I Have a Concussion in Spanish | Say It So They Act

Say “Tengo una conmoción cerebral” and add clear symptoms so medical staff understand what happened and what’s getting worse.

When your head’s pounding and your thoughts feel slow, even simple words can vanish. If you’re traveling, new to a country, or just stuck in a Spanish-speaking setting, you may only need one line to get started: the Spanish for “I have a concussion.”

This article gives you the exact phrase, safer add-ons that help medical staff triage you, and short scripts you can use at a clinic, urgent care, pharmacy counter, or on an emergency call. You’ll also get a plain-language checklist for red-flag symptoms that call for emergency care.

I Have a Concussion in Spanish: The Exact Phrase And Safer Add-Ons

The most direct way to say “I have a concussion” in Spanish is:

Tengo una conmoción cerebral.

You might also hear or see conmoción on discharge papers, signs, or patient handouts. In casual speech, some people say “tengo una concusión,” but conmoción cerebral is widely used in medical Spanish and in Spanish-language patient resources.

Short lines that make your message clearer

One sentence is a start, but two or three extra details can change how quickly you’re seen. Keep it simple. Pick the lines that match what you feel.

• Me golpeé la cabeza. (I hit my head.)
• Me caí y me pegué en la cabeza. (I fell and hit my head.)
• Me desmayé. (I passed out.)
• Estoy mareado/a. (I’m dizzy.)
• Tengo dolor de cabeza. (I have a headache.)
• Tengo náuseas. (I feel nauseated.)
• Vomité. (I vomited.)
• Estoy confundido/a. (I’m confused.)
• Me cuesta concentrarme. (It’s hard to focus.)
• La luz me molesta. (Light bothers me.)
• El ruido me molesta. (Noise bothers me.)

Pronunciation help you can use on the spot

If you want a quick sound guide, say it like: ten-go oo-na con-mo-SYON se-re-BRAL. You don’t need perfect accent. Clarity beats perfection when you feel unwell.

What Medical Staff Need First

In many clinics and emergency departments, the first questions are predictable. If you can answer these, you save time and lower the chance of being misunderstood.

Three questions you’ll likely get

• ¿Cuándo pasó? (When did it happen?)
• ¿Cómo pasó? (How did it happen?)
• ¿Qué síntomas tiene? (What symptoms do you have?)

Simple answers you can copy

• Pasó hoy. (It happened today.)
• Pasó ayer. (It happened yesterday.)
• Pasó hace dos horas. (It happened two hours ago.)
• Me caí. (I fell.)
• Tuve un choque. (I had a crash.)
• Me dieron un golpe. (I got hit.)

Symptoms that matter in triage

Concussion symptoms can be physical, thinking-related, mood-related, and sleep-related. Public-health guidance lists patterns like headache, dizziness, nausea, light/noise sensitivity, fogginess, memory trouble, and feeling slowed down. The CDC’s symptom lists are a solid cross-check if you’re unsure what “counts” as a concussion symptom. CDC HEADS UP concussion signs and symptoms puts them in plain categories.

If you want a Spanish-language medical overview that matches common clinical wording, this Spanish MedlinePlus page uses “conmoción cerebral” and explains what it is in patient-friendly terms. MedlinePlus en español: Conmoción cerebral is also handy if you’re reading paperwork and want to match terms.

Spanish Phrases You Can Use At Reception, Triage, Or A Call

These phrases are built for real life: short, direct, and easy to point to on your phone screen. If you’re speaking for someone else, swap “tengo” for “tiene” (he/she has) and “estoy” for “está” (he/she is).

Core phrases

• Necesito atención médica. (I need medical care.)
• Me duele mucho la cabeza. (My head hurts a lot.)
• No me siento bien. (I don’t feel well.)
• Estoy aturdido/a. (I feel dazed.)
• Me siento lento/a. (I feel slowed down.)
• No recuerdo bien lo que pasó. (I don’t remember well what happened.)

Medication and risk factors in plain Spanish

Some details can change how a head injury is handled. If any apply, say them early.

• Tomo anticoagulantes. (I take blood thinners.)
• Tomé alcohol. (I drank alcohol.)
• Estoy embarazada. (I’m pregnant.)
• Tengo un trastorno de convulsiones. (I have a seizure disorder.)
• Me golpeé y ahora me cuesta hablar. (I was hit and now it’s hard to speak.)

If you’re not sure how serious it is, err on the side of getting checked. Clinical guidance lists reasons to get evaluated after head injury such as confusion, memory problems, vision changes, nausea/vomiting, or a sudden severe headache. Mayo Clinic guidance on when to seek medical care after head injury symptoms is a useful reference point.

Phrase Bank Table For Fast Communication

Use this as a “show and say” tool. Read the Spanish line out loud, then point to it. If you’re too tired to speak, pointing still works.

