US Medical Term · symptoms
Vertigo
Vértigo
What it means
Vertigo is the feeling that you or the room is spinning even when nothing is moving. MedlinePlus notes that dizziness and vertigo are not the same thing, but they are often mixed up: dizziness can make a person feel lightheaded, woozy, or unsteady. Common causes may include inner ear problems such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), which MedlinePlus calls the most common cause of vertigo. The MedlinePlus encyclopedia describes two types: peripheral vertigo, due to a problem in the part of the inner ear that controls balance, and central vertigo, due to a problem in the brain. MedlinePlus says to get emergency help right away for sudden or severe dizziness or vertigo along with vision problems, slurred speech, or weakness.
Vertigo in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Vértigo
- Gender and article
- masculine: el vértigo
- Pronunciation
- BEHR-tee-goh
Vértigo is the word on MedlinePlus en español, masculine: el vértigo. As in English, it is set apart from mareo (dizziness): El mareo y el vértigo no son lo mismo, aunque a menudo se confunden. MedlinePlus en español defines vertigo as la sensación de que usted o la habitación dan vueltas, and the Spanish page of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) glosses it as the sensación de que todo le da vueltas. Both use the verb phrase dar vueltas for spinning.
The Spanish sources name BPPV in two ways. The MedlinePlus en español health topic page and NIDCD write vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno, abbreviated VPPB, while the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia writes vértigo postural benigno or vértigo postural paroxístico benigno and keeps the English initials BPPV. The encyclopedia's two types are vértigo periférico and vértigo central. Related words: oído interno (inner ear), equilibrio (balance), enfermedad de Ménière (Meniere's disease) and zumbidos en los oídos (ringing in the ears).
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I feel like the room is spinning, even when I am not moving. | Siento que la habitación da vueltas, incluso cuando no me muevo. |
| Clinician | Do you feel that everything is spinning, or do you feel as if you might faint? | ¿Siente que todo le da vueltas, o siente que se va a desmayar? |
| Patient | It starts when I turn over in bed or tilt my head back. | Empieza cuando me doy vuelta en la cama o inclino la cabeza hacia atrás. |
| Clinician | How long does each episode last: seconds, minutes, or hours? | ¿Cuánto dura cada episodio: segundos, minutos u horas? |
| Patient | I also have nausea and ringing in my left ear. | También tengo náuseas y un zumbido en el oído izquierdo. |
| Clinician | Have you had a head injury or an ear infection recently? | ¿Ha tenido recientemente una lesión en la cabeza o una infección del oído? |
| Clinician | I am going to check your hearing, your balance, and how you walk. | Voy a evaluar su audición, su equilibrio y su forma de caminar. |
| Clinician | If you have sudden vertigo with vision problems, trouble speaking, or weakness, call 911. | Si tiene vértigo repentino con problemas de visión, dificultad para hablar o debilidad, llame al 911. |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Vertigo |
| Spanish (Español) | Vértigo |
| Chinese (中文) | 眩暈 |
| Korean (한국어) | 현기증 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Chóng mặt quay |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Vertigo |
| Portuguese (Português) | Vertigem |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | บ้านหมุน |
| Japanese (日本語) | 回転性めまい |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: H81 → Disorders of vestibular functionRelated 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
- Dizziness and Vertigo — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Mareo y vértigo — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Vertigo-associated disorders — MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, National Library of Medicine
- Trastornos asociados con el vértigo — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Trastornos del equilibrio — National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), NIH
- 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