Carl and I recently spent 12 amazing days in Toulouse, France. Carl’s father lives there and we had a special family reunion to see Carl’s 80-year-old grandmother who was coming to visit from Zimbabwe. It was truly wonderful.

One day we walked into a pharmacy to get something for Carl’s grandma. Thankfully Carl’s Dad has been in Toulouse for a few years and can speak French. But as I was watching the conversation, I thought: What if I feel sick in France and need help? I would like to be able to communicate at least some basic health concerns and needs.

That thought inspired this lesson on health-related vocabulary.

I certainly hope that you enjoy Brazil in your best health! But what if you get sick in Brazil? Or maybe you would like to tell a friend or pharmacist that you are not feeling well. It would be useful to be able to explain what you are feeling in order to get over-the-counter medicine, right?

In this lesson, you will learn:

16 health-related words
17 useful phrases related to the most common illnesses and symptoms that may afflict travelers.

After this lesson, you will be able to express your needs if you need to speak with a doctor or pharmacist.

I am giving you a lot of new words and phrases here. Be sure to practice! Regular practice is the best way – maybe the only way – to make vocabulary easily available in your brain for the times when you need it. You know you can always book a lesson with Street Smart Brazil to practice and advance your Portuguese, right?

Here’s the video lesson:

First, a Fun Word

This is how we represent the sound of a sneeze: Atchim!

When someone sneezes, you say: Saúde! = Health!

Saúde is also what we say when we make a toast – with drinks I mean, not with bread 🙂

16 Health-Related Words in Portuguese

Here are 16 useful words to talk about your health in Portuguese:

O médico/ A médica = doctor, physician
O enfermeiro/A enfermeira = nurse
O hospital = hospital
A farmácia = pharmacy
O remédio = medicine
O comprimido = pill
A cápsula = capsule
O xarope = syrup
A tosse = cough (noun )
Tossir = to cough
O espirro = sneeze (noun)
Espirrar = to sneeze
A consulta médica = medical appointment
A receita médica = medical prescription
A vitamina = vitamine
O seguro de saúde = health insurance

Please notice: Just as in English, we use Dr. in front of the physician’s name. In Portuguese, it is Doutor. However, we use the word médico for physician. For example:

Ana: Ontem eu fui ao médico.

Rui: Quem é o seu médico?

Ana: Dr. Carlos Paz.

Translation:

Ana: I went to the doctor yesterday.

Rui: Who is your doctor?

Ana: Dr. Carlos Paz.