Making a clinic appointment when you feel unwell | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home, one adult feels unwell and asks another how to call a clinic for an appointment..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Making a clinic appointment when you feel unwell to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Tengo tos y hoy me siento cansado.

TEN-goh TOHS ee oy meh SYEN-toh kahn-SAH-doh. I have a cough and feel tired today.
B

Deberías llamar a la clínica y pedir una cita.

deh-beh-REE-ahs yah-MAHR ah lah KLEE-nee-kah ee peh-DEER OO-nah SEE-tah. You should call the clinic and ask for an appointment.
A

¿Qué debería decir cuando llame?

keh deh-beh-REE-ah deh-SEER KWAHN-doh YAH-meh? What should I say when I call?
B

Diles que te sientes mal y que te gustaría ver a un médico.

DEE-lehs keh teh SYEN-tehs mahl ee keh teh goos-tah-REE-ah behr ah oon MEH-dee-koh. Tell them you feel unwell and would like to see a doctor.
A

También quiero preguntar qué horas están disponibles.

tahm-BYEN KYEH-roh preh-goon-TAHR keh OH-rahs ehs-TAHN dee-spoh-NEE-blehs. I also want to ask what times are available.
B

Eso les ayudará a encontrar una cita que te venga bien.

EH-soh leh(s) ah-yoo-dah-RAH ah ehn-kohn-TRAHR OO-nah SEE-tah keh teh BEN-gah byen. That will help them find an appointment that works for you.
A

Llamaré a la clínica ahora.

yah-mah-REH ah lah KLEE-nee-kah ah-OH-rah. I will call the clinic now.
B

Anota tus síntomas para poder explicarlos con claridad.

ah-NOH-tah toos SEEN-toh-mahs PAH-rah poh-DEHR ehk-splee-KAHR-lohs kohn klah-ree-DAHD. Write your symptoms down so you can explain them clearly.

