How to Call in Sick at Work in Brazilian Portuguese — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
State that you cannot work today
A useful absence message says what the team needs to know: you are unwell, you cannot work or will have limited availability, and you will follow the workplace's normal process. You do not have to describe private symptoms in a group chat.
Use não vou conseguir trabalhar hoje (I will not be able to work today) for a clear statement. If you may be able to check messages later, say that only if it is realistic.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Bom dia. Estou doente e não vou conseguir trabalhar hoje. | Good morning. I’m sick and won’t be able to work today. |
| Acordei passando mal e preciso descansar. | I woke up feeling unwell and need to rest. |
| Hoje vou ficar indisponível para as reuniões. | I’ll be unavailable for meetings today. |
Ask how to register the absence
Workplaces have different procedures for notifying a manager, recording an absence, or sharing documentation. Ask what your own organization requires instead of assuming one policy applies everywhere.
You can keep the question short and send it through the channel your team normally uses. If the process is already clear, follow it and avoid sending the same private details to a large group.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Qual é o procedimento para registrar minha ausência? | What is the procedure for recording my absence? |
| Preciso avisar mais alguém da equipe? | Do I need to notify anyone else on the team? |
| Você pode me informar se preciso enviar algum documento? | Could you let me know whether I need to send any documentation? |
Hand off urgent work without promising too much
If one task cannot wait, identify the file or next step and ask whether someone can cover it. You can offer a brief handoff if you are able, but do not promise to work while you need to rest.
Separate a useful work note from health details. A teammate may only need to know where a draft is saved, which customer is waiting, or when a meeting needs to be moved.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| O relatório está na pasta compartilhada, na versão de ontem. | The report is in the shared folder, in yesterday’s version. |
| A reunião das dez talvez precise ser remarcada. | The ten o’clock meeting may need to be rescheduled. |
| Se for urgente, a Camila tem o contexto do projeto. | If it is urgent, Camila has the project context. |
Share an update when you know what is realistic
If your availability changes, send a concise follow-up. Use assim que eu tiver uma previsão (as soon as I have an estimate) rather than guessing when you will feel better or return.
These phrases help with workplace communication; follow the guidance from your employer or healthcare professional for your individual situation.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Aviso você assim que tiver uma previsão de retorno. | I’ll let you know as soon as I have an estimate for returning. |
| Ainda não sei se estarei disponível amanhã. | I don’t know yet whether I’ll be available tomorrow. |
| Obrigada pela compreensão. Vou descansar hoje. | Thank you for understanding. I’m going to rest today. |
Remember: Report your availability, ask about the workplace process, and share only the work details the team needs.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
Good morning. I’m sick and won’t be able to work today.
Show a Portuguese answer
Bom dia. Estou doente e não vou conseguir trabalhar hoje.
I woke up feeling unwell and need to rest.
Show a Portuguese answer
Acordei passando mal e preciso descansar.
I’ll be unavailable for meetings today.
Show a Portuguese answer
Hoje vou ficar indisponível para as reuniões.
What is the procedure for recording my absence?
Show a Portuguese answer
Qual é o procedimento para registrar minha ausência?
Do I need to notify anyone else on the team?
Show a Portuguese answer
Preciso avisar mais alguém da equipe?
Could you let me know whether I need to send any documentation?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você pode me informar se preciso enviar algum documento?
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Report your availability, ask about the workplace process, and share only the work details the team needs.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our How to Call in Sick at Work in Brazilian Portuguese lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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