Purpose: Getting your patient to respond to simple questions & avoid tangents
Target Audience: ER or other clinicians
Video Version
First, I’ll walk you through the Spanish phrases for Prepping Patients for Yes/No & Short Answer Questions in video form.
(PS: This video is also available as a podcast — see below.)
Written Version
If you prefer, here’s the written version of this dialogue.
Note: Parentheses mean the word(s) can be left out, and the phrase should still make sense.
English | Spanish |
I only speak a little Spanish. | Solo hablo poco español. |
I don’t speak Spanish very well. | No hablo español muy bien. |
I can’t understand very much Spanish. | No puedo entender mucho español. |
I will use some yes-or-no questions. | Voy a usar unas preguntas de sí-o-no. |
Some questions also ask for a number or time. | Algunas preguntas también piden un número o tiempo. |
[IF THE PATIENT GETS OFF TRACK] | |
Please respond only with yes or no, (or the shortest answer possible). | Por favor, responda solo con sí o no, (o la respuesta más breve posible). |
If you say more, I probably won’t understand. | Si dice más cosas, es probable que yo no entienda. |
I’m sorry, I can’t understand. | Lo siento, no puedo entender. |
I don’t understand very much Spanish. | No entiendo mucho español. |
Wrapping Up
Thanks for checking out my dialogue about Prepabout a Patient for Yes/No & Short Answer Questions.
For additional medical Spanish dialogues, check out my podcast! Details below. 🙂