Dizziness in Spanish

What it means

Dizziness can make a person feel lightheaded, woozy or unsteady on their feet. MedlinePlus explains that dizziness and vertigo are not the same thing, although they are often mixed up: vertigo is the feeling that you or the room is spinning even when nothing is moving. Its medical encyclopedia adds that dizziness is a term often used to describe two different symptoms, lightheadedness, which is a feeling that you might faint, and vertigo. Common causes of dizziness and vertigo may include a sudden drop in blood pressure, dehydration, getting up too quickly, certain medicines, and inner ear problems. Sudden or severe dizziness together with vision problems, slurred speech or weakness needs emergency help right away (call 911 in the U.S.). In Spanish the word is mareo.

Dizziness in Spanish

Spanish term: Mareo
Gender and article: masculine: el mareo
Pronunciation: mah-REH-oh

Other Spanish terms	Where it is used	Note
vahído	General	Listed by the RAE dictionary among the synonyms or related words (sinónimos o afines) of mareo.

Mareo is a masculine noun: el mareo, un mareo. The RAE dictionary defines it as the effect of marearse. MedlinePlus en español states that mareo and vértigo are not the same thing, although they are confused: mareo can make a person feel aturdido, mareado or inestable al caminar, while vértigo is the sensation that the person or the room is spinning (dan vueltas). Its encyclopedia describes mareo as the feeling that one might faint (desmayarse).

The RAE dictionary also records a second, colloquial sense of mareo: annoyance or bother (molestia, enfado, ajetreo). MedlinePlus en español uses the plural mareos as well, and it calls motion sickness mareo por movimiento. Words that appear next to it in MedlinePlus en español are perder el equilibrio (to lose your balance), náuseas (nausea) and zumbidos en los oídos (ringing in the ears). Its encyclopedia article lists pérdida del equilibrio and vértigo among its alternative names.

Phrases for an appointment

What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:

Who	English	Spanish
Patient	I get dizzy when I stand up quickly.	Me mareo cuando me levanto rápido.
Clinician	Do you feel that the room is spinning, or do you feel that you might faint?	¿Siente que la habitación da vueltas, o siente que podría desmayarse?
Patient	It is not spinning; I feel unsteady, as if I were going to fall.	No da vueltas; siento inestabilidad, como si me fuera a caer.
Clinician	When did the dizziness begin, and how long does it last?	¿Cuándo comenzó el mareo y cuánto dura?
Patient	It started three days ago and lasts a few seconds each time.	Empezó hace tres días y dura unos segundos cada vez.
Clinician	Does the dizziness get worse when you move your head?	¿El mareo empeora cuando mueve la cabeza?
Patient	I also have nausea and ringing in my ears.	También tengo náuseas y zumbidos en los oídos.
Clinician	If you have sudden dizziness with trouble speaking, vision problems or weakness, call 911 right away.	Si tiene un mareo repentino con dificultad para hablar, problemas de visión o debilidad, llame al 911 de inmediato.

In 9 languages

Language	Term
English	Dizziness
Spanish (Español)	Mareo
Chinese (中文)	頭暈
Korean (한국어)	어지러움
Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt)	Chóng mặt
Filipino (Tagalog)	Pagkahilo
Portuguese (Português)	Tontura
Thai (ภาษาไทย)	เวียนหัว
Japanese (日本語)	めまい

Where you'll see it

intake formchartneurology reportmedical recordemergency note

Related ICD-10-CM category

ICD-10-CM code: R42 → Dizziness and giddiness

Related terms

Your right to an interpreter in the United States

If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.

You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»

More terms: Brain and nerves

All terms in this area: Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios

Sources

This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.