Pharmacy & Health

1. Tem algum remédio para dor de cabeça?

   Do you have headache medicine?

   Usage

   Ask for headache medicine at a Portuguese-speaking pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Remédio" is common in Brazilian Portuguese. In Portugal, "medicamento" is more standard

2. Preciso de um remédio para o estômago

   I need stomach medicine

   Usage

   Use when you need stomach medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Preciso de..." = "I need..." is the standard way to request something in Portuguese

3. Preciso de um antidiarreico

   I need anti-diarrhea medicine

   Usage

   Ask for anti-diarrhea medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Remédio para diarreia" (medicine for diarrhea) is also clear. "Diarreia" is used in both Brazil and Portugal

4. Estou com febre

   I have a fever

   Usage

   Tell the pharmacist you have a fever

   Grammar Note

   "Estar com febre" = have a fever. Using "estar" (temporary state) is the idiomatic way to describe symptoms

5. Tenho alergia

   I have an allergy

   Usage

   Inform the pharmacist about your allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Tenho alergia" = "I have an allergy" (ter + alergia); add "a + cause" to name it ("Tenho alergia a penicilina"). "Sou alérgico/a a..." = "I am allergic to...". "Alérgico" for males, "alérgica" for females

6. Preciso de curativo

   I need bandages/plasters

   Usage

   Ask for bandages or plasters at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Brazil uses "curativo", Portugal uses "penso rápido" or "band-aid" for adhesive bandages

7. Preciso de repelente de insetos

   I need insect repellent

   Usage

   Ask for insect repellent at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   "Repelente de mosquitos" (mosquito repellent) is more specific. Brands like "Off!" are also recognized in Brazil

8. Preciso de protetor solar

   I need sunscreen

   Usage

   Ask for sunscreen at a pharmacy

   Grammar Note

   Same in both Brazil and Portugal. FPS (fator de proteção solar) is the Portuguese equivalent of SPF

9. Como devo tomar este medicamento?

   How do I take this medicine?

   Usage

   Ask the pharmacist how to take the medicine

   Grammar Note

   "Tomar" is used for taking medicine. "Quantas vezes por dia?" (how many times per day?) is a useful follow-up

10. Preciso de receita médica?

    Do I need a prescription?

    Usage

    Check if a prescription is needed

    Grammar Note

    "Com receita" (with prescription) vs "sem receita" (without prescription/OTC) are common pharmacy terms

11. o termômetro

    Thermometer

    Usage

    Point to it when buying one at a pharmacy; Portugal spells it "termómetro"

12. a atadura

    Bandage

    Usage

    The roll-on kind; Portugal says "a ligadura". A sticking plaster is "o penso rápido" (PT) / "o curativo" (BR)

13. o antisséptico

    Antiseptic

    Usage

    Ask for wound disinfectant; Portugal also uses "o desinfetante"

14. a máscara cirúrgica

    Surgical mask

    Usage

    "Máscara" alone can mean a carnival mask or a beauty face pack, so "cirúrgica" pins it down

15. os absorventes higiênicos

    Sanitary pads

    Usage

    Point to it at a pharmacy or supermarket; Portugal says "os pensos higiénicos". Tampons are "os tampões"

16. o preservativo

    Condom

    Usage

    The standard word in both Portugal and Brazil; the Brazilian colloquial word is "a camisinha"

17. o colírio

    Eye drops

    Usage

    Ask for eye drops at a pharmacy; the same word in Portugal and Brazil

18. o emplastro

    Medicated patch

    Usage

    The pain-relief patch you stick on a shoulder or back; Brazil also says "o adesivo analgésico"

19. o antitérmico

    Fever reducer

    Usage

    Ask for something to bring a fever down; Portugal says "o antipirético", and "remédio para a febre" works anywhere

20. Preciso de um laxante

    I need a laxative

    Usage

    Ask for a laxative at a pharmacy when constipated

    Grammar Note

    The frame of Preciso de um antidiarreico. Laxante is a mild purgative, synonymous with laxativo. Constipation is prisão de ventre; in Portugal constipação means a cold, so avoid it at the pharmacy too.

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