How to Explain a Medication Allergy in 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 the allergy before discussing treatment
Use tenho alergia a… (I am allergic to…) and name the medicine as it appears on the package or medical record. If you are unsure whether the reaction was an allergy, describe what happened and ask the healthcare professional to assess it.
Do not rely on a brand-name guess if you know the active ingredient. Show the label or a reliable record so the professional can identify the substance.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Tenho alergia a este medicamento. | I’m allergic to this medicine. |
| O nome está escrito nesta embalagem. | The name is written on this package. |
| Não sei se foi uma alergia, mas tive esta reação. | I don’t know whether it was an allergy, but I had this reaction. |
Describe what happened without adding a diagnosis
Explain the reaction you remember, when it began, and whether you sought care. Use plain words such as coceira (itching), inchaço (swelling), or manchas na pele (skin spots) only when they accurately describe your experience.
If you do not know the medical name for a symptom, point to the affected area or describe it in everyday language. The clinician can ask follow-up questions.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Depois de tomar, senti coceira na pele. | After taking it, I felt itchy skin. |
| Meu rosto inchou algumas horas depois. | My face swelled a few hours later. |
| A reação começou no mesmo dia. | The reaction began on the same day. |
Ask how the information will be recorded
Ask the professional to add the information to your record and confirm the medicine name with you. You can also ask whether the same ingredient appears under another brand name.
Do not independently stop or substitute a prescribed medicine based only on a phrase guide. Ask the clinician or pharmacist for advice about your individual treatment.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Você pode registrar essa informação no meu prontuário? | Could you record this information in my medical file? |
| Esse princípio ativo aparece com outro nome? | Does this active ingredient appear under another name? |
| Pode confirmar o nome do medicamento que anotou? | Could you confirm the name of the medicine you wrote down? |
Keep a note you can show at another appointment
If the clinician confirms the information, ask how you can keep it available for future care. A written note or updated record can help you communicate consistently when you see another professional.
If you have had a severe or rapidly worsening reaction, seek urgent medical help through local services rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Você pode escrever esta informação para eu guardar? | Could you write this information down for me to keep? |
| Vou mostrar esta anotação em outras consultas. | I’ll show this note at other appointments. |
| Quem devo avisar se receber atendimento em outro lugar? | Whom should I tell if I receive care somewhere else? |
Remember: Name the medicine, describe your own reaction accurately, and ask a professional to document it.
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.
I’m allergic to this medicine.
Show a Portuguese answer
Tenho alergia a este medicamento.
The name is written on this package.
Show a Portuguese answer
O nome está escrito nesta embalagem.
I don’t know whether it was an allergy, but I had this reaction.
Show a Portuguese answer
Não sei se foi uma alergia, mas tive esta reação.
After taking it, I felt itchy skin.
Show a Portuguese answer
Depois de tomar, senti coceira na pele.
My face swelled a few hours later.
Show a Portuguese answer
Meu rosto inchou algumas horas depois.
The reaction began on the same day.
Show a Portuguese answer
A reação começou no mesmo dia.
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.
Name the medicine, describe your own reaction accurately, and ask a professional to document it.
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 Explain a Medication Allergy in 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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