Use “Tengo dolor de cabeza” or “Me duele la cabeza” to say you have a headache, and pick the one that fits the moment.
Headaches don’t wait for a convenient time. If you can say one clear sentence in Spanish, you can get water, a quiet break, or the right medicine.
Use these lines anytime.
What You Are Saying When You Mention A Headache
In English, “I have a headache” can mean many things: mild pressure, sharp pain, or a migraine that knocks you out. Spanish works the same way. You share the base idea, then add details like intensity, time, and what helps.
Spanish gives you two common patterns. One uses “I have” with tener. The other uses “it hurts” with doler. Both are normal. Your choice can depend on where you are and how you’re talking.
Two Core Phrases You Can Trust
Tengo dolor de cabeza. This is a direct way to say you have a headache. It’s easy to build on: you can add how long it’s been going on or where it hurts.
Me duele la cabeza. This means “My head hurts.” It’s the kind of line you’ll hear in daily speech. It also makes it simple to swap in other body parts: Me duele la garganta (my throat hurts), Me duele el estómago (my stomach hurts).
When One Sounds Better Than The Other
If you’re giving a clean statement, Tengo dolor de cabeza feels neat and complete. If you’re reacting in the moment—wincing, rubbing your temples, or explaining why you can’t focus—Me duele la cabeza fits that vibe.
In clinics and pharmacies, both work. If you keep it simple, staff will understand you. Then you can add the details they’ll ask for next: when it started, how strong it feels, and what you already took.
Pronunciation That Makes The Phrase Sound Natural
You don’t need a perfect accent to be understood. Aim for clean vowels and the right stress, and you’ll sound clear.
Say “Dolor” And “Duele” With A Clear O
Dolor sounds like doh-LOR. Keep the O round and steady. Don’t turn it into an English “uh” sound.
Duele sounds like DWEH-leh. You’ll hear a quick glide at the start: “dweh.” Keep the vowels crisp and short.
Stress “Cabeza” On The Middle Syllable
Cabeza is kah-BEH-sah. The stress is on beh. If you hit the wrong beat, you can still be understood, but the word may sound off.
A Simple Mouth Pattern To Practice
- Say: Me duele (DWEH-leh).
- Add: la (lah).
- Finish: cabeza (kah-BEH-sah).
Put it together three times in a row. Then say it once as a full sentence.
Saying ‘I Have A Headache’ In Spanish In Real Situations
Real life is messy. You might be tired, in a rush, or feeling sick. So it helps to have a few short lines that work in common settings. Pick one, memorize it, and you’ll be ready.
With A Friend Or Classmate
- Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.)
- Tengo dolor de cabeza. (I have a headache.)
- Creo que necesito descansar. (I think I need to rest.)
At School Or Work
- Tengo dolor de cabeza y me cuesta concentrarme. (I have a headache and it’s hard to focus.)
- Voy a tomar agua y volver. (I’m going to drink water and come back.)
At A Pharmacy
- Tengo dolor de cabeza. ¿Qué me recomienda? (I have a headache. What do you recommend?)
- ¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza? (Do you have something for a headache?)
- Soy alérgico/a a… (I’m allergic to…)
At A Clinic Or Doctor’s Office
- Me duele la cabeza desde ayer. (My head has hurt since yesterday.)
- Me da náusea. (It makes me nauseous.)
How To Add Details Without Sounding Stiff
Once you can say the main line, adding details is where Spanish gets useful. You can describe intensity, timing, and what else you feel. That helps people respond with the right next step.
Talk About Intensity With Simple Adjectives
These adjectives are common:
- El dolor es leve. (The pain is mild.)
- El dolor es moderado. (The pain is moderate.)
- El dolor es fuerte. (The pain is strong.)
Also: Me duele un poco la cabeza (a little) and Me duele mucho la cabeza (a lot).
Say When It Started And How Long It Has Lasted
- Me duele la cabeza desde ayer. (since yesterday)
- Me duele la cabeza desde hace dos horas. (for two hours)
- Me empezó a doler hace un rato. (It started hurting a little while ago.)
Desde marks a start time. Desde hace marks a duration.
Describe Where It Hurts
- Me duele la cabeza aquí. (My head hurts here.)
- Me duele la frente. (My forehead hurts.)
- Me duele la nuca. (The back of my neck hurts.)
- Me duele la sien. (My temple hurts.)
