This is the first of a series of Spanish discussions about the new COVID-19 vaccines.  The primary purpose of these lessons is to practice useful Spanish vocabulary and phrases when discussing vaccination against COVID-19. Much of the discussion refers to the mRNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, and the information regarding all the COVID-19 vaccines may change as we learn more. Therefore, when speaking with patients, you should always use information provided by current trusted medical sources. 

In this lesson, Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher Español Sin Límite, discusses why we can trust the safety of these vaccines despite their rapid development. She repeatedly uses the passive se. (Members, see also RN05 Describe Medical Equipment—Passive Se. )

In upcoming lessons, we will discuss side effects, severe allergic reactions, how the vaccine will not alter your DNA, protection against new strains, administration and more. I will try to publish these as quickly as possible. If there is something specific about the vaccines that you want us to cover in Spanish, leave a comment at the bottom of this post. 

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

More Free Lessons on Spanish for COVID-19 and other infections

Members? Access our Spanish for Infections Course 

Hicieron la vacuna tan rápido que me preocupa que no sea segura.

Sí, es verdad que se desarrolló esta vacuna más rápido que cualquier otra vacuna. Sin embargo, no lo hicieron tomando atajos a la hora de verificar su eficacia y seguridad. Lo hicieron con mucho cuidado y precaución.

Sí, es verdad que se desarrolló esta vacuna más rápido que cualquier otra vacuna.

desarrollar
to develop

cualquier otra vacuna
any other vaccine

Sí, es verdad que se desarrolló esta vacuna más rápido que cualquier otra vacuna.
Yes, it is true that this vaccine was developed faster than any other vaccine.

Se desarrollaron estas vacunas
These vaccines were developed

4:22

Sin embargo, no lo hicieron tomando atajos a la hora de verificar su eficacia y seguridad.

sin embargo
however

(los) atajos
shortcuts

verificar
to verify

la eficacia
effectiveness

la seguridad
security

Sin embargo, no lo hicieron tomando atajos a la hora de verificar su eficacia y seguridad.
However, they did not do it by taking shortcuts when it came to verifying its effectiveness and safety.

No lo hicieron tomando atajos.
They did not do it by taking shortcuts.

Note: We do not use POR here to say, “by taking shortcuts.” We simply use the gerund: “tomando.”

a la hora de
when it came to

Lo hicieron con mucho cuidado y precaución. 

con cuidado
with care

la precaución
caution

Lo hicieron con mucho cuidado y precaución.    
They did so with great care and caution.

Se siguieron los mismos procesos y criterios al desarrollar las vacunas contra el Coronavirus que se siguen al desarrollar cualquier vacuna.

el proceso
process

los criterios
criteria

cualquier vacuna
any vaccine

Se siguieron los mismos procesos y criterios al desarrollar las vacunas contra el Coronavirus
The same processes and criteria were followed when developing the Coronavirus vaccines

que se siguen al desarrollar cualquier vacuna.
that are followed when developing any vaccine.

Debido a la urgencia de la pandemia, se evitaron muchos trámites burocráticos, pero no se omitieron las medidas necesarias para garantizar la eficacia y la seguridad de la vacuna.

due to
debido a

(la) urgencia
urgency

(la) pandemia
pandemic

evitar
to avoid

los trámites burocráticos
red tape

omitir
to omit

las medidas
measures

garantizar
to ensure

Debido a la urgencia de la pandemia, se evitaron muchos trámites burocráticos,
Due to the urgency of the pandemic, many bureaucratic procedures were avoided,

… pero no se omitieron las medidas necesarias para garantizar la eficacia y la seguridad de la vacuna.
… but measures necessary to ensure the effectiveness and safety of the vaccine were not omitted.

I want to give special thanks to Elizabeth Cortéz, my Spanish teacher at the Español Sin Límite, who provided most of the Spanish for this lesson.

This lesson is part of our Spanish for Palliative Care module. We will learn how to communicate bad news and express sympathy in Spanish. 

The questions and responses in this lesson are adapted from an invaluable communication guide provided with permission from VitalTalk.org.

This one covers a lot of advanced grammar, so I have referenced related grammar lessons throughout these show notes.

LEVEL – UPPER INTERMEDIATE

A doctor calls a woman to inform her that her father just passed away due to complications of Covid-19. 

2:07

Doctora: Hola, buenas noches, soy la doctora Elizabeth Cortez ¿Estoy hablando con la hija del señor Francisco Álvarez?

Hija: Sí, soy su hija.

D: Soy la doctora que atiende a su padre. Quisiera hablarle sobre un asunto grave. ¿Se encuentra en un lugar donde pueda hablar?

H: Bueno, estoy a 5 horas de distancia. ¿Qué ocurre? ¿Pasó algo?

D: Estoy llamando por su padre. Falleció hace poco tiempo por complicaciones de COVID19.

H: No puede ser.

D: Mis condolencias para usted y su familia.

