3 Different Meanings of the Word Receita in Portuguese

My client Greg brought up in class the word Receita. You might be surprised to find out more about the meaning of receita in Portuguese. It has three different and unrelated meanings, all very useful.

1. Receita = Revenue

1)

A empresa de Joana tem uma receita de meio milhão de reais por ano.

= Joana’s business has revenue of half a million reais per year.

2)

A Google tem receita anual de vários bilhões de dólares.

= Google has annual revenue of several billion dollars.

3)

A empresa está no vermelho. Eles precisam aumentar a receita e reduzir os custos.

= The company is in the red. They need to increase its revenue and reduce its costs.

• How to Say What you Need in Portuguese: Verb Precisar – Video lesson

 

2. Receita = Recipe

1)

Tenho uma receita deliciosa de moqueca.

= I have a delicious recipe for moqueca.

2)

Essa moqueca é uma receita de família. Você tem que provar.

= This moqueca is a family recipe. You need to try it.

• Learn How to Say To Try Food & To Try on Clothes in Portuguese. Includes videos on how to cook Moqueca and Feijoada!

3)

Qual é a sua receita para o sucesso?

= What is your recipe for success?

 

3. Receita = Prescription

1)

Você precisa de receita médica para comprar esse remédio.

= You need a doctor’s prescription to buy this medicine.

• Learn the difference between Este and Esse in Portuguese. Also learn how to use Essa, Esta, Isso, Isto, Aquele, Aquela, Aquilo

2)

Não entendo a letra do médico nesta receita.

= I don’t understand the doctor’s handwriting in this prescription.

3)

Não encontro a minha receita de óculos.

= I cannot find my eyeglasses prescription.

 

Related Vocabulary

Notice that we say “medico” for “doctor”. We do not say “doutor”.

However when we are talking to, or about, the doctor, we use the title “Doutor” before his/her name.

So, I would not say “Preciso ir ao doutor”. I would say:

• Preciso ir ao médico. = I need to go to the doctor.

The verb Receitar (= to prescribe) is a regular verb.

• O médico receitou várias vitaminas. = The doctor prescribed several vitamins.

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