If you’re not sure which word fits, point while you speak.
| Spanish Phrase | What It Communicates | Best Moment To Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Tengo dolor de cabeza. | You have a headache (direct statement). | Any time you want a clear, complete line. |
| Me duele la cabeza. | Your head hurts right now. | Daily talk, quick updates, casual settings. |
| Me duele la cabeza desde esta mañana. | It started this morning. | When someone asks when it began. |
| Me duele la cabeza al moverme. | Movement makes it hurt. | When walking or bending down makes it worse. |
| Tengo migraña. | You’re having a migraine. | If you know it’s a migraine and want to say so. |
| Me duele la cabeza y veo borroso. | Head pain plus blurry vision. | Medical visits when you have extra symptoms. |
| Me duele la cabeza en un lado. | Pain on one side. | Describing location and pattern. |
| ¿Puedo acostarme un rato? | You want to lie down for a bit. | At home or with a host family. |
What To Say When You Want Medicine Or A Doctor
When pain hits on a trip or during a busy week, you often need practical help: water, a quiet place, or medicine. Spanish has polite ways to ask without sounding demanding.
At A Pharmacy: Clear Questions That Get A Clear Answer
- ¿Qué me recomienda para el dolor de cabeza? (What do you recommend for a headache?)
- ¿Cada cuánto tiempo se toma? (How often do you take it?)
- ¿Tiene efectos secundarios? (Does it have side effects?)
- ¿Puedo tomarlo con comida? (Can I take it with food?)
If you take other medicines, say Tomo este medicamento (I take this medicine) and show the box or a photo. For allergies: Soy alérgico / Soy alérgica.
At A Clinic: Simple Lines For Symptoms
- Me duele la cabeza y tengo fiebre. (I have a fever.)
- Me duele la cabeza y me mareo. (I feel dizzy.)
- Me duele la cabeza y me molesta la luz. (Light bothers me.)
- Me duele la cabeza y me molesta el ruido. (Noise bothers me.)
If you can name one extra symptom, you give a clearer picture. If you can name two, you sound like you know what you’re feeling, not just that you feel “bad.”
| Situation | What To Say | Likely Reply You’ll Hear |
|---|---|---|
| Host family | Me duele la cabeza. ¿Puedo acostarme un rato? | Sí, descansa. ¿Quieres agua o té? |
| Teacher | Tengo dolor de cabeza. ¿Puedo salir un momento? | Sí. Vuelve cuando te sientas mejor. |
| Friend | Me duele la cabeza. Creo que voy a irme temprano. | Vale. Cuídate. |
| Pharmacy counter | ¿Tiene algo para el dolor de cabeza? | Sí. ¿Para adulto o para niño? |
| Clinic check-in | Me duele la cabeza desde hace dos horas. | ¿Tienes náusea o fiebre? |
| Doctor visit | El dolor es fuerte y me molesta la luz. | Vamos a hacerte unas preguntas. |
| Emergency help | Me duele la cabeza y no veo bien. | Siéntate aquí. Vamos a atenderte. |
Why “Me Duele” Works In Spanish
English puts the person first: “I hurt my head” or “My head hurts.” Spanish often flips it. The pain is the actor in the sentence, and you are the person receiving it.
Me means “to me.” Duele is a form of doler, meaning “hurts.” La cabeza is the body part that hurts. So Me duele la cabeza is close to “The head hurts to me.” That sounds odd in English, yet it’s standard in Spanish.
Swap In Other Body Parts With The Same Pattern
Once you learn me duele, you can reuse it right away:
- Me duele la garganta. (throat)
- Me duele el estómago. (stomach)
- Me duelen los ojos. (eyes hurt) — plural duelen
Duele is singular. Duelen is plural.
Common Mistakes That Make Your Sentence Sound Odd
Most learners get the message across even with mistakes. Still, a few slip-ups happen again and again. Fixing them makes your Spanish clearer and keeps you from sounding lost.
Mixing Up “Dolor” And “Duele”
Tengo dolor de cabeza uses the noun dolor (pain). Me duele la cabeza uses the verb doler (to hurt). Both are fine, but don’t mash them together into something like Tengo duele.
Forgetting The Article Before The Body Part
Spanish often uses la or el before body parts: la cabeza, el estómago. So say Me duele la cabeza, not Me duele cabeza.
Using “Estoy” With Pain
You might be tempted to say Estoy dolor because English uses “I am” for feelings. In Spanish, pain usually goes with tener or doler. Stick to those two patterns and you’re set.
A Five-Minute Practice Drill You Can Repeat Anytime
You don’t need a long study session. A short drill, repeated often, builds fast recall. Here’s a simple routine that fits in a spare moment.
Step 1: Say The Two Base Lines
- Tengo dolor de cabeza.
- Me duele la cabeza.
Step 2: Add Time
- Me duele la cabeza desde ayer.
- Me duele la cabeza desde hace dos horas.
Step 3: Add One Symptom
- Me duele la cabeza y tengo náusea.
Step 4: Ask For What You Want
- ¿Puedo acostarme un rato?
- ¿Qué me recomienda para el dolor de cabeza?
Say each line out loud twice. Then mix them into one longer sentence.
One-Sentence Recap You Can Memorize
If you only memorize one line, make it Me duele la cabeza. If you want one more, add Tengo dolor de cabeza and you’re covered for most moments.