Your health is important.

So is talking to
a doctor in your
language.

Ask for an
interpreter.

An interpreter is someone on the healthcare team specially trained to help you talk with others who don’t speak your language.

Illustration of a patient talking with a nurse and a doctor

Watch a Video About Interpreters

Why Use an Interpreter

It’s your right to have an interpreter when you go to the doctor if you want one. And when it comes to your health, it’s important you, your doctor, and the other members of the healthcare team understand each other.

An interpreter:

Has learned the best way to help you and the healthcare team understand each other
Helps the healthcare team understand your needs, so you can get the best care possible
Is an expert in both English and your language
Knows about your culture
Helps to make sure your questions are answered, and that you know how to take care of your health
Is FREE to use (it’s your right under the laws of the United States)
Is trained to keep your information private

Did you know?

Illustration of overlapping speech bubbles, representing patients who speak limited English

More than 25 million patients in the United States don’t speak English very well.

U.S. Census Bureau (2022)

Illustration of a stressed healthcare worker next to a warning sign, representing medical errors

Serious mistakes that could affect a patient’s health are 2 times more likely to happen when a trained interpreter isn’t used.

Annals of Emergency Medicine (2012)

Illustration of two friends talking to each other

Friends and family are usually not trained to be medical interpreters and it’s best not to have them interpret for you.

Archives of Public Health (2024)

How to Get an Interpreter

Tell your doctor, nurse, or other staff what language you speak and then ask for an interpreter. You can also carry a card with you that says what language you speak and show it to your healthcare team! Get a card now.

Interpreters can help in 3 different ways

Phone screen showing a call in progress with an interpreter

By Phone

Video call screen showing an interpreter

By Video

In Person

Ask your doctor, nurse, or other staff which options they have available.

Get a WeSpeak Card

WeSpeak medical interpreter card in English

Get a WeSpeak card to use when you go to the doctor. It can tell everyone the language you speak.

Here’s how:

Pick a language from the dropdown below

Click “Save” to save the card to your phone or computer

When you go to the doctor, show them the card

Save

Common Questions About
Working With an Interpreter

Q
I speak some English. Do I still need an interpreter?
A
Yes! Even if you speak some English, it is helpful to hear information in your preferred language. Sometimes medical words are easier to understand in your own language. This can also help make sure the doctors and nurses fully understand what you are saying.
Q
How can I make sure I understand what the doctor is saying?
A
Tell the doctor, in your own words, what you understood they said. You could say something like, “I want to make sure I understood what you said. When I go home what I should do is.... am I understanding that right?
Q
What are the benefits of working with an interpreter?
A
Getting an interpreter helps make sure you get the best case possible and should not affect your care in a bad way. Serious mistakes that could affect a patient’s health (like the wrong dose of a medicine or diagnosis) are 2 times more likely to happen when a trained interpreter isn’t used.
Q
Why shouldn’t I use friends or family as interpreters?
A
Friends and family are usually not trained to be medical interpreters and it’s best not to have them interpret for you. It can also put them in a difficult position when they have to explain hard medical words or tell you bad news.

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About Us

WeSpeak is a project that comes from a partnership between NYU Grossman School of Medicine, NYC Health+Hospitals, and multiple community organizations with the goal of improving language access services for everyone.