H: [llanto]

D: Tómese su tiempo. Estoy aquí.

H: Sabía que esto iba a suceder, pero no creí que sucedería tan rápido.

D: Imagino lo impactante que ha de ser esto para usted. Es muy triste. Lo siento mucho.

3:17

Hola, buenas noches. Soy la doctora Elizabeth Cortez.
Hello, good evening. I am Dr. Elizabeth Cortez.

¿Estoy hablando con la hija del señor Francisco Álvarez?
Am I speaking with Mr. Francisco Alvarez’s daughter?

Sí, soy su hija.
Yes, I am his daughter.

Soy la doctora que atiende a su padre.
I am the doctor caring for your father.

atender a alguien
to care for someone

5:37

Quisiera hablarle sobre un asunto grave.
I would like to talk to you about a serious matter.

el asunto
matter

grave
serious

6:47

¿Se encuentra en un lugar donde pueda hablar?
Are you in a place where you can talk?

encontrarse
to be (literally to find oneself)

Bueno, estoy a 5 horas de distancia.
Well, I am 5 hours away.

de distancia
away

Estoy a 2 millas del hospital.
I am 2 miles from the hospital.

8:49

¿Qué ocurre? ¿Pasó algo?
What’s going on? Did something happen?

Estoy llamando por su padre.
I am calling about your father.

Falleció hace poco tiempo por complicaciones de COVID19.
He passed away a short time ago from complications of COVID19.

fallecer
to pass away

hace poco tiempo
a short time ago

10:59

No puede ser.
It can’t be.

Mis condolencias para usted y su familia.
My condolences to you and your family.

las condolencias
condolences

Mis condolencias para ti y tu familia.
My condolences to you and your family. (speaking to a friend)

Tómese su tiempo. Estoy aquí.
Take your time. I am here.

Tómate tu tiempo.
Take your time. (speaking to a friend)

13:00

Sabía que esto iba a suceder pero no creí que sucedería tan rápido.
I knew this was going to happen, but I didn’t think it would happen so quickly.

pasar / ocurrir / suceder
to happen

15:18

Imagino lo impactante que ha de ser esto para usted.
I imagine how shocking this must be for you.

impactante
shocking

lo impactante
how shocking

Es muy triste. Lo siento mucho.
It is very sad. I am very sorry.

I want to give special thanks to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher at the Español Sin Límite in Guatemala, and VitalTalk.org for creating their invaluable guide. Thank you to all my members. You keep this podcast going! Gracias de todo corazón.

In this lesson, we practice using DAR as a reverse construction verb to express getting a symptom in Spanish. 

Member? Access this lesson, including a Quizlet set and PDF, in our courses

LEVEL - INTERMEDIATE

LEVEL – INTERMEDIATE

In the module covering Spanish for the Evaluation of Vertigo, we reviewed the following question by the physical therapist:

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
(Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?)

I am guessing that some of you struggled with the following phrase:

cuando le dieron mareos
(when you experienced dizziness -o- when you got dizzy)

Here, we use LE to refer to “you” (used), and the verb DAR acts like the verb GUSTAR, where the subject of the verb in English corresponds to the object of the verb in Spanish.

You got dizzy. >>> Le dieron mareos.

In English, “you” is the subject of the verb. In Spanish, you (usted) is the object of the verb and is expressed by the pronoun “le.”

Let’s look at another example.

I get chills. >>> Me dan escalofríos.

In English, “I” is the subject of the verb. When we interpret this in Spanish, I become the object of the verb, which is expressed by the pronoun “me.”

¿Te dieron escalofríos?
Did you get chills? 

Me da dolor de estómago después de comer.
I get a stomach ache after eating.

¿Cuándo le da dolor en el pecho?
When do you get pain in your chest? (addressing the patient as usted)

Me dan calambres en las piernas por la noche.
I get leg cramps at night.

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?

Join our membership and unlock access to over 400 interactive lessons across all our courses. Learn Medical Spanish by listening and responding in real-life scenarios, which will help you build confidence and fluency quickly.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher from Español Sin Límite in Guatemala.

In this lesson, we practice using DAR as a reverse construction verb to express getting a symptom in Spanish. 

Member? Access this lesson, including a Quizlet set and PDF, in our courses

LEVEL - INTERMEDIATE

LEVEL – INTERMEDIATE

In the module covering Spanish for the Evaluation of Vertigo, we reviewed the following question by the physical therapist:

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
(Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?)

I am guessing that some of you struggled with the following phrase:

cuando le dieron mareos
(when you experienced dizziness -o- when you got dizzy)

Here, we use LE to refer to “you” (used), and the verb DAR acts like the verb GUSTAR, where the subject of the verb in English corresponds to the object of the verb in Spanish.

You got dizzy. >>> Le dieron mareos.

In English, “you” is the subject of the verb. In Spanish, you (usted) is the object of the verb and is expressed by the pronoun “le.”

Let’s look at another example.

