Health and the Pharmacy in Portuguese
Words for body parts and common ailments, plus phrases for the pharmacy, the doctor and emergencies.
Knowing how to describe how you feel can be very important when travelling.
Body parts
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| cabeça | head |
| olho | eye |
| ouvido / orelha | ear |
| nariz | nose |
| boca | mouth |
| dente | tooth |
| garganta | throat |
| braço | arm |
| mão | hand |
| perna | leg |
| pé | foot |
| barriga / estômago | stomach |
| costas | back |
Saying what hurts
Use doer ("to hurt") or ter dor de:
- Dói-me a cabeça. / Minha cabeça dói. — My head hurts.
- Tenho dor de cabeça. — I have a headache.
- Tenho dor de estômago. — I have a stomach ache.
- Tenho dor de garganta. — I have a sore throat.
- Dói aqui. — It hurts here.
Illnesses
| Portuguese | Meaning |
|---|---|
| febre | fever |
| tosse | cough |
| gripe | flu |
| resfriado / constipação | cold (BR / PT) |
| alergia | allergy |
| náusea | nausea |
Constipado in Portugal means "having a cold", not "constipated" as in English.
At the pharmacy
The farmácia is marked by a green cross. Pharmacists can advise on minor problems.
- Preciso de algo para dor de cabeça. — I need something for a headache.
- Tem algo para a tosse? — Do you have something for a cough?
- Preciso de receita? — Do I need a prescription?
- Quantas vezes por dia? — How many times a day?
At the doctor
- Preciso de um médico. — I need a doctor.
- Estou doente. — I'm ill.
- Estou com febre. — I have a fever.
- Sou alérgico / alérgica a penicilina. — I'm allergic to penicillin.
Emergencies
- Socorro! — Help!
- Chame uma ambulância! — Call an ambulance!
- In Brazil, dial 192 for an ambulance. In Portugal and across Europe, dial 112.
Wishing well
- Melhoras! — Get well soon!
Tips
- Learn "tenho dor de..."
- Note Brazil-Portugal differences (resfriado/constipação).
- Use the dictionary to check terms.
English Portuguese Dictionary
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