US Medical Term · symptoms
Ear Pain
Dolor de oído
What it means
MedlinePlus covers ear pain under the title Earache and defines an earache as a sharp, dull, or burning pain in one or both ears. MedlinePlus lists ear pain and otalgia among the alternative names for earache. Ear pain in a child or infant may be due to infection, while ear pain in adults is less likely to be from an ear infection: pain felt in the ear may be coming from another place, such as the teeth, the joint in the jaw or the throat, which is called referred pain. Other causes it lists include a buildup of ear wax, a hole in the eardrum, a sinus infection and a sore throat. MedlinePlus says to contact a health care provider if a child has a high fever or severe pain.
Ear Pain in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Dolor de oído
- Gender and article
- masculine: el dolor de oído
- Pronunciation
- doh-LOHR deh oh-EE-doh
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| otalgia | General | Listed by MedlinePlus en español among the alternative names; the Spanish dictionary marks it as a feminine medical term meaning dolor de oídos. |
Dolor de oído is the title of the MedlinePlus en español article, and it is masculine: el dolor de oído. The article describes it as un dolor agudo, sordo o urente en uno o en ambos oídos. Among its alternative names it lists otalgia and the plural form dolor de oídos, and the Spanish dictionary defines otalgia, a feminine medical term, as dolor de oídos.
Spanish has two words where English has "ear." The dictionary defines oído as each of the organs that serve for hearing, and oreja as the cartilage that forms the outer part of the organ of hearing. MedlinePlus en español writes dolor de oído and infección del oído, but seque las orejas where the English page says to dry the ears. Other words from that article are tímpano (eardrum), trompa de Eustaquio (eustachian tube), cerumen (ear wax) and dolor referido (referred pain).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | My right ear has hurt for two days, and the pain is worse at night. | Me duele el oído derecho desde hace dos días, y el dolor empeora por la noche. |
| Clinician | Is the pain sharp, dull, or burning? | ¿El dolor es agudo, sordo o con ardor? |
| Patient | It is a dull pain, and my ear feels plugged. | Es un dolor sordo, y siento el oído tapado. |
| Clinician | Have you had a fever, a sore throat, or any fluid coming out of the ear? | ¿Ha tenido fiebre, dolor de garganta o le ha salido líquido del oído? |
| Patient | My daughter keeps touching her ear and is crying more than usual. | Mi hija se toca la oreja a cada rato y está llorando más de lo normal. |
| Clinician | I am going to look inside the ear, and then at the nose and throat. | Voy a mirar dentro del oído, y luego la nariz y la garganta. |
| Patient | Could the pain be coming from my jaw or a tooth? | ¿Podría venir el dolor de la mandíbula o de un diente? |
| Clinician | It could. Pain felt in the ear sometimes comes from another place. | Es posible. El dolor que se siente en el oído a veces proviene de otro lugar. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Ear Pain |
| Spanish (Español) | Dolor de oído |
| Chinese (中文) | 耳痛 |
| Korean (한국어) | 귀 통증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đau tai |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Sakit sa tainga |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dor de ouvido |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อาการปวดหู |
| Japanese (日本語) | 耳痛 |
Where you'll see it
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: Eyes and ears
All terms in this area: Eyes and ears — Ojos y oídos
Sources
- Earache — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, National Library of Medicine
- Dolor de oído — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- otalgia — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- oído — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- oreja — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 8, 2026