Using dolor or duele

Question

When and how do I use dolor o duele to describe pain? I need to tell the doctor more details about my pain, sharp, dull, stabbing, etc. When do I use duele ? Are they synonyms?

Answer 1

Hello Sue,

Welcome to our Spanishdict community Forum

You asked:

Using dolor or duele.When and how do I use dolor o duele to describe pain? I need to tell the doctor more details about my pain, sharp, dull, stabbing, etc. When do I use duele ? Are they synonyms?

You can use either dolor or duele but you have to use them in a different construction!

The word dolor is a noun which means 'pain'

ex.1.¡Tengo un dolor de cabeza, doctor! = I have a headache, doctor!

The word duele is a verb conjugation from the verb doler. .Literally duele means it hurts or as in the example below: it hurts the head, except we wouldn't say (translate) it like that!

ex 2.¡Me duele la cabeza, doctor! = My head hurts, doctor!

Sue, if this is your homework please understand as a matter of policy that we do not do people's homework for them on this forum but we expect you to make your best attempt at doing it first and post your results then people will be pleased to offer corrections, guidance and advice!Please do not post any 'unfinished' homework in future.Thank you!

I hope this helps you

Corrijan mi español si es necesario, por favor

what part of speeech is "me duele"? Duele is an adjective I think? - sueb4bs, Jul 21, 2017

Sounds like homework..... - rac1, Jul 21, 2017

Rac, I didn't see/translate It as being homework.I thought that the qjestioner was in need of urgent medical attention - FELIZ77, Jul 21, 2017

I'm sincerely sorry if I am mistaken and it is homework! - FELIZ77, Jul 21, 2017

Sue: duele is not an adjective. It is a conjugated verb. Look up "doler" in the translator on this site. - jtaniel, Jul 21, 2017

Jt, I told her that in my post but I hadn't quite finished writing my post when she asked that and she didn't wait for my response in my post! - FELIZ77, Jul 21, 2017

Answer 2

Dolor is a noun and doler is a verb. Dolor could be pain or "ache" (mostly in compounds) We have Dolor for two words in English. From the verb doler you can say me duele meaning it hurts but only me. I feel the pain. For other people: te duele, le duele, nos duele, les duele. .

Tengo un dolor. I have a pain. Tengo (un) dolor de cabeza. I have a headache.
Tengo dolor de muela. I have a toothache.
Tienes dolor de cuello. You have a pain in your neck.

Me duele la cabeza. My head "hurts". It fact it would be almost the same as I have a headache. La cabeza me duele. My head hurts.
La muela me duele. My tooth hurts. El cuello te duele. My neck hurts.

Es un dolor agudo. Es un dolor contínuo.
Es un dolor leve.
Es un dolor moderado.
Es un dolor constante.
Es un dolor que me viene de repente
Es un dolor desesperante.
Es un dolor que no me deja respirar.
Es un dolor que me viene cuando respiro profundamente. etc.

Answer 3

Hi Sue

welcome to the forum.

We have had lessons on this topic in class.

Here are some useful links:

This is Spanish for immigrants, 17 useful pages based in Madrid

consulta médico

page 6 deals with the use of dolor which equates to it pains me

diálogo

The above is a very good dialogue in tu and alternatively in usted. I think it was made for Estonians but it is all in Spanish. There is a good dialogue dealing with describing a pain. Obviously the glossary is Spanish Estonian but you can check the words here or on Word Reference

and here is a podcast

spanish podcast

Hope the above helps