médico de cabecera
/mediko de kabeθeɾa/from spelling rules
The English phrase 'primary care doctor' is médico de cabecera in Spanish.
The phrase médico de cabecera is the standard way to refer to a general practitioner or the doctor a patient sees regularly for non-emergency issues.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase médico de cabecera literally translates to 'doctor of the head' or 'chief doctor', where cabecera refers to the head of a bed or a position of leadership or priority.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some Spanish-speaking regions, particularly in parts of the Caribbean or Central America, the term Médico Generalista is used to refer to a primary care doctor.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify a female primary care doctor, change the masculine médico to the feminine médica to say médica de cabecera.
Did you know?
- The term cabecera refers to the head of the bed, reflecting a historical time when a family doctor would visit a sick patient at home and stand by their bedside.
- The term médico shares an ancient root with the English word 'measure', both stemming from the Proto-Indo-European root *med-.
- In some Latin American countries, the primary care doctor may be called a médico de familia, emphasizing the doctor's role in treating an entire kinship group rather than just an individual.
Examples in context
- Necesito programar una cita con mi médico de atención primaria.I need to schedule an appointment with my primary care doctor.
- Mi médico general me ayudó a manejar mi enfermedad.My primary care doctor helped me manage my illness.
- Mi doctor de familia me recomendó hacer ejercicio regularmente.My primary care doctor recommended that I exercise regularly.
- Mi médico familiar me recetó algunos medicamentos para el resfriado.My primary care doctor prescribed me some medication for the cold.
- Necesito hablar con mi médico de cabecera.I need to speak with my primary care doctor.
- El médico de cabecera me recomendó este tratamiento.The primary care doctor recommended this treatment to me.
- ¿Quién es tu médico de cabecera actualmente?Who is your primary care doctor currently?
Example conversation
Sofía and Alejandro are discussing their healthcare appointments.
- SofíaAlejandro, ¿ya encontraste un médico de cabecera?Alejandro, have you found a primary care doctor yet?
- AlejandroSí, mi médico de cabecera es muy profesional.Yes, my primary care doctor is very professional.
- SofíaQué bueno, yo también busco uno nuevo.That is good, I am also looking for a new one.
- AlejandroTe puedo dar su número de contacto.I can give you his contact number.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry médico de cabecera, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries cabecera, de, médico, CC BY-SA 4.0.
