Talking about back pain after sitting | Learn Spanish in English

Spanish lesson set in a contemporary Madrid everyday setting: At home, two adults discuss back pain after long meetings and simple changes to sitting posture and breaks..

EN → ES / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Talking about back pain after sitting to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Me duele más la espalda después de las reuniones largas.

meh DWEH-leh mahs lah ehs-PAHL-dah dehs-PWEHS deh lahs reh-oo-NYOH-nehs LAHR-gahs My back pain gets worse after long meetings.
B

Puede que tu silla no te ayude a mantener una buena postura.

PWEH-deh keh too SEE-yah noh teh ah-YOO-deh ah mahn-teh-NEHR oo-nah BWEH-nah pohs-TOO-rah Your chair may not help you maintain good posture.
A

¿Debería hacer más descansos cortos?

deh-beh-REE-ah ah-SEHR mahs dehs-KAHN-sohs KOHR-tohs Should I take more short breaks?
B

Los descansos cortos pueden ayudar.

lohs dehs-KAHN-sohs KOHR-tohs PWEH-dehn ah-yoo-DAHR Short breaks can help.
B

Levántate y estírate suavemente.

leh-BAHN-tah-teh ee ehs-TEE-rah-teh swah-veh-MEN-teh Stand up and stretch gently.
A

También necesito ajustar la altura de mi pantalla.

tahm-BYEHN neh-seh-SEE-toh ah-hoos-TAHR lah ahl-TOO-rah deh mee pahn-TAH-yah I also need to adjust my screen height.
B

Eso puede ayudarte a sentarte más cómodamente.

EH-soh PWEH-deh ah-yoo-DAHR-teh ah sehn-TAHR-teh mahs KOH-moh-dah-mehn-teh That can help you sit more comfortably.
A

Probaré estos cambios esta semana.

proh-bah-REH EH-stohs KAHM-byohs EH-stah seh-MAH-nah I will try these changes this week.
B

Consulta a un profesional de la salud si el dolor continúa.

kohn-SOOL-tah ah oon proh-feh-syoh-NAHL deh lah sah-LOOD see ehl doh-LOHR kohn-tee-NOO-ah See a healthcare professional if the pain continues.

