US Medical Term · emergency
Triage
Triaje
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Triage |
| Spanish (Español) | Triaje |
| Chinese (中文) | 分診 |
| Korean (한국어) | 중증도 분류 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Phân loại bệnh nhân |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Triage |
| Portuguese (Português) | Triagem |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | การคัดแยกผู้ป่วย |
| Japanese (日本語) | トリアージ |
What it means
Triage is the process of quickly assessing patients when they arrive at the emergency room to determine the urgency of their medical needs. A trained triage nurse asks about your symptoms, checks vital signs, and assigns a priority level. Patients with life-threatening emergencies—such as chest pain, stroke, or severe bleeding—are seen immediately. Those with less critical conditions wait longer. You may feel frustrated waiting, but triage ensures the sickest patients receive care first. The triage nurse does not make a diagnosis but decides how quickly you need to be seen by a physician.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The nurse at triage will ask you about your symptoms first.
La enfermera en el triaje le preguntará primero sobre sus síntomas.
He was classified as high priority at triage because of chest pain.
Fue clasificado como prioridad alta en el triaje por dolor en el pecho.
How long will we wait after triage?
¿Cuánto esperaremos después del triaje?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026