Medical assistants often have the first conversation of the visit, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. This guide follows the order of a typical rooming: greeting and identity, reason for visit, vitals, medication list, and getting the patient ready for the clinician. The Spanish is neutral Latin American and uses the formal "usted," which is safe in every region.
Your scope of practice and your clinic's workflow decide what you actually do at each step. These phrases only cover the communication.
Greeting and identity
Start with courtesy and language preference
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Hello, my name is [name]. I am the medical assistant. | Buenos días, me llamo [nombre]. Soy el/la asistente médico/a. |
| Please follow me. | Sígame, por favor. |
| Do you prefer to speak Spanish? | ¿Prefiere hablar en español? |
| Would you like an interpreter? | ¿Quiere un intérprete? |
| What is your full name and date of birth? | ¿Cuál es su nombre completo y su fecha de nacimiento? |
Dates are a common trap: many Spanish speakers write day first, then month. Spell out the month aloud and repeat it back: "Entonces nació el 3 de abril de 1985, ¿correcto?"
Ask why they came
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| What is the reason for your visit today? | ¿Cuál es el motivo de su visita hoy? |
| How long have you had this? | ¿Cuánto tiempo hace que tiene esto? |
| Is it for you or for your child? | ¿Es para usted o para su hijo/a? |
Vitals and measurements
Explain before you touch
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| I am going to take your blood pressure. | Voy a tomarle la presión. |
| Please sit down and relax. Do not talk. | Siéntese y relájese, por favor. No hable. |
| Roll up your sleeve. | Súbase la manga, por favor. |
| I am going to take your temperature. | Voy a tomarle la temperatura. |
| I am going to check your pulse. | Voy a tomarle el pulso. |
| I am going to check the oxygen in your blood. | Voy a medirle el oxígeno en la sangre. |
| Please step on the scale. | Súbase a la báscula, por favor. |
| Take off your shoes. | Quítese los zapatos. |
| Stand straight so I can measure your height. | Párese derecho/a, por favor, para medirle la estatura. |
Regional notes for this section
- Scale: "báscula" is common in Mexico; "balanza" or "pesa" are heard in other countries. All are understood.
- Blood pressure: "la presión" is standard; some patients say "la tensión."
- Height: "estatura" is widely understood; "altura" is also heard.
- Weight and height units: many patients know their weight in kilograms or pounds depending on the country. Ask: "¿Sabe cuánto pesa, en libras o en kilos?"
Medication, allergy and pharmacy questions
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| What medicines do you take? | ¿Qué medicamentos toma? |
| Did you bring your medicines or a list? | ¿Trajo sus medicinas o una lista? |
| Do you take vitamins, teas or natural remedies? | ¿Toma vitaminas, tés o remedios naturales? |
| Are you allergic to any medicine? | ¿Es alérgico/a a algún medicamento? |
| What happens when you take it? | ¿Qué le pasa cuando lo toma? |
| Which pharmacy do you use? | ¿Qué farmacia usa? |
"Remedios caseros" (home remedies) is a useful extra phrase. Many patients do not think of teas or supplements as "medicine," so ask separately and without judgment.
Getting the patient ready for the clinician
| English | Spanish |
|---|---|
| Please put on this gown. | Póngase esta bata, por favor. |
| It opens in the front / in the back. | Se abre por delante. / Se abre por atrás. |
| I will step out so you can change. | Voy a salir para que se cambie. |
| I need a urine sample. | Necesito una muestra de orina. |
| The restroom is over there. | El baño está allá. |
| The doctor will be with you shortly. | El médico o la médica viene en un momento. |
| Is there anything else you want to tell the doctor? | ¿Hay algo más que quiera decirle al médico? |
When to use a qualified interpreter
Phrase lists work for routine rooming. They are not enough for consent forms, medication teaching, new diagnoses, or any private or sensitive history. In those cases, bring in a qualified interpreter by phone, video or in person. For the legal and ethical difference between bilingual staff and qualified interpreters, read Can a bilingual nurse interpret?, which also applies to medical assistants.
Practice the rooming script
Pick one section per week and say it aloud to the same sequence of patients you see. The Medical Spanish Kit bundles a pocket guide organized by encounter, ID-badge-size reference cards, and flashcards, designed by a family medicine physician & certified medical interpreter. The bedside badge card set includes vital signs, medications, front desk, and body-part cards. For a weekly routine, see the medical Spanish study plan.
Related guides
- For pain questions at the room stage, see Pain assessment in Spanish for nurses.
- For a higher-acuity setting, see ER triage Spanish phrases.
These phrases support routine communication and do not replace a qualified medical interpreter in clinical care. This article is general education, not medical advice.