Portuguese · Secretaria
Explain an absence and bring a note: what to say in Portuguese
Your child missed school, and you need to explain the absence.
💡
How it's done. Absences are explained in writing in the diary (caderneta) or on the school platform - within the deadline the school sets.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
Venho justificar as faltas da minha filha.
VEH-nyoo zhoosh-tee-fee-KAHR uhsh FAHL-tuhsh duh MEE-nyuh FEE-lyuh.
I've come to justify my daughter's absences.
Or say:Ele faltou três dias porque esteve doente.
El fuhl-TOH trezh DEE-uhsh poork shtev doo-AYNT.
THEY SAY
Tem a declaração médica?Tayn uh dih-kluh-ruh-SOW MEH-dee-kuh?
Do you have the doctor's note?
2
YOU REPLY
Sim, está aqui.
Seen, shtah uh-KEE.
Yes, here it is.
THEY SAY
Escreva aqui o motivo e assine.SHKREH-vuh uh-KEE oo moo-TEE-voo ee uh-SEEN.
Write the reason here and sign.
They might also say:
Escreva aqui o motivo e assine, se faz favor.
SHKREH-vuh uh-KEE oo moo-TEE-voo ee uh-SEEN s fahsh fuh-VOR.
Please write the reason here and sign.
3
YOU REPLY
Pode ajudar-me a escrever?
Pod uh-zhoo-DAHR-m uh shkrih-VEHR?
Can you help me write it?
THEY SAY
Claro, eu ajudo.KLAH-roo, eh-oo uh-ZHOO-doo.
Of course, I'll help.
4
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
Venho
VEH-nyoo
verb
(I) come, I will come
justificar
zhoosh-tee-fee-KAHR
verb
to explain (an absence)
faltas
FAHL-tuhsh
noun
absences (from lessons)
filha
FEE-lyuh
noun
daughter
Tem
Tayn
verb
have
declaração
dih-kluh-ruh-SOW
noun
certificate, declaration
20 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?
Similar situations
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