Portuguese · Farmácia
Ask for a cheaper equivalent (a generic): what to say in Portuguese
Prescription medicines are expensive, and you want to ask about a cheaper equivalent.
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How it's done. A generic in Portuguese is genérico; by law the pharmacy must tell you if there's a cheaper option.Prepared by the Movko team, November 2026. This is language help, not legal or medical advice: check the rules with the office itself.
Cheat sheet for your visit
The first phrase is open: tap ▶ to listen, or “Show” to show it to the other person. The rest of the dialogue is in the course in the app.
1
YOU START
Há um genérico mais barato?
Uh oon zhih-NEH-ree-koo mighzh buh-RAH-too?
Is there a cheaper generic?
Or say:Tem alguma coisa mais em conta?
Tayn uhl-GOO-muh KOY-zuh mighz ayn KOHN-tuh?
THEY SAY
Sim, este é igual e custa metade.Seen, esht eh ee-GWAHL ee KOOSH-tuh mih-TAHD.
Yes, this one is the same and costs half.
They might also say:
Sim, há um igual por metade do preço.
Seen, uh oon ee-GWAHL poor mih-TAHD doo PREH-soo.
Yes, there is an identical one at half the price.
2
YOU REPLY
Então levo o genérico.
Ayn-TOW LEH-voo oo zhih-NEH-ree-koo.
Then I'll take the generic.
THEY SAY
Muito bem.MWEE-too bayn.
Very good.
They might also say:
Perfeito.
pir-FAY-too.
Perfect.
3
YOU FINISH
Obrigado!
oh-bree-GAH-doo!
Thank you!
Or say:Muito obrigado!
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo!
The course is in the app
This dialogue is part of the course “Portuguese for life in Portugal”: 416 situations with audio, a pronunciation guide and spaced review.
On the website the first dialogue, the 112 category, the rescue phrases and the “Basics” are fully open.
Words worth knowing
Há
Uh
verb
there is, there are
genérico
zhih-NEH-ree-koo
noun
generic (a cheaper equivalent of a medicine)
mais
mighzh
adverb
more
barato
buh-RAH-too
adjective
cheap
Sim
Seen
adverb
yes
é
eh
verb
is
12 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Desculpe, não percebi.
Dish-KOOLP, now pir-sih-BEE.
Sorry, I didn't understand.
Similar situations
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