Portuguese · Centro de Saúde
Explain to the doctor what hurts and since when: what to say in Portuguese
You're at the appointment and have to explain to the doctor what hurts and since when.
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How it's done. The simplest formula: Dói-me... + the place. Dói-me a cabeça - my head hurts, dói-me a barriga - my stomach hurts.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
THEY SPEAK FIRST
THEY SAY
Então, o que se passa?Ayn-TOW, oo k s PAH-suh?
So, what's the matter?
They might also say:
Diga-me, o que é que sente?
DEE-guh-m, oo k eh k saynt?
Tell me, what are you feeling?
YOU REPLY
Dói-me a cabeça.
Doy-m uh kuh-BEH-suh.
My head hurts.
THEY SAY
Desde quando?Dezhd KWAHN-doo?
Since when?
They might also say:
Há quanto tempo?
Uh KWAHN-too TEM-poo?
For how long?
2
YOU REPLY
Desde ontem.
Dezhd OHN-tayn.
Since yesterday.
Or say:Há três dias.
Uh trezh DEE-uhsh.
Or say:Há uma semana.
Uh OO-muh sih-MAH-nuh.
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
Então
Ayn-TOW
adverb
then
passa
PAH-suh
verb
happens (o que se passa - what's going on)
Dói-me
Doy-m
verb
hurts me (I have pain in)
cabeça
kuh-BEH-suh
noun
head
quando
KWAHN-doo
adverb
when
ontem
OHN-tayn
adverb
yesterday
8 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
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→The doctor asks about allergies and the medicines you takeCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
→Ask for a prescription and understand that the code arrives by SMSCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
→Ask for a sick note for workCentro de Saúde · A2 in the app
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