Portuguese · Centro de Saúde
Ask for a sick note for work: what to say in Portuguese
Illness stops you working, and you need a sick note for work.
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How it's done. A sick note in Portuguese is baixa médica; the doctor issues it, and often a message with the document number is enough for your employer.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
Preciso de baixa médica para o trabalho.
Prih-SIH-zoo d BIGH-shuh MEH-dee-kuh pruh oo truh-BAH-lyoo.
I need a sick note for work.
Or say:Pode dar-me um atestado?
Pod dahr-m oon uh-tish-TAH-doo?
THEY SAY
Vou passar a baixa por três dias.Voh puh-SAHR uh BIGH-shuh poor trezh DEE-uhsh.
I'll issue the sick note for three days.
They might also say:
Passo-lhe a baixa por três dias.
PAH-soo-ly uh BIGH-shuh poor trezh DEE-uhsh.
I'll give you three days of sick leave.
2
YOU REPLY
Como é que a minha empresa recebe?
KOH-moo eh k uh MEE-nyuh em-PREH-zuh rih-SEB?
How does my company receive it?
THEY SAY
É eletrónico, vai direto para a Segurança Social.Eh ih-lih-TROH-nee-koo, vigh dih-REH-too pruh uh sih-goo-RAHN-suh soo-see-AHL.
It's electronic, it goes straight to Social Security.
3
YOU REPLY
Preciso de um papel?
Prih-SIH-zoo d oon puh-PEL?
Do I need a paper document?
THEY SAY
Dou-lhe uma declaração para a empresa.Doh-ly OO-muh dih-kluh-ruh-SOW pruh uh em-PREH-zuh.
I'll give you a declaration for the company.
4
YOU FINISH
Obrigado, até logo!
oh-bree-GAH-doo, uh-TEH LOH-goo!
Thank you, see you later!
Or say:Obrigado!
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
Preciso
Prih-SIH-zoo
verb
(I) need
baixa
BIGH-shuh
noun
sick leave
médica
MEH-dee-kuh
adjective
medical
trabalho
truh-BAH-lyoo
noun
work
Vou
Voh
verb
(I) go
passar
puh-SAHR
verb
to pass
26 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?
Pode escrever, por favor?
Pod shkrih-VEHR, poor fuh-VOR?
Can you write it down, please?
Similar situations
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
→Register at the Centro de Saúde and get a número de utenteCentro de Saúde · A2✓ Fully open
→Found a mistake? Write to us and we will fix it. This is language help, not medical or legal advice.Report