Spanish
Grade 9
15 min
Me duele... (My... hurts)
Learn to express where you have pain (Me duele la cabeza).
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Correctly use the verb 'doler' with all indirect object pronouns (me, te, le, nos, os, les).
Differentiate between 'duele' (singular) and 'duelen' (plural) based on the body part.
Identify and name at least 15 common body parts in Spanish.
Construct complex sentences explaining why a body part hurts (e.g., 'Me duele la cabeza porque no dorm铆 bien').
Use definite articles (el, la, los, las) instead of possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su) when referring to body parts with 'doler'.
Recognize simple subjunctive triggers related to health, such as 'Espero que no te duela la garganta'.
隆Ay! 馃 Te caes mientras juegas al f煤tbol. 驴C贸mo le dices al entrenador exactamente qu茅 te pas贸 y d贸nde sientes el dolor...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
DolerA verb that means 'to hurt' or 'to ache'. It functions like 'gustar', where the thing that hurts is the subject of the sentence, not the person feeling the pain.Me duele la cabeza. (My head hurts.) - 'La cabeza' is the subject causing the pain.
Pronombre de Objeto Indirecto (Indirect Object Pronoun)A pronoun that indicates who is experiencing the pain. It always comes before the verb 'doler'.A ella le duelen los pies. (Her feet hurt.) - 'le' is the indirect object pronoun for 'ella'.
Concordancia (Agreement)The grammatical rule that the verb 'doler' must match the noun (the body part) in number (singular or plural).Me duele el est贸mago (singular). Me duelen los ojos (plural).
Art铆cul...
3
Grammar Rules & Patterns
The 'Doler' Formula
(A + persona) + [Pronombre de Objeto Indirecto] + [duele/duelen] + [art铆culo definido] + [parte del cuerpo singular/plural].
This is the fundamental structure for any sentence using 'doler'. Start with the optional clarifier, add the mandatory indirect object pronoun, choose the correct form of 'doler', and finish with the article and body part.
Duele vs. Duelen
Use 'duele' for one body part. Use 'duelen' for two or more body parts.
The verb conjugation depends entirely on whether the body part is singular or plural. It does not depend on the person feeling the pain.
Indirect Object Pronouns for 'Doler'
me (I), te (you, informal), le (he/she/you, formal), nos (we), os (you all, Spain), les...
4 more steps in this tutorial
Sign up free to access the complete tutorial with worked examples and practice.
Sign Up Free to ContinueSample Practice Questions
Challenging
Which sentence is the most grammatically complex and entirely correct expression of hope?
A.Espero que a tu abuelo no le duele las rodillas.
B.Espero que a tu abuelo no le duelan sus rodillas.
C.Espero que a tu abuelo no le duelan las rodillas.
D.Espero que tu abuelo no duele las rodillas.
Challenging
A friend tells you, 'A mi hermano le duelen mucho los ojos y la cabeza.' What is the most likely cause?
A.Corri贸 una marat贸n.
B.Comi贸 demasiado.
C.Pas贸 diez horas mirando una pantalla.
D.Levant贸 pesas en el gimnasio.
Challenging
Given the sentence 'Yo tengo un dolor de muelas,' which is the most accurate and common way to rephrase it using the verb 'doler'?
A.Me duele las muelas.
B.m铆 me duelen las muelas.
C.Yo duelo de las muelas.
D.Las muelas me duelen a yo.
Want to practice and check your answers?
Sign up to access all questions with instant feedback, explanations, and progress tracking.
Start Practicing Free