US Medical Term · emergency
Vital Signs
Signos vitales
What it means
Vital signs are measurements that show how well the body is functioning. MedlinePlus lists four: blood pressure, which measures the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries; heart rate, or pulse, which measures how fast the heart is beating; respiratory rate, which measures breathing; and temperature, which measures how hot the body is. They are usually measured at doctor's offices, often as part of a health checkup, or during an emergency room visit. The MedlinePlus encyclopedia adds that vital signs reflect essential body functions, that a health care provider may measure or monitor them to check a person's level of physical functioning, and that normal vital signs change with age, sex, weight, exercise capability, and overall health.
Vital Signs in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Signos vitales
- Gender and article
- masculine: los signos vitales
- Pronunciation
- SEEG-nohs bee-TAH-lehs
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| constantes vitales | General | The expression that the RAE dictionary's entry for 'signos vitales' points to as its definition; it carries no regional mark. |
Signos vitales is the title of the MedlinePlus en español page, which writes sus signos vitales and names the four measurements as la presión arterial, la frecuencia cardiaca o pulso, la frecuencia respiratoria and la temperatura. The Real Academia Española dictionary marks signo as a masculine noun, so the phrase takes los. MedlinePlus en español calls a body temperature higher than normal fiebre.
The same dictionary lists signos vitales as a medical expression under signo and defines it only by pointing to constantes vitales; that cross-reference line carries the mark f. pl. (feminine plural), the same mark the dictionary gives constantes vitales, even though signo itself is marked masculine and the phrase is used as los signos vitales. Under constante, it defines constantes vitales as a set of data on the composition and functions of the body, such as the concentration of glucose and urea in the blood, the degree of acidity of the blood serum and la tensión arterial, whose values must stay within certain limits to maintain normal physiological conditions.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Clinician | I am going to take your vital signs before you see the doctor. | Voy a tomarle los signos vitales antes de que pase con el médico. |
| Clinician | First I will take your blood pressure. Please keep your arm relaxed. | Primero le voy a tomar la presión arterial. Por favor, mantenga el brazo relajado. |
| Patient | What do the two blood pressure numbers mean? | ¿Qué significan los dos números de la presión arterial? |
| Clinician | Now I am going to take your temperature and your pulse. | Ahora le voy a tomar la temperatura y el pulso. |
| Patient | Do I have a fever? | ¿Tengo fiebre? |
| Clinician | I am going to count your breaths for one minute. Breathe normally. | Voy a contar sus respiraciones durante un minuto. Respire con normalidad. |
| Patient | Are my vital signs normal? | ¿Mis signos vitales son normales? |
| Patient | Can you write the numbers down for me? | ¿Puede anotarme los números? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Vital Signs |
| Spanish (Español) | Signos vitales |
| Chinese (中文) | 生命徵象 |
| Korean (한국어) | 활력 징후 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Dấu hiệu sinh tồn |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Mga vital signs |
| Portuguese (Português) | Sinais vitais |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | สัญญาณชีพ |
| Japanese (日本語) | バイタルサイン |
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: General care: tests, procedures and medicines
All terms in this area: General care: tests, procedures and medicines — Atención general: pruebas, procedimientos y medicamentos
Sources
- Vital Signs: MedlinePlus — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Signos vitales: MedlinePlus en español — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Vital signs: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- signo — Diccionario de la lengua española — Real Academia Española / ASALE
- constante — 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