What You Mean (English)	What To Say (Spanish)	When To Use It
I have a concussion.	Tengo una conmoción cerebral.	Opening line at check-in or triage
I hit my head.	Me golpeé la cabeza.	Right after your opening line
I fainted / I passed out.	Me desmayé.	If you lost consciousness at any point
I’m confused.	Estoy confundido/a.	If thinking feels off or you’re disoriented
I can’t remember what happened.	No recuerdo lo que pasó.	If there’s a memory gap
I have a headache that’s getting worse.	Me duele la cabeza y está empeorando.	If pain is rising, not settling
I vomited.	Vomité.	Say it clearly, even once
Light bothers me.	La luz me molesta.	If you want lights dimmed or sunglasses
Noise bothers me.	El ruido me molesta.	If sound feels painful or sharp
I take blood thinners.	Tomo anticoagulantes.	Early in the conversation, before waiting

When A Concussion Can Turn Into An Emergency

Most head injuries don’t become life-threatening, but some warning signs mean you should get emergency care right away. If you notice symptoms getting worse instead of steady, treat that as a serious signal.

Public-health guidance lists danger signs such as a headache that worsens and won’t go away, repeated vomiting, seizures, increasing confusion, slurred speech, weakness or numbness, trouble waking up, or unequal pupils. The CDC’s danger-sign list is a reliable reference if you want to double-check what counts as urgent. CDC danger signs for mild TBI and concussion lays them out clearly.

UK NHS guidance also explains when to seek medical help after head injury and what to watch for during the first days. If you’re traveling and want a second official checklist written for patients, the NHS head injury and concussion advice is practical and easy to scan.

Danger Signs Table You Can Read Out Loud

If any of these match your situation, seek emergency care. If you’re calling for someone else, say the Spanish line, then add “ahora” (now).

Danger Sign	Spanish Line	What To Do
Worsening headache that won’t stop	Me duele la cabeza y no se me quita; está empeorando.	Go to emergency care now
Repeated vomiting	He vomitado varias veces.	Emergency care now
Seizure	Tuve una convulsión.	Call emergency services
Trouble waking up / extreme drowsiness	No puedo mantenerme despierto/a.	Emergency care now
Slurred speech or trouble speaking	Se me traba la lengua / me cuesta hablar.	Call emergency services
Weakness, numbness, poor coordination	Tengo debilidad o adormecimiento.	Emergency care now
Growing confusion or agitation	Estoy cada vez más confundido/a o inquieto/a.	Emergency care now

What To Say If You’re Calling Emergency Services In Spanish

If you need help on a call, keep it blunt. Location first. Then the head injury. Then the worst symptom. Here are scripts you can adapt.

Script for yourself

Estoy en [dirección o lugar]. Me golpeé la cabeza. Tengo una conmoción cerebral y me siento peor. Necesito una ambulancia.

Script for someone else

Estoy en [dirección o lugar]. Esta persona se golpeó la cabeza. Está confundida y vomitó. Necesitamos una ambulancia.

If you can, add age and one clear danger sign from the table above. If you can’t, don’t force it. Give the location and the head injury. That’s enough to start.

Aftercare Spanish: Simple Requests That Make Recovery Easier

Once you’re checked and sent home, you may still feel off for days. Many people describe headache, dizziness, sleep changes, and trouble focusing during early recovery. It helps to tell the people around you what you need without a long explanation.

Helpful lines for home, a hotel, or a friend

• Necesito descansar. (I need to rest.)
• Por favor, baja la luz. (Please lower the light.)
• Por favor, menos ruido. (Please, less noise.)
• Me cuesta leer y usar el teléfono. (It’s hard to read and use my phone.)
• Si me duermo y no respondo, llama a emergencias. (If I fall asleep and don’t respond, call emergency services.)

Pharmacy counter lines

If you’re picking up basics, these phrases keep it clear:

• Me golpeé la cabeza y tengo dolor de cabeza. (I hit my head and I have a headache.)
• ¿Qué puedo tomar para el dolor? (What can I take for pain?)
• Soy alérgico/a a… (I’m allergic to…)

Medication choices can depend on your situation and what a clinician tells you after an exam. If you’re unsure, stick to what you were told at discharge and ask a clinician or pharmacist for help in the moment.

Two Fast Checks Before You Leave This Page

Check one: Can you say one clean sentence?

Say it once out loud: Tengo una conmoción cerebral. If you can say that, you can get started anywhere.

Check two: Do you have a danger sign?

Scan the danger-sign table. If anything matches, don’t wait it out. Get emergency care.

If you want one extra Spanish line that covers the idea of worsening symptoms, this works well:

Mis síntomas están empeorando. (My symptoms are getting worse.)