How To Say I Have Pink Eye In Spanish

Use “Tengo conjuntivitis” or “Tengo ojo rosado,” and add what you feel plus what you need (drops, an exam, a note).

Pink eye is one of those problems that makes you want to explain yourself clearly. Your eye looks rough, it may itch or burn, and you might worry about spreading it. If you’re traveling, studying abroad, or helping a child in a Spanish-speaking setting, the right words save time.

This article gives you clean, natural Spanish you can use with a teacher, pharmacist, clinic, or urgent care desk. You’ll learn the two main terms, how to pick the right one by region, what to say about symptoms, and how to ask for the next step.

What People Call Pink Eye In Spanish

The most widely understood medical term is conjuntivitis. It sounds close to English because it shares the same Latin root. In many places, saying Tengo conjuntivitis is the safest choice if you want instant understanding.

You’ll also hear everyday phrases that point to the look of the eye:

Ojo rosado (meaning “pink eye”)—common in parts of Latin America and in U.S. Spanish, especially in health settings.
Ojo rojo (“red eye”)—a plain description. It can mean irritation from many causes, not only conjunctivitis.
Infección en el ojo (“eye infection”)—useful when you’re not sure what it is, or when you want to keep it simple.

If you’re unsure which term your listener prefers, start with conjuntivitis, then add a short clarification like el ojo se me puso rojo (“my eye turned red”). That mix sounds natural and clear.

How To Say I Have Pink Eye In Spanish

These are the most natural ways to say it, from most direct to more gentle. Pick one and stick with it.

Tengo conjuntivitis. (I have conjunctivitis.)
Creo que tengo conjuntivitis. (I think I have conjunctivitis.)
Tengo el ojo rojo y me pica. (My eye is red and it itches.)
Tengo el ojo irritado y me arde. (My eye is irritated and it burns.)
Tengo secreción en el ojo. (I have discharge from my eye.)

Notice how Spanish often uses the body part with an article: el ojo (the eye), not “my eye,” even when it’s yours. Both styles exist, but me duele el ojo (“my eye hurts”) is the everyday rhythm.

Pronunciation Help You Can Use Right Away

Conjuntivitis is pronounced like: kohn-hoon-tee-BEE-tees. The “j” is a throaty sound, like an English “h” but stronger. Ojo is OH-ho.

Quick Polite Add-Ons

If you need to speak to staff or a teacher, these short starters soften the message without making it vague:

Perdón, tengo una pregunta. (Sorry, I have a question.)
¿Me puede ayudar? (Can you help me?)
Necesito ver a un médico. (I need to see a doctor.)

Saying You Have Pink Eye In Spanish At A Clinic

Clinics tend to ask three things: what you’re feeling, when it started, and what you’ve tried. If you can answer those, you’ll sound calm and prepared.

Use these building blocks:

Me empezó ayer. (It started yesterday.)
Me empezó hace tres días. (It started three days ago.)
Empezó de repente. (It started suddenly.)
Ha empeorado. (It’s gotten worse.)
Me pasa en un ojo / en los dos ojos. (It’s in one eye / both eyes.)

Next, describe the feel. Spanish is rich in sensory verbs, so choose the one that matches what you mean:

Me pica. (It itches.)
Me arde. (It burns.)
Me duele. (It hurts.)
Se me pega el ojo al despertar. (My eye gets stuck shut when I wake up.)
Me lloran los ojos. (My eyes water.)

Clinics also care about warning signs. If you have severe pain, light sensitivity, a drop in vision, a recent eye injury, or you wear contacts, say so early.

Clinic And Pharmacy Phrases For Pink Eye
Spanish Phrase	English Meaning	When To Say It
Tengo conjuntivitis.	I have conjunctivitis.	Start of the visit, clear label.
Creo que tengo conjuntivitis.	I think I have conjunctivitis.	When you’re not diagnosed yet.
Me empezó hace dos días.	It started two days ago.	Timing helps triage and treatment.
Me pica y me arde.	It itches and burns.	Describe sensation, not guesses.
Tengo secreción amarilla.	I have yellow discharge.	Sticky discharge can change advice.
Se me pega el ojo al despertar.	My eye sticks shut on waking.	Common detail staff recognizes.
Uso lentes de contacto.	I wear contact lenses.	Contacts raise risk and change rules.
¿Necesito gotas?	Do I need drops?	When you want treatment options.
¿Es contagioso?	Is it contagious?	School, work, family planning.

How To Ask For Eye Drops In Spanish

In a pharmacy, you may be offered drops for dryness, allergies, or irritation. If you’re not sure what’s causing the redness, describe symptoms first and ask what the product is meant to do.

¿Tiene gotas para los ojos? (Do you have eye drops?)
¿Son para alergia o para infección? (Are they for allergies or infection?)
¿Cuántas veces al día? (How many times a day?)
¿Por cuántos días? (For how many days?)
¿Tiene efectos secundarios? (Does it have side effects?)

