US Medical Term · symptoms
Hallucinations
Alucinaciones
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Hallucinations |
| Spanish (Español) | Alucinaciones |
| Chinese (中文) | 幻覺 |
| Korean (한국어) | 환각 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Ảo giác |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Hallucination |
| Portuguese (Português) | Alucinações |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | ภาพหลอน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 幻覚 |
What it means
Hallucinations are sensory experiences that feel real but are created by the mind rather than external reality. They can involve seeing things, hearing voices or sounds, smelling odors, or feeling sensations that others do not perceive. Causes include psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, severe depression, bipolar disorder, dementia, delirium, high fever, substance intoxication or withdrawal, brain tumors, and certain medications. Hallucinations are always significant and require medical evaluation. New or worsening hallucinations, especially combined with confusion or unusual behavior, should be assessed urgently, as they may indicate a serious psychiatric or neurological emergency.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have been hearing voices that are not there.
He estado escuchando voces que no existen.
I keep seeing things that other people cannot see.
Sigo viendo cosas que otras personas no pueden ver.
I smell things that are not present and it is happening frequently.
Huelo cosas que no están presentes y está sucediendo con frecuencia.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026