I get chills. >>> Me dan escalofríos.

In English, “I” is the subject of the verb. When we interpret this in Spanish, I become the object of the verb, which is expressed by the pronoun “me.”

¿Te dieron escalofríos?
Did you get chills? 

Me da dolor de estómago después de comer.
I get a stomach ache after eating.

¿Cuándo le da dolor en el pecho?
When do you get pain in your chest? (addressing the patient as usted)

Me dan calambres en las piernas por la noche.
I get leg cramps at night.

¿Recuerda qué estaba haciendo cuando le dieron mareos las otras veces?
Do you remember what you were doing when you got dizzy the other times?

• Join our membership and unlock access to over 400 interactive lessons across all our courses. Learn Medical Spanish by listening and responding in real-life scenarios, which will help you build confidence and fluency quickly.

• Member? Access our modules on Verbs

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher from Español Sin Límite in Guatemala.

Learn Spanish for the evaluation of vertigo. In today’s lesson, a woman presents to the physical therapy clinic with complaints of dizziness. This lesson introduces the Vertigo Module of our Physical Therapy Course. 

This dialogue was originally written in English by a listener named Brigette Schwimmer, a physical therapist who sees patients with vestibular conditions. While studying at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, my Spanish teacher, Elizabeth Cortez, and I rewrote and recorded the dialogue in Spanish. First, we will listen to the dialogue, and then we break down the vocabulary and grammar as we practice interpreting the dialogue line by line.

LEVEL - UPPER INTERMEDIATE

2:41

T: Hola, bienvenida. Mi nombre es Erika y seré su fisioterapeuta. ¿Usted es Angela?.

P: Exacto.

T: Leí en su expediente que usted ha padecido mareos. ¿Podrías explicarme un poquito más?

P: Pues, esto pasó de repente hace aproximadamente dos semanas. Me desperté por la noche y cuando me volteé, fue cuando sentí los mareos. Sentía como si el mundo estuviera dando vueltas. Intenté levantarme de la cama porque tenía ganas de vomitar y por poco me caigo. Afortunadamente, no me caí y llegué al baño a tiempo. ¡Menos mal! Porque vomité en el lavamanos.

T: Lamento oír esto. Debió haber sido una experiencia incómoda. ¿Es la primera vez que le pasa esto?

P: Sí. Nunca me había pasado antes.

3:41

el/la fisioterapeuta, terapeuta física
physical therapist

Seré su fisioterapeuta.
I will be your physical therapist.

el expediente, el historial
chart or record

padecer (de), sufrir (de)
to suffer or to have (a symptom or illness)

OJO: Both PADECER y SUFRIR are used to express experiencing an illness or symptom, but without the same intense connotation that SUFFER has in English. Also, both can be followed by the preposition DE, which is optional.

los mareos
dizziness

OJO: LOS MAREOS is a catch-all term for DIZZINESS. It can refer to either motion-sickness/vertigo or light-headedness.

el vértigo
vertigo

OJO: Just as in English, it is uncommon for patients to use the word VÉRTIGO in Spanish to describe their dizziness.

Leí en su expediente (historial) que usted ha padecido mareos.
I read in your chart that you have experienced dizziness.

¿Podrías explicarme un poco más?
Could you explain a little more?

6:09

Me desperté por la noche y cuando me volteé fue cuando sentí los mareos.

de repente
suddenly

Esto pasó de repente hace aproximadamente dos semanas.
This came on suddenly about two weeks ago.

voltearse
to turn around / over

Me desperté por la noche y cuando me volteé…
I woke up in the night and when I turned over…

…fue cuando sentí los mareos.
…that’s when I felt the dizziness.

OJO: First, we used the two REFLEXIVE/PRONOMINAL verbs, DESPERTARSE y VOLTEARSE. Then, then we used the NON-PRONOMINAL verb SENTIR to express WHAT we feel. Therefore, when SENTIR is followed by a NOUN (SUSTANTIVO), you use the NON-PRONOMINAL form of the verb.

Fue cuando sentí los mareos.
That’s when I felt the dizziness.

OJO: We use use the PRONOMINAL verb SENTIRSE to express HOW we feel with an ADJECTIVE, como por ejemplo, MAREADO/A.

Fue cuando me sentí mareada.
That’s when I felt dizzy.

Me desperté por la noche y cuando me volteé, fue cuando sentí los mareos.
I woke up in the night and when I turned over, that’s when I felt the dizziness.

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In the upcoming lessons, the physical therapist asks about the duration of the episodes and when they occur. She also asks about other associated symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem. They review Ángela’s medications, and then Eliza concludes by asking Ángela what she hopes to accomplish with physical therapy. For Medical Spanish members, the next lesson in this Vertigo evaluation will be available within the week.

Special thanks to Elizabeth Cortez, my Spanish teacher at the San Pedro Spanish School in Guatemala, and to Sonja Um Siri, who reviews the lessons before publication.