Spanish · Especialista / volante
The doctor gives you a referral to a specialist: what to say in Spanish
The doctor refers you to a specialist.
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How it's done. In the public system you see a specialist (especialista) with a referral (volante or derivación) from the family doctor; the hospital usually books and notifies you by letter or SMS.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Le voy a derivar al dermatólogo.Leh boy uh deh-ree-BAHR ahl dehr-muh-TOH-loh-goh.
I'm going to refer you to the dermatologist.
YOU REPLY
¿Cuándo me darán la cita?
Koo-AHN-doh meh duh-RAHN lah SEE-tuh?
When will they give me the appointment?
THEY SAY
La llamarán o le enviarán un mensaje.Lah yuh-muh-RAHN oh leh ayn-byuh-RAHN oon mayn-SAH-kheh.
They will call you or send you a message.
They might also say:
Le avisarán por teléfono o con un mensaje.
Leh uh-bee-suh-RAHN por teh-LEH-foh-noh oh kohn oon mayn-SAH-kheh.
They will let you know by phone or message.
2
YOU REPLY
¿Cuánto tarda normalmente?
Koo-AHN-toh TAHR-duh nor-muhl-MAYN-teh?
How long does it normally take?
THEY SAY
Depende. Unas semanas, a veces más.Deh-PAYN-deh. OO-nuhs seh-MAH-nuhs, uh BEH-ses mahs.
It depends. A few weeks, sometimes more.
3
YOU FINISH
Entiendo. Esperaré el mensaje. Gracias.
Ayn-TYAYN-doh. Es-peh-ruh-REH el mayn-SAH-kheh. GRAH-syuhs.
I understand. I'll wait for the message. Thanks.
THEY SAY
De nada. Si empeora, venga antes.Deh NAH-duh. See em-peh-OH-ruh, BAYN-guh AHN-tes.
You're welcome. If it gets worse, come sooner.
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Spanish for life in Spain”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
voy
boy
verb
I go
derivar
deh-ree-BAHR
verb
to refer
dermatólogo
dehr-muh-TOH-loh-goh
noun
dermatologist
darán
duh-RAHN
verb
they will give
cita
SEE-tuh
noun
appointment
llamarán
yuh-muh-RAHN
verb
they will call
26 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
¿Puede repetirlo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh reh-peh-TEER-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you repeat that, please?
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh uh-BLAHR mahs des-PAH-syoh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
¿Puede escribírmelo, por favor?
Poo-EH-deh es-kree-BEER-meh-loh, por fuh-BOR?
Can you write it down for me, please?
Similar situations
You phone the hospital to book a specialistEspecialista / volante · A2 in the app
→You change your appointment time because you cannot comeEspecialista / volante · A2 in the app
→The doctor explains which tests you need to haveEspecialista / volante · B1 in the app
→You get your test resultsEspecialista / volante · B1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report