Word by Word

Tengo Tengo means “I have” here: in Tengo tos, the speaker says they have a cough. The citation form is tener, and Tengo is the form used for the speaker in this sentence. A useful pattern is tener + a symptom, such as Tengo tos. You can use it when telling someone at home or at a clinic about a health problem.
tos Tos means “cough” in Tengo tos. The citation form is also tos. It commonly appears after tener when describing this symptom, as in Tengo tos. You would use it when reporting a cough to another person or to medical staff.
y Y connects two pieces of information in Tengo tos y hoy me siento cansado: the cough and the tired feeling. It is used to join words, phrases, or complete ideas. Here it lets the speaker report two symptoms together. You can use it when adding another related detail.
hoy Hoy means “today” and places the feeling in the current day in hoy me siento cansado. It normally appears with the event or state being dated. Here it tells the listener that the tiredness is happening today. You would use it when describing how you feel on the day of speaking.
me In me siento cansado, me marks the person whose state is being described, so the phrase means “I feel tired.” Its meaning comes from its connection with siento in this expression. A useful pattern is me siento + a description of a feeling or condition. You would use it when telling someone about your own state.
siento Siento means “feel” in me siento cansado. The citation form is sentir, and siento is the form used with the speaker here. The pattern me siento + description is useful for reporting a physical or emotional state. You would use it when explaining how you feel to someone helping you.
cansado Cansado means “tired” in me siento cansado. It describes the speaker’s condition after siento. The pattern me siento cansado communicates tiredness directly. You would use it at home, at work, or when telling a clinic how you are feeling.
Deberías Deberías gives the advice “you should” in Deberías llamar a la clínica. The citation form is deber, and Deberías is the form used to recommend an action to the other person. A useful pattern is deberías + an infinitive, as in deberías llamar. You would use it when suggesting a helpful next step.
llamar Llamar means “call” in Deberías llamar a la clínica. It is the action recommended after deberías. A useful pattern is llamar a + the person or place being called, as in llamar a la clínica. You would use it when contacting a clinic, office, or another service.
a In llamar a la clínica, a connects llamar with the clinic being called. In ver a un médico, the same form marks the person who is seen. These are common patterns with calling a person or place and seeing a person. You would use it when naming who or what you are contacting or seeing.
la La means “the” before clínica in la clínica. It identifies a specific clinic in this conversation. The pattern la + noun is used when the listener can identify the place or thing. You would use it when referring to a known clinic.
clínica Clínica means “clinic” in llamar a la clínica. The citation form is also clínica. It is the place being contacted to request an appointment. You would use it when arranging medical help or speaking about the clinic you plan to contact.
pedir Pedir means “ask for” in pedir una cita. It is the action of requesting an appointment. A useful pattern is pedir + the thing requested, as in pedir una cita. You would use it when contacting a clinic or service to request something.
una Una means “an” or “one” before cita in una cita. It introduces one appointment without identifying a particular appointment yet. The pattern una + noun is useful when requesting one item or service. You would use it when asking for an appointment at a clinic.
cita Cita means “appointment” in pedir una cita. The citation form is also cita. In this dialogue it refers to a medical appointment, not a general meeting. You would use it when arranging a time to see a doctor or another professional.
Qué Qué means “what” at the beginning of Qué debería decir. It asks for the words or information needed in the phone call. It is commonly placed before the action or information being asked about. You would use it when asking someone what to say or do.
debería Debería expresses “should” in Qué debería decir, asking what would be appropriate to say. The citation form is deber, and debería is the form used in this question. A useful pattern is debería + infinitive, as in debería decir. You would use it when asking for advice about what to say.
decir Decir means “say” in Qué debería decir. It is the action whose appropriate content the speaker is asking about. The pattern qué + decir asks what words to use. You would use it when preparing for a phone call or another conversation.
cuando Cuando means “when” in cuando llame and introduces the time of the call. It connects the question about what to say with the moment of calling. A useful pattern is cuando + an event, as in cuando llame. You would use it when asking about what to do at a particular time.
llame Llame means “call” in cuando llame; the context makes this the speaker’s planned call. The citation form is llamar, and llame is the form used in this time clause. It appears with cuando to refer to the call that will take place. You would use it when talking about what you will say or do when making a call.
Diles Diles means “tell them” in Diles que te sientes mal. It gives the listener an instruction to communicate information to the clinic staff. The verb comes from decir, and les identifies the people who should receive the message. You would use it when telling someone what information to give to other people.
que Que introduces the information to be told in Diles que te sientes mal. It connects the instruction with the message that should be communicated. A useful pattern is decir or tell someone que + information. You would use it when reporting a condition or request to another person.
te In te sientes mal, te marks the person experiencing the condition, so the phrase describes how you feel. Its meaning depends on its connection with sientes in this expression. A useful pattern is te sientes + a description of your condition. You would use it when asking or telling someone how another person feels.
sientes Sientes means “feel” in te sientes mal. The citation form is sentir, and sientes is the form used for the person being addressed here. The pattern te sientes mal describes feeling unwell. You would use it when checking how someone is feeling.
mal Mal means “unwell” in te sientes mal. It completes the description of the person’s condition after sientes. The expression te sientes mal is used to say that someone does not feel well. You would use it when reporting illness or asking about someone’s health.
gustaría In te gustaría ver a un médico, gustaría contributes to the polite desire expressed by the whole phrase “would like to see a doctor.” The citation form is gustar, and gustaría is the form used in this polite request or preference. A useful pattern is te gustaría + an infinitive when asking about someone’s wish. You would use it when expressing or asking about a polite preference.
ver Ver means “see” in te gustaría ver a un médico. It names the action of having contact with the doctor. A useful pattern is ver a + a person, as in ver a un médico. You would use it when requesting an appointment or describing whom you need to see.
un Un means “a” or “one” before médico in un médico. It introduces a doctor without identifying a particular doctor. The pattern un + noun is useful when referring to one person or thing of a type. You would use it when saying that you need to see a doctor.
médico Médico means “doctor” in ver a un médico. The citation form is also médico. It identifies the medical professional the speaker would like to see. You would use it when asking a clinic for medical care or an appointment.
También También means “also” at the start of También quiero preguntar. It adds another request to the earlier plan to call and ask for an appointment. A useful pattern is también + a verb or phrase to add information. You would use it when mentioning an additional question or action.
quiero Quiero means “I want” in También quiero preguntar. The citation form is querer, and quiero is the form used for the speaker’s wish here. A useful pattern is quiero + an infinitive, as in quiero preguntar. You would use it when stating what you intend or wish to do.
preguntar Preguntar means “ask” in quiero preguntar qué horas están disponibles. It introduces the request for information about available times. A useful pattern is preguntar qué + information, as in preguntar qué horas están disponibles. You would use it when seeking details from a clinic or service.
horas Horas means “times” or “hours” in qué horas están disponibles. The citation form is hora, and horas names the possible appointment times here. It is used with qué to ask which times can be chosen. You would use it when asking a clinic about available appointment slots.
están Están means “are” in están disponibles and connects the appointment times with their availability. The citation form is estar, and están is the form used with horas in this sentence. The pattern estar disponible describes whether a time can be chosen. You would use it when checking open times or options.
disponibles Disponibles means “available” in están disponibles. It describes the hours that can be offered for the appointment. The pattern estar disponibles is useful for asking which times are open. You would use it when arranging a time with a clinic or another service.
Eso Eso means “that” in Eso les ayudará. It refers to the previous idea of asking which appointment times are available. It lets the speaker comment on that whole action without repeating it. You would use it when referring back to something just mentioned.
les Les means “to them” in Eso les ayudará. It identifies the people who will receive the help or benefit, here the clinic staff finding an appointment. A useful pattern is ayudar a alguien, with les representing the people helped. You would use it when explaining who will benefit from an action.
ayudará Ayudará means “will help” in Eso les ayudará a encontrar una cita. The citation form is ayudar, and ayudará is the form used for the expected help. A useful pattern is ayudar a + an infinitive, as in ayudará a encontrar. You would use it when explaining how an action will make another task easier.
encontrar Encontrar means “find” in ayudará a encontrar una cita. It names the task the clinic staff will carry out to locate a suitable appointment. The citation form is also encontrar. You would use it after ayudar a when describing a task that someone will help with.
venga In que te venga bien, venga contributes to the expression that an appointment “works for you” or suits you. The citation form is venir, but this exact form is used inside the expression with te and bien. A useful pattern is que + something + te venga bien for saying that an option is convenient for you. You would use it when choosing an appointment time or another suitable option.
bien In te venga bien, bien completes the idea that the appointment is suitable or convenient for you. Its meaning here comes from the whole expression rather than from bien alone. The pattern venirle bien a alguien is useful for saying that something works for a person. You would use it when accepting or discussing a convenient time.
Llamaré Llamaré means “I will call” in Llamaré a la clínica ahora. The citation form is llamar, and Llamaré is the form used for the speaker’s planned action. A useful pattern is llamar a + the place or person being contacted. You would use it when announcing an immediate plan to make a phone call.
ahora Ahora means “now” in Llamaré a la clínica ahora. It places the call in the present moment or very near future. It commonly appears with an action that is about to happen. You would use it when saying that you will do something immediately.
Anota Anota means “write down” in Anota tus síntomas. It gives a direct instruction to record the symptoms. The citation form is anotar, and Anota is the form used to tell the listener what to do. A useful pattern is anotar + information, as in anotar tus síntomas. You would use it when reminding someone to record important details.
tus Tus means “your” before síntomas in tus síntomas. It shows that the symptoms belong to the person being addressed. The pattern tus + noun identifies information belonging to the listener. You would use it when asking someone to describe or record their own symptoms.
síntomas Síntomas means “symptoms” in Anota tus síntomas. The citation form is síntoma, and síntomas is the form used for the symptoms being recorded. It is repeated by explicarlos as the information to explain later. You would use it when listing health problems for a doctor or clinic.
para Para introduces the purpose in para poder explicarlos con claridad: the symptoms are written down so they can be explained clearly. A useful pattern is para + infinitive, especially para poder + another infinitive. You would use it when explaining why an action is being done.
poder Poder means “be able to” in para poder explicarlos. It expresses the ability needed to explain the symptoms. The citation form is also poder, and the pattern para poder + infinitive shows a purpose involving ability. You would use it when preparing to carry out an action.
explicarlos Explicarlos means “explain them” in explicarlos con claridad. The citation form is explicar, and the attached los refers back to tus síntomas. The pattern infinitive + attached object pronoun is used here to keep the action and its object together. You would use it when describing the need to explain recorded symptoms to clinic staff.
con Con means “with” in con claridad. It connects the action of explaining with the manner in which it should be done. The pattern con + a noun can describe how an action is carried out. You would use it when asking someone to communicate with a particular quality or manner.
claridad Claridad means “clarity” in con claridad. Together, con claridad describes explaining the symptoms clearly. The citation form is also claridad. You would use it when asking someone to give information in an understandable and organized way.

