notes.
LEVEL - INTERMEDIATE
SÃntomas comunes
We discussed common symptoms of COVID 19 in a prior Q&A we published on prevención y cuarentena.
¿Cuáles son los sÃntomas del COVID19?
Los sÃntomas pueden ser de un resfriado leve a una enfermedad grave con neumonÃa. Los sÃntomas más comunes son:
Fiebre
Tos seca
Cansancio y dolores musculares
Dificultad para respirar
Algunas personas tienen náusea y diarrea antes de tener los sÃntomas respiratorios.¿Cuándo se presentan los sÃntomas después de contraer el virus?
Los sÃntomas se presentan entre los primeros 2 a 14 dÃas después del contagio al virus.
We review the vocabulary and practice phrases from above in Prevención – Review – Spanish for COVID19.
Nuevos sÃntomas
Since that time, the CDC has added some new symptoms to the that list. Let’s see how many you know how to say in Spanish.
sore throat
el dolor de garganta
headache
el dolor de cabeza
chills
los escalofrÃos
repeated shaking with chills
los temblores y escalofrÃos que no ceden
ceder
to ease up, to abate
Pérdida del olfato o del gusto
the sudden and unexplained loss of smell or taste
la pérdida repentina e inexplicable del olfato o del gusto
la pérdida repentina e inexplicable
the sudden and unexplained loss
OJO: When the syllable following the conjunction “y” has the same sound, we change “y” to “e”
el olfato
(the sense of) smell
el gusto
taste
Presentación de los sÃntomas
Los sÃntomas pueden aparecer de 2 a 14 dÃas después de contagiarse del virus.
Symptoms may appear 2 to 14 days after you are infected with the virus.
contagiarse del virus
to be infected with the virus
después del contagio al virus
después de contraer el virus
after becoming infected with the virus
Si usted presenta alguno(s) de los siguientes sÃntomas puede tener COVID19.
If you experience any of the following symptoms you may have COVID19.
presentar sÃntomas
to experience/show symptoms
Repaso de los sÃntomas
8:14la fiebre
fever
los escalofrÃos
chills
los temblores y escalofrÃos que no ceden
repeated shaking with chills
el cansancio
fatigue
la tos seca
dry cough
los dolores musculares
muscles pains
la dificultad para respirar
difficulty breathing
el dolor de garganta
sore throat
el dolor de cabeza
headache
la pérdida repentina e inexplicable del olfato o del gusto
sudden and unexplained loss of smell or taste
Preguntas sobre los sÃntomas
9:58¿Ha notado pérdida repentina del olfato o del gusto?
Have you noticed a sudden loss of smell or taste?
¿Ha perdido el sentido del olfato o del gusto?
Have you lost your sense of taste or smell?
¿Ha tenido tos seca?
Have you had a dry cough?
¿Tose mucho?
Is he/Are you coughing a lot?
Toso mucho.
I’m coughing a lot.
¿Produce flema con la tos?
Do you produce phlegm with the cough?
¿Es una tos seca?
Is it a dry cough?
sin flema/mocos
without phlegm, mucous
La tos de COVID19 suele ser una tos seca, o sea una tos sin flema, sin mocos.
Dificultad para respirar
12:06¿Tiene dificultad para respirar?
Are you having difficulty breathing?
¿Le falta el aire?
Are you short of breath?
¿Le cuesta respirar?
Is it hard to breathe?
Me cuesta respirar.
It is hard to breathe.
Tener
12:41¿Tiene fiebre, escalofrÃos?
Do you have fever, chills?
Tengo temblores y escalofrÃos.
I have the shakes and chills.Â
Tiene dolor muscular.
She has muscle pain.
¿Tiene dolor de garganta?
Do you have a sore throat?
Algunas personas tienen nausea y diarrea antes de tener los sÃntomas respiratorios.
Some people have nausea and diarrhea before having respiratory symptoms.
Doler
13:40Le duele la garganta.
Her throat hurts.
¿Le duele la cabeza?
Does your head hurt?
¿Le duelen los músculos?
Do your muscles hurt?
OJO: The subject of the verb DOLER is the body part that hurts.
Me duelen los músculos.
My muscles hurt.
Me duele el pecho.
My chest hurts.
Buscar atención médica
14:36Ahora hablemos sobre los signos de advertencia (warning signs) que indican que se debe buscar atención médica.
Si tiene dificultad para respirar es más probable que se trate del coronavirus y que se esté agravando su enfermedad.
If you have difficulty breathing, it is more likely that it is the coronavirus and that your illness is getting worse.
Es más probable > subjuntivo
Es más probable que se trate del coronavirus.
OJO: Here, the impersonal expression “es más probable” expresses a judgement so we follow it with the subjunctive. To learn more about the subjunctive following impersonal expressions, see: Quiz #2 – The Subjunctive in Noun Clauses. Spanish Grammar members, see: Subj05 Influence Emotion and Judgments. To learn how to correctly use “tratarse de” see: How to use “tratar (de)” and “tratarse de”.Â
agravarse, empeorar
to get worse
Es más probable > subjuntivo
Es más probable que se esté agravando su enfermedad.
En este caso, deberÃa buscar atención médica.
In this case, you should seek medical attention.
Llame a la clÃnica o hospital antes de ir y use mascarilla.
Call the clinic or hospital before you go and wear mask
la mascarilla, el tapaboca(s)
mask
Signos de advertencia
18:24Ahora hablemos de más signos de advertencia.
(el) dolor severo de pecho
severe chest pain
(el) dolor o presión constante en el pecho
constant chest pain or pressure
(el) cambio de color de los labios o de la cara
change in color of your lips or face
si los labios se ponen azules
if your lips turn blue
(la) confusión
confusion
(la) pérdida de conocimiento / consciencia
loss of consciousness
Ha perdido el conocimiento.
He has lost consciousness.
Se ha desmayado.
She has fainted.
Está desmayado.
He is passed out.
el desfallecimiento
faintness, weakness
Está desfallecido/a.
He/She is faint.
Note this is not an all-inclusive list of possible warning signs (signos de advertencia), so always consult with a medical provider if someone develops severe symptoms, or any symptom that worries you.Â
Fiebre
21:01Ahora hablemos un poco sobre la fiebre del coronavirus.
Si usted tiene fiebre del coronavirus, es muy probable que se note su temperatura alta sin necesitar de un termómetro.
If you have a fever from the coronavirus, it is very likely you will notice your high temperature without needing a thermometer.
es muy probable > subjuntivo
Es muy probable que se note su temperatura alta sin necesitar de un termómetro.
la temperatura alta
high temperature
un termómetro
a thermometer
Generalmente la fiebre es más alta de 37.8 grados centÃgrados o 100 grados Fahrenheit.
The fever is usually higher than 37.8 degrees Celsius or 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
(los) grados centÃgrados
degrees Celsius
(los) grados Fahrenheit
degrees Fahrenheit
OJO: When making comparisons with numbers or quantities we use the preposition DE:
La fiebre es más alta DE 37.8 grados centÃgrados.
Also, in some Spanish-speaking countries you will hear the use of “coma” en lugar de “punto” when stating decimals.
Related Lessons
- Spanish for COVID19 – Lesson Index
- Prevención – Review – Spanish for COVID19
- Flu Symptoms in Spanish
- HT03 Numbers (Medical Spanish member-only lesson)Â
Special Thanks to Sonja Um-Siri, an interpreter and friend who helps review every episode and to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher from the San Pedro Spanish School.