Word by Word

Me In “Me duele”, “Me” identifies the person who feels the pain: me or to me. It is used before the verb when describing your own pain or another sensation.
duele “duele” says that something hurts; here, the speaker’s back hurts. It is used with “Me” and a body part when reporting pain, such as in “Me duele más la espalda”.
más “más” means more and shows that the pain is greater after the meetings. It commonly follows a verb when comparing the degree of an action or sensation.
la “la” is the definite article used before “espalda” in “la espalda”. It introduces a singular feminine noun and is reused before similar nouns.
espalda “espalda” means back, the body area that hurts in this dialogue. It is useful when describing back pain or discomfort in a health conversation.
después “después” places something later in time; here, the pain gets worse after the meetings. In “después de las reuniones largas”, it introduces the event that comes first.
de In “después de las reuniones largas”, “de” links “después” to the event that follows and gives the meaning after the meetings. It is commonly used after a time expression before a noun or event.
las “las” is the plural feminine article used before “reuniones” in “las reuniones largas”. It introduces a plural feminine noun phrase, such as a group of meetings.
reuniones “reuniones” means meetings, the events after which the pain becomes worse. It is useful in conversations about work schedules, appointments, or group discussions.
largas “largas” describes the meetings as long in duration in “las reuniones largas”. It follows the noun here and matches the plural feminine form of “reuniones”.
Puede In “Puede que tu silla no te ayude”, “Puede” introduces a possibility: the chair may not help. This is useful when giving a cautious explanation or suggestion rather than stating a certainty.
que In “Puede que tu silla no te ayude”, “que” introduces the clause describing the possible situation. It connects the expression of possibility with what may happen.
tu “tu” means your and identifies the chair as belonging to or being used by the person addressed. It is placed before the noun when referring to one listener’s possession or association.
silla “silla” means chair; here it is the chair that may not support good posture. It is useful when discussing seating, furniture, or comfort at a desk.
no “no” negates “te ayude” in “no te ayude”, saying that the chair may fail to help. It is placed before the verb when expressing a negative action or possibility.
te In “no te ayude”, “te” identifies the person receiving the help: you. It appears with the verb when the action is directed toward the listener.
ayude “ayude” expresses the possible act of helping in “Puede que tu silla no te ayude”. It is followed here by “a mantener”, so the sentence specifies what the chair may or may not help the listener do.
a In “te ayude a mantener”, “a” connects “ayude” with the action that follows, maintaining good posture. It is used in this kind of help-plus-action construction.
mantener “mantener” means maintain or keep; here, it refers to keeping good posture. It is used before the thing or condition that someone wants to preserve.
una “una” introduces “buena postura” as one feminine singular noun phrase. It is used before a singular feminine noun when referring to a non-specific example or thing.
buena “buena” describes the posture as good in “una buena postura”. It appears before the noun here and matches the feminine singular form of “postura”.
postura “postura” means posture, the way someone holds their body while sitting or standing. It is useful when discussing body position, desk setup, or physical comfort.
Debería “Debería” asks whether an action would be advisable; here, the speaker asks whether they should take more breaks. It is useful when asking for advice about a possible action.
hacer In “hacer más descansos cortos”, “hacer” means to take or have breaks rather than referring to making an object. It is used before a noun to describe carrying out an activity.
descansos “descansos” means breaks or periods of rest; here, they are short breaks during work or meetings. It is useful when talking about pausing an activity to rest.
cortos “cortos” describes the breaks as short in duration in “descansos cortos”. It follows the noun here and matches its masculine plural form.
Los “Los” introduces “descansos cortos” as a plural masculine noun phrase in “Los descansos cortos pueden ayudar”. It is used before a plural masculine noun when referring to the breaks as a group.
pueden “pueden” expresses that the short breaks can help or may be useful. It is followed by “ayudar” to state what the breaks are capable of doing.
ayudar “ayudar” means help; here, it describes the possible benefit of taking short breaks. It appears after “pueden” in “Los descansos cortos pueden ayudar” to express a possible helpful effect.
Levántate “Levántate” tells one person to stand up. It is useful as direct advice when encouraging someone to leave a chair or change position.
y “y” connects the two recommended actions in “Levántate y estírate suavemente”. It joins actions that should be done together or one after the other.
estírate “estírate” tells one person to stretch, with the action directed back toward that person. It is useful when giving simple physical advice during a break.
suavemente “suavemente” describes how to stretch: gently, without force. It can be used after an action to recommend a careful or mild manner of doing it.
También “También” adds another point: besides the breaks and stretching, the speaker also needs to adjust the screen. It is useful at the start of a sentence when adding an additional need, action, or fact.
necesito “necesito” says that the speaker needs to do something; here, the needed action is adjusting the screen height. It is followed by “ajustar” to state the action that is necessary.
ajustar “ajustar” means adjust or change the position of something slightly; here, it refers to the screen height. It is used before the object being changed.
altura “altura” means height, the vertical level of the screen in “la altura de mi pantalla”. It is useful when discussing the position or level of furniture, equipment, or objects.
mi “mi” means my and identifies the screen as the speaker’s in “mi pantalla”. It is placed before a singular noun when referring to something belonging to or associated with the speaker.
pantalla “pantalla” means screen; here, it is the screen whose height needs adjustment. It is useful in conversations about computers, phones, monitors, and desk setup.
Eso “Eso” refers back to the screen adjustment just mentioned and says that it may help. It is useful for commenting on an action or idea that has already been discussed.
ayudarte “ayudarte” means help you; the ending “te” identifies the listener as the person receiving the help. In “Eso puede ayudarte a sentarte”, it introduces the benefit for the listener.
sentarte “sentarte” means sit or sit down, with “te” referring to the person who sits. It appears after “ayudarte a” to describe the action that may become easier or more comfortable.
cómodamente “cómodamente” means comfortably and describes how the listener can sit. It can be placed with an action to explain that the action is done in a comfortable way.
Probaré “Probaré” says that the speaker will try the changes in the future. It is useful when committing to test a suggestion or new routine.
estos “estos” means these and points to the changes already discussed in “estos cambios”. It matches the masculine plural noun that follows and is useful for referring to nearby or recently mentioned things.
cambios “cambios” means changes; here, it refers to taking breaks, stretching, and adjusting the screen. It is useful when describing modifications to a routine, position, or setup.
esta “esta” means this and identifies the current week in “esta semana”. It is placed before a feminine singular time expression when referring to the present period.
semana “semana” means week; “esta semana” sets the time when the speaker will try the changes. It is useful for arranging or describing actions within a seven-day period.
Consulta “Consulta” tells the listener to see or consult a healthcare professional if the pain continues. It is useful when giving direct health advice about seeking professional help.
un “un” introduces “profesional” as one masculine singular person in “un profesional de la salud”. It is used before a singular masculine noun when the person is not specifically identified.
profesional “profesional” means professional; here, it refers to a person qualified to provide healthcare. It is useful when recommending that someone consult a qualified person.
salud “salud” means health and specifies the field of the professional in “un profesional de la salud”. It is useful when talking about physical well-being or healthcare services.
si “si” introduces the condition “el dolor continúa”: the advice applies if the pain continues. It is used before a clause when one event or action depends on another condition.
el “el” is the definite article used before “dolor” in “el dolor continúa”. It introduces a singular masculine noun and is reused before similar noun phrases.
dolor “dolor” means pain; here, it is the pain that may continue. It is useful in health conversations when describing an ongoing symptom.
continúa “continúa” says that the pain keeps going or does not stop. It is useful in a condition such as “si el dolor continúa” when deciding whether further action is needed.

