What does it mean word for word?
The phrase visitas al médico literally translates to "visits to the doctor".
Which one should you use?
Depending on your needs, you might use different forms: visitas al médico means "visits to the doctor", whereas visitas médicas means "medical visits", where the adjective médicas matches the feminine plural noun visitas. To specifically refer to a single appointment, use the singular visita al médico.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In certain regions, such as Mexico, Argentina and Uruguay, the informal expression pasar por el médico is used to indicate a doctor visit.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using the phrase visitas médicas (medical visits), the adjective médicas must agree in both gender and number with the noun visitas. If you are referring to only one appointment, use the singular form visita al médico.
Did you know?
- While visita means 'visit', the word cita used in citas médicas also means 'a date', which is the same word used for a romantic encounter.
- The word médico shares its ancestral roots with the English word 'measure', as both stem from the Proto-Indo-European root *med-, meaning 'to take appropriate measures' or 'to consider'.
- Spanish has no single word that captures the English concept of a 'check-up', so people often describe these visits as un reconocimiento or un control.
Examples in context
- Tengo una cita con el médico mañana. Necesito hacerme un chequeo general.I have an appointment with the doctor tomorrow. I need to have a general check-up.
- Mi madre debe visitar a un médico especialista.My mother needs to visit a specialist doctor.
- ¡Hola! Quisiera hacer una consulta médica con el doctor García.Hello! I would like to make a doctor's appointment with Dr. García.
- Tengo que organizar mis visitas al médico.I have to organize my doctor visits.
- Las visitas al médico suelen ser costosas.Doctor visits are usually expensive.
- Necesito programar varias visitas al médico este mes.I need to schedule several doctor visits this month.
Example conversation
Mateo and Sofía are discussing their busy schedules at home.
- Mateo¿Por qué estás tan ocupada, Sofía?Why are you so busy, Sofía?
- SofíaTengo muchas visitas al médico esta semana.I have many doctor visits this week.
- MateoEspero que te sientas mejor pronto.I hope you feel better soon.
- SofíaGracias, Mateo, lo espero también.Thanks, Mateo, I hope so too.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries médico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