If you need to say you’ve already used something, try:

Ya usé lágrimas artificiales. (I already used artificial tears.)
Usé una compresa tibia. (I used a warm compress.)
No me ha ayudado. (It hasn’t helped me.)

Words That Keep You Safe In A Pharmacy

Spanish makes it easy to ask for clarity without sounding demanding. These are handy:

¿Para qué es? (What is it for?)
¿Cómo se usa? (How do you use it?)
¿Puede escribirlo, por favor? (Can you write it down, please?)

Symptom Vocabulary You’ll Hear And Use
Spanish	What It Means	How It Shows Up In A Sentence
Picazón	Itching	Tengo picazón en el ojo.
Ardor	Burning	Siento ardor en el ojo.
Secreción	Discharge	Tengo secreción en la mañana.
Lagrimeo	Watery eyes	Tengo lagrimeo todo el día.
Hinchazón	Swelling	Tengo hinchazón en el párpado.
Sensibilidad a la luz	Light sensitivity	Me molesta la luz.
Visión borrosa	Blurry vision	Veo borroso con este ojo.
Contagioso	Contagious	¿Es contagioso?

How To Describe What Kind Of Pink Eye It Might Be

People often talk about “viral,” “bacterial,” and “allergic” pink eye. Those labels can shape what a clinician asks next. You don’t need to diagnose yourself, but you can describe patterns that often match each type.

When It Feels Like A Cold Came With It

If you also have a runny nose, sore throat, or someone around you is sick, you can say:

He estado resfriado/a. (I’ve had a cold.)
Alguien en casa está enfermo. (Someone at home is sick.)

When The Discharge Is Thick And Sticky

Thicker yellow or green discharge and lids stuck in the morning often get attention. Use simple, direct language:

Tengo mucha secreción. (I have a lot of discharge.)
Es amarilla / verdosa. (It’s yellow / greenish.)

When It’s Mostly Itching And Both Eyes Act Up

Allergy-type irritation often itches a lot and may affect both eyes. You can say:

Me pican mucho los ojos. (My eyes itch a lot.)
Tengo alergias. (I have allergies.)
Me lloran los ojos. (My eyes water.)

No phrase replaces a real exam, especially if pain is strong or your vision is off. Still, these descriptions help the other person understand what you’re seeing and feeling.

How To Ask If You Can Go To School Or Work

Many people need to know when it’s okay to return to class, a job, or childcare. You can ask about contagion and timing in plain Spanish.

¿Cuándo puedo volver a clases? (When can I go back to classes?)
¿Cuándo puedo volver al trabajo? (When can I go back to work?)
¿Necesito un certificado médico? (Do I need a doctor’s note?)
¿Debo quedarme en casa? (Should I stay home?)

If you’re talking to a school or employer, you can keep it short and respectful:

Tengo conjuntivitis y hoy no puedo asistir. (I have conjunctivitis and I can’t attend today.)
Estoy en tratamiento y volveré cuando sea seguro. (I’m being treated and I’ll return when it’s safe.)

Extra Phrases For Parents And Caregivers

If you’re speaking for a child, switch to tiene (“has”) and add the child’s age if asked.

Mi hijo/a tiene conjuntivitis. (My son/daughter has conjunctivitis.)
Le duele el ojo. (His/her eye hurts.)
Tiene fiebre. (He/she has a fever.)
Está irritado/a y llora mucho. (He/she is irritated and cries a lot.)

For babies, staff may ask about feeding and general behavior. You can say Está comiendo bien (“eating well”) and Está como siempre (“acting like usual”).

Small Cultural Notes That Make Your Spanish Sound Natural

Spanish varies by country, yet health Spanish is often consistent. A few patterns will help you sound more like a real speaker:

Use “me” for symptoms.Me arde, me duele, me pica.
Use “se me” for things that happen to you.Se me puso rojo (it turned red on me).
Ask short questions.¿Es grave? (Is it serious?) ¿Qué hago? (What do I do?)

A Mini Script You Can Copy In Real Life

Use this as a plug-and-play speech. Swap the details in brackets and keep the rest.

Hola. Tengo conjuntivitis. Me empezó [ayer / hace dos días]. Me pica y me arde. Está en [un ojo / los dos ojos]. ¿Necesito gotas o necesito ver a un médico?

Dígalo despacio, y señale su ojo si hace falta.

If You Need To Mention Contacts

Uso lentes de contacto, y hoy no los estoy usando. (I wear contact lenses, and today I’m not wearing them.)

If You Need To Mention Vision Changes

Veo borroso y me molesta la luz. (I see blurry and light bothers me.)

When To Seek Care Right Away

Pink eye can be mild, yet some signs call for urgent care. If you have severe eye pain, strong light sensitivity, vision loss, a chemical splash, a recent injury, or symptoms in a newborn, get medical help right away. If you wear contact lenses and your eye is red or painful, seek care quickly.

Knowing the words won’t fix the problem by itself. Still, it can help you get the right next step sooner, in Spanish today, without guessing.