Good News First
Your surgeon and their patient coordinator almost certainly speak English—medical tourism professionals in Medellín are prepared for international patients. However, nurses, recovery house staff, pharmacists, taxi drivers, and restaurant servers may not. These phrases help you navigate daily life and emergencies.
Colombians are famously warm and patient with visitors trying to speak Spanish. Even a small effort goes a long way. They'll appreciate that you tried, help fill in the gaps, and generally make you feel welcome. Medellín is a friendly city, and a smile plus a few words opens doors.
This guide focuses on the phrases you'll actually need: medical communication, recovery situations, getting around, and daily life. Save this page on your phone—you'll reference it more than you expect.
Phrase Categories
Survival Basics
These fundamentals will carry you through 80% of interactions:
| English | Spanish | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah |
| Good morning | Buenos días | BWAY-nohs DEE-ahs |
| Good afternoon | Buenas tardes | BWAY-nahs TAR-days |
| Good night | Buenas noches | BWAY-nahs NO-chays |
| Please | Por favor | por fah-VOR |
| Thank you | Gracias | GRAH-see-ahs |
| Thank you very much | Muchas gracias | MOO-chahs GRAH-see-ahs |
| Yes / No | Sí / No | see / no |
| I don't speak Spanish | No hablo español | no AH-bloh es-pahn-YOL |
| Do you speak English? | ¿Habla inglés? | AH-blah een-GLAYS |
| I don't understand | No entiendo | no en-tee-EN-doh |
| More slowly, please | Más lento, por favor | mahs LEN-toh por fah-VOR |
| Excuse me | Disculpe | dees-KOOL-pay |
| I'm sorry | Lo siento | lo see-EN-toh |
Medical & Pain Communication
Being able to describe how you feel is crucial during recovery:
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I have pain | Tengo dolor |
| It hurts here | Me duele aquí |
| A lot of pain / A little pain | Mucho dolor / Poco dolor |
| I feel dizzy | Me siento mareada |
| I feel nauseous | Tengo náuseas |
| I'm going to vomit | Voy a vomitar |
| I have a fever | Tengo fiebre |
| I'm swollen | Estoy hinchada |
| I can't sleep | No puedo dormir |
| I'm constipated | Estoy estreñida |
| I need to go to the bathroom | Necesito ir al baño |
| I feel better today | Me siento mejor hoy |
| I feel worse | Me siento peor |
| I'm allergic to... | Soy alérgica a... |
Body Parts You Might Need
Stomach = estómago
Chest = pecho
Back = espalda
Arm = brazo
Leg = pierna
Head = cabeza
Face = cara
Nose = nariz
Breast = seno
Buttocks = glúteos
Thigh = muslo
Incision = incisión
Recovery & Nursing
Useful phrases for communicating with nurses and recovery house staff:
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I need my medication | Necesito mi medicamento |
| What time is my medicine? | ¿A qué hora es mi medicina? |
| I need help | Necesito ayuda |
| Can you help me stand up? | ¿Me puede ayudar a levantarme? |
| I need water | Necesito agua |
| I'm cold / hot | Tengo frío / calor |
| Can I take a shower? | ¿Puedo bañarme? |
| When is my appointment? | ¿Cuándo es mi cita? |
| When is my massage? | ¿Cuándo es mi masaje? |
| The compression garment is too tight | La faja está muy apretada |
| I need to change my bandages | Necesito cambiar mis vendajes |
At the Pharmacy
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Pharmacy | Farmacia / Droguería |
| I need this medication | Necesito este medicamento |
| Pain medicine | Medicina para el dolor |
| Antibiotic | Antibiótico |
| Stool softener / Laxative | Laxante |
| Anti-nausea medication | Medicina para náuseas |
| Bandages / Gauze | Vendas / Gasas |
| How much does it cost? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
Getting Around
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Take me to this address | Lléveme a esta dirección |
| How much to go to...? | ¿Cuánto cuesta ir a...? |
| Stop here, please | Pare aquí, por favor |
| Wait for me, please | Espéreme, por favor |
| The clinic / hospital | La clínica / El hospital |
| The mall | El centro comercial |
| The airport | El aeropuerto |
| Left / Right / Straight | Izquierda / Derecha / Derecho |
Uber is Your Friend
Uber works perfectly in Medellín—you enter your destination in the app, and there's no language barrier at all. The address is already set, payment is automatic, and the route is tracked. Highly recommended for post-surgery when you don't want to negotiate or communicate.
Food & Restaurants
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| The menu, please | El menú, por favor |
| Water (still / sparkling) | Agua (sin gas / con gas) |
| Soup / Broth | Sopa / Caldo |
| Chicken / Beef / Fish | Pollo / Carne / Pescado |
| Rice | Arroz |
| Vegetables | Verduras |
| Fruit | Fruta |
| Fresh juice | Jugo natural |
| Coffee | Café / Tinto |
| The check, please | La cuenta, por favor |
| No salt, please | Sin sal, por favor |
| I can't eat... (restriction) | No puedo comer... |
Emergency Phrases
Know These Before You Need Them
I need help now! = ¡Necesito ayuda ahora!
Call my doctor = Llame a mi doctor
Call an ambulance = Llame una ambulancia
I can't breathe = No puedo respirar
I'm bleeding a lot = Estoy sangrando mucho
Something is wrong = Algo está mal
Take me to the hospital = Lléveme al hospital
This is an emergency = Es una emergencia
Emergency number in Colombia: 123
Communication Tips
Use Google Translate
Download the Spanish language pack for offline use. The conversation mode lets you speak in English and it speaks Spanish—works surprisingly well for basic communication.
Point and Show
Show prescriptions, addresses, or Google Translate screens. Pointing at what you need or want works universally. People are helpful.
WhatsApp is Universal
Everyone in Colombia uses WhatsApp. You can type messages in English, run them through Google Translate, and send the Spanish version. Your surgical team will likely communicate via WhatsApp.
Colombians Are Patient
Don't stress about pronunciation. Colombians are genuinely patient and helpful with tourists. They'll work with you to understand and be understood.
You've Got This
Language barriers might seem scary before your trip, but they're rarely a significant problem in practice. Your surgical team speaks English. Apps fill most gaps. And Colombians are among the friendliest people you'll meet anywhere. A few key phrases, a good attitude, and your smartphone will get you through beautifully.
Save this page to your phone's home screen for quick reference during your trip!