Grammar Points

me duele + parte del cuerpo

Me duele la espalda.

meh DWEH-leh lah ehs-PAHL-dah

My back hurts.

Spanish uses me (to me) with duele; the body part is the subject, unlike English “my back hurts.”

imperativo + pronombre reflexivo

Levántate; estírate suavemente.

leh-BAHN-tah-teh; ehs-TEE-rah-teh swah-veh-MEN-teh

Stand up; stretch gently.

In informal commands, the reflexive pronoun attaches to the verb: levanta + te, estira + te.

Spanish Vocabulary

ayude verb
ah-YOO-deh help

no te ayude a mantener

debería verb
deh-beh-REE-ah should

¿Debería hacer más descansos cortos?

después de prep
dehs-PWEHS deh after

después de las reuniones largas

duele verb
DWEH-leh hurts me duele

Me duele más la espalda.

espalda noun
ehs-PAHL-dah back

Me duele más la espalda.

hacer verb
ah-SEHR do; take

hacer más descansos cortos

largas adj
LAHR-gahs long

las reuniones largas

mantener verb
mahn-teh-NEHR maintain; keep

mantener una buena postura

postura noun
pohs-TOO-rah posture

una buena postura

puede verb
PWEH-deh may; can

Puede que tu silla no te ayude.

reuniones noun
reh-oo-NYOH-nehs meetings

las reuniones largas

silla noun
SEE-yah chair

tu silla

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

Should I take more short breaks?

Show Answer¿Debería hacer más descansos cortos?

Short breaks can help.

Show AnswerLos descansos cortos pueden ayudar.

Stand up and stretch gently.

Show AnswerLevántate y estírate suavemente.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

maintain; keep

Show Answermantener

help

Show Answerayude

may; can

Show Answerpuede

chair

Show Answersilla