Portuguese · Centro de Saúde
Ask for a prescription and understand that the code arrives by SMS: what to say in Portuguese
The doctor has prescribed medication, and you want to understand how to get the prescription.
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How it's done. Prescriptions are usually electronic: the codes arrive by SMS, and you take them to the pharmacy.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
Pode passar-me a receita?
Pod puh-SAHR-m uh rih-SAY-tuh?
Can you write me a prescription?
THEY SAY
A receita vai por mensagem para o seu telemóvel.Uh rih-SAY-tuh vigh poor mayn-SAH-zhayn pruh oo seh-oo tlih-MOH-vel.
The prescription will be sent by message to your phone.
They might also say:
Já está. Recebe os códigos por SMS.
Zhah shtah. Rih-SEB oosh KOH-dee-goosh poor es-em-es.
It's done. You'll receive the codes by SMS.
2
YOU REPLY
E depois vou à farmácia com os códigos?
Ee dih-POYZH voh uh fuhr-MAH-syuh kohn oosh KOH-dee-goosh?
And then I go to the pharmacy with the codes?
THEY SAY
Isso, mostra a mensagem na farmácia.EE-soo, MOSH-truh uh mayn-SAH-zhayn nuh fuhr-MAH-syuh.
That's right, you show the message at the pharmacy.
3
YOU REPLY
Quantas vezes por dia tomo?
KWAHN-tuhzh VEH-zish poor DEE-uh TOH-moo?
How many times a day do I take it?
THEY SAY
Um comprimido de oito em oito horas.Oon kohn-prih-MEE-doo d OY-too ayn OY-too OH-ruhsh.
One tablet every eight hours.
4
YOU FINISH
Muito obrigado!
MWEE-too oh-bree-GAH-doo!
Thank you very much!
Or say:Obrigado, até logo!
oh-bree-GAH-doo, uh-TEH LOH-goo!
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
Pode
Pod
verb
can
passar-me
puh-SAHR-m
verb
to write me out (a prescription)
receita
rih-SAY-tuh
noun
prescription
vai
vigh
verb
goes
mensagem
mayn-SAH-zhayn
noun
message (SMS)
telemóvel
tlih-MOH-vel
noun
mobile phone
28 more words, with explanations, base forms and tap-a-word help, are in the app.
If you did not understand
Pode falar mais devagar, por favor?
Pod fuh-LAHR mighzh dvuh-GAHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you speak more slowly, please?
Desculpe, não percebi.
Dish-KOOLP, now pir-sih-BEE.
Sorry, I didn't understand.
Similar situations
Ask for a sick note for workCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
→Book your child in for a vaccination with the nurseCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
→Reschedule or cancel an appointment by phoneCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
→You did not understand the doctor: ask for a simpler explanationCentro de Saúde · A1 in the app
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report