Grammar Points

Me gustaría + infinitivo

Me gustaría pedir una cita.

meh goos-tah-REE-ah peh-DEER OO-nah SEE-tah.

I would like to ask for an appointment.

“Gustaría” expresses a polite wish, followed by an infinitive such as “pedir”.

infinitivo + pronombre

Es importante explicarlos con claridad.

ehs eem-pohr-TAHN-teh ehk-splee-KAHR-lohs kohn klah-ree-DAHD.

It is important to explain them clearly.

Object pronouns can attach directly to the end of an infinitive: “explicar” + “los” = “explicarlos”.

Spanish Vocabulary

cansado adj
kahn-SAH-doh tired

me siento cansado

cita noun
SEE-tah appointment

una cita

clínica noun
KLEE-nee-kah clinic

a la clínica

decir verb
deh-SEER to say

¿Qué debería decir?

gustaría verb
goos-tah-REE-ah would like

te gustaría ver

llamar verb
yah-MAHR to call

llamar a la clínica

llame verb
YAH-meh I call

cuando llame

me siento verb
meh SYEN-toh I feel

hoy me siento cansado

médico noun
MEH-dee-koh doctor

ver a un médico

pedir una cita phrase
peh-DEER OO-nah SEE-tah to ask for an appointment

pedir una cita

te sientes mal phrase
teh SYEN-tehs mahl you feel unwell

te sientes mal

tos noun
TOHS cough

Tengo tos

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

What should I say when I call?

Show Answer¿Qué debería decir cuando llame?

I will call the clinic now.

Show AnswerLlamaré a la clínica ahora.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

to call

Show Answerllamar

tired

Show Answercansado

clinic

Show Answerclínica

I call

Show Answerllame