At a Doctor’s Office in Brazil: Describe Symptoms and Ask Questions — Practice

Describe what you feel and when it began

A doctor’s office is consultório; a medical appointment is consulta. To explain a symptom, say estou com… (I have…) or sinto… (I feel…). Add when it started and whether it has changed. This language helps you communicate; a qualified health professional should assess symptoms and treatment.

Dói aqui means it hurts here. Use desde ontem (since yesterday), há três dias (for three days), or começou hoje (it started today) to give a timeline. If you do not know a medical word, point to the area and describe the sensation in simple terms.

Ask the clinician to explain the next step

Ask for repetition or simpler wording if you missed an instruction. Você pode explicar de outro jeito? means Can you explain it another way? Write down medication names or follow-up details and confirm them with the clinician or pharmacist.

Mention allergies and current medication clearly. Use tenho alergia a… for I am allergic to… and estou tomando… for I am taking…. Share accurate information and ask a professional about any uncertainty.

Remember: State the symptom, location, and timeline in plain language, then ask the clinician to repeat or explain instructions. This vocabulary supports communication and does not replace professional medical advice.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. I’ve had a headache since yesterday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou com dor de cabeça desde ontem.

2. I feel a sharp pain in this area.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Sinto uma dor forte nesta região.

3. The cough began three days ago.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A tosse começou há três dias.

4. I’m allergic to this medication.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho alergia a este medicamento.

5. I’m taking this medicine.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou tomando este remédio.

6. Can you explain how I should take it?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Você pode explicar como devo tomar?

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

State the symptom, location, and timeline in plain language, then ask the clinician to repeat or explain instructions. This vocabulary supports communication and does not replace professional medical advice.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our At a Doctor’s Office in Brazil: Describe Symptoms and Ask Questions lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.