Health & Hospital

54 phrases · Portuguese with romanization, English and audio

  1. Estou com dor de cabeça

    I have a headache

    Usage

    Used to tell a doctor or pharmacist about a headache

    Grammar Note

    "Estar com" is used for symptoms. Swap: "dor de barriga" (stomachache), "dor de garganta" (sore throat)

  2. Preciso de um médico

    I need a doctor

    Usage

    Used in urgent situations or when feeling ill to request a doctor

    Grammar Note

    "Precisar de" means to need. Don't forget "de". Same structure: "Preciso de ajuda" (I need help)

  3. Onde fica a farmácia mais próxima?

    Where is the nearest pharmacy?

    Usage

    Used when you need medicine and want to find the closest pharmacy

    Grammar Note

    In Brazil: "farmácia" or "drogaria". Portuguese pharmacies display a green cross sign

  4. Sou alérgico/a ao amendoim

    I am allergic to peanuts

    Usage

    Critical phrase to inform doctors or restaurant staff about a nut allergy

    Grammar Note

    "Alérgico" (male) / "alérgica" (female). Swap: "a frutos do mar" (seafood), "ao glúten" (gluten)

  5. Estou com febre

    I have a fever

    Usage

    Basic phrase to report a fever to a doctor or those around you

    Grammar Note

    Add temperature for precision: "Tenho 38 graus de febre" (I have a 38-degree fever)

  6. Ligue para o SAMU

    Call the emergency medical service

    Usage

    Used in Brazil to ask someone to call the emergency medical service (SAMU)

    Grammar Note

    Brazil: SAMU (192), Bombeiros/Fire (193). In Portugal, call 112 for all emergencies

  7. Estou enjoado/a

    I feel nauseous

    Usage

    Used to describe nausea to a doctor or travel companion

    Grammar Note

    "Enjoado/a" means nauseated or seasick. "Sinto náuseas" (I feel nausea) is an alternative

  8. Tem algum médico que fale inglês?

    Is there a doctor who speaks English?

    Usage

    Used by foreign travelers seeking an English-speaking doctor

    Grammar Note

    "Que fale inglês" uses the subjunctive mood, expressing uncertainty about who might speak English

  9. Estou com diarreia

    I have diarrhea

    Usage

    Used to describe gastrointestinal symptoms to a doctor

    Grammar Note

    "Estar com + symptom noun" says you have that symptom ("diarreia" is the same in Brazil and Portugal)

  10. Preciso de uma receita médica

    I need a medical prescription

    Usage

    Used to request a prescription from a doctor for specific medication

    Grammar Note

    "Receita" means both "recipe" and "prescription". Ask a pharmacist: "Precisa de receita?" (Does it need a prescription?)

  11. Estou grávida

    I am pregnant

    Usage

    Show this before any exam or medication: it changes what drugs, X-rays and anaesthesia are safe

  12. a asma

    Asthma

    Usage

    Declare it as a pre-existing condition, or point to it during an attack when you cannot speak

  13. a diabetes

    Diabetes

    Usage

    Declare it as a pre-existing condition; Brazil often treats it as masculine, "o diabetes"

  14. a pressão alta

    High blood pressure

    Usage

    Declare it as a pre-existing condition; Portugal says "tensão alta", the clinical term is "hipertensão"

  15. a doença cardíaca

    Heart disease

    Usage

    Declare it as a pre-existing condition; it directly affects prescribing and anaesthesia

  16. a epilepsia

    Epilepsy

    Usage

    Declare it as a pre-existing condition; a companion can point to it on your behalf

  17. o seguro de saúde

    Health insurance

    Usage

    Point to it when reception asks about coverage; travel insurance is "o seguro de viagem"

  18. a receita médica

    Prescription

    Usage

    "Receita" alone also means a cooking recipe, so "médica" is kept to pin it to a prescription

  19. a farmácia

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    Point to it when asking for directions; in Brazil a non-dispensing shop may be called "drogaria"

  20. a fratura

    Fracture

    Usage

    Say you may have broken a bone; point at the painful spot at the same time

  21. falta de ar

    Shortness of breath

    Usage

    Point to it when you cannot get enough air to speak; it is triaged as urgent

  22. a tontura

    Dizziness

    Usage

    Report it as a symptom; Portugal usually says it in the plural, "tonturas"

  23. o sangramento

    Bleeding

    Usage

    Point at the bleeding spot as you show it; heavy bleeding is "a hemorragia", the usual word in Portugal

  24. a queimadura

    Burn

    Usage

    Ask for burn treatment; sunburn is "a queimadura de sol"

  25. a ferida

    Wound

    Usage

    Any open cut or graze; show it when asking to have it treated

  26. a tosse

    Cough

    Usage

    Report it as a symptom, or use it at a pharmacy to ask for cough medicine

  27. a coceira

    Itching

    Usage

    Point at the itchy area as you show it; Portugal says "a comichão"

  28. a erupção cutânea

    Rash

    Usage

    Use it to report an allergic reaction; show the affected skin at the same time

  29. a prisão de ventre

    Constipation

    Usage

    Use this at a pharmacy; never say "constipação" — in Portugal that means a head cold

  30. a menstruação

    Period (menstruation)

    Usage

    The standard word with a doctor or pharmacist; in everyday speech people say "estou menstruada"

  31. o ouvido

    Ear (inner ear)

    Usage

    Point here for earache; the outer ear is a different word, "a orelha", so use "o ouvido" for pain inside

  32. o pescoço

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at your own neck while showing the card

  33. o ombro

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at the painful shoulder; both shoulders is "os ombros"

  34. o joelho

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at the knee, e.g. after a sprain or a fall

  35. o dedo

    Finger

    Usage

    A finger; a toe is "o dedo do pé", so add "do pé" when you mean the foot

  36. a pele

    Skin

    Usage

    Use it when reporting a rash or other skin problem

  37. o braço

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at the arm, including when showing where a blood draw or injection goes

  38. o nariz

    Nose

    Usage

    Point here for a blocked nose or a nosebleed

  39. o tipo sanguíneo

    Blood type

    Usage

    Asked before a transfusion or an operation; show it together with your own group (A / B / AB / O and Rh). Portugal more often says "o grupo sanguíneo"

  40. o atestado médico

    Medical certificate

    Usage

    The paper you ask a doctor for to claim insurance or to prove an absence. "O atestado" broadly names any document issued to certify a fact, so say what you need it for

  41. a internação

    Hospital admission

    Usage

    For checking whether you have to be admitted, or when you are told that you will be (Brazilian form); Portugal says "o internamento". Outpatient care is "regime ambulatório"

  42. os calafrios

    Chills

    Usage

    For the cold shivering that comes as a high fever starts; used in the plural as a symptom. The synonym "o arrepio" also covers goosebumps from emotion or fear, so this word is safer in a medical setting

  43. o resfriado

    Common cold

    Usage

    Covers nose and throat symptoms together. Avoid a constipação: Portugal uses it for a cold, but it also has the meaning constipation.

  44. Chame um médico, por favor

    Please call a doctor

    Usage

    Ask a bystander to call a doctor when someone needs to be seen on the spot

    Grammar Note

    The frame of «Chame uma ambulância, por favor» with a different object. "Médico" is the noun from «Preciso de um médico»; if an ambulance is needed, use that card instead

  45. Estou com dor aqui

    It hurts here

    Usage

    Say this while pointing at the spot that hurts; it works even when you do not know the name of the body part

    Grammar Note

    The frame of «Estou com dor de cabeça» with the body-part phrase replaced by the adverb "aqui". "Estar com + symptom noun" is the standard way to report a symptom

  46. Sinto-me fraco

    My body feels sluggish

    Usage

    Describe a heavy, strengthless feeling to a doctor; it is distinct from ordinary tiredness that rest fixes ("Estou cansado")

    Grammar Note

    The frame of Sinto-me bem with another adjective. Fraco means lacking physical strength, useful to tell a doctor. A female speaker says fraca.

  47. Vomitei várias vezes

    I have vomited several times

    Usage

    Tell a doctor that you have been vomiting, and roughly how often

    Grammar Note

    The same simple past (-ei) as «Perdi o meu passaporte». "Vomitar" is glossed as forcing the contents of the stomach out through the mouth. For nausea without vomiting, use «Estou enjoado/a»

  48. Preciso de repouso?

    Do I need to rest?

    Usage

    Check with the doctor after an examination whether you need to rest

    Grammar Note

    The "precisar de + noun" frame of «Preciso de um médico» turned into a question; Portuguese questions keep the same word order and are marked by intonation. "Repouso" is glossed as rest, in the same field as the verb "descansar" used in «Estou cansado — podemos descansar um momento?»

  49. a diarreia

    Diarrhea

    Usage

    Names the symptom for a doctor or pharmacist. The word is "diarreia" in both Portugal and Brazil

  50. o cocó

    Poop

    Usage

    An informal everyday word for poop/excrement, the light word used with children. Brazil spells it cocô. In formal or clinical settings, as fezes (stools) is safer.

  51. o xixi

    Pee

    Usage

    The informal everyday word for pee/urine, spelled the same in Portugal and Brazil. In formal or clinical settings, a urina is safer.

  52. Estou com prisão de ventre

    I'm constipated

    Usage

    Tell a doctor or pharmacist that you are constipated

    Grammar Note

    The same "Estou com + symptom" frame as «Estou com diarreia». In Portugal "constipação" means a head cold, so do not use it («a prisão de ventre»). In Brazil "constipação intestinal" is also said

  53. Preciso de fazer xixi

    I need to pee

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to pee. A plain, neutral way to say it

    Grammar Note

    The frame of Preciso de um médico takes infinitive fazer xixi in place of the noun. Fazer xixi is informal for urinar (to urinate). Brazil normally drops de: Preciso fazer xixi.

  54. Preciso de fazer cocó

    I need to poop

    Usage

    Tell a companion or a child that you need to poop. A plain, neutral way to say it

    Grammar Note

    The frame of Preciso de fazer xixi. Fazer cocó is informal for evacuar/defecar, as when a child uses a potty (penico). In Brazil: Preciso fazer cocô.

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