At a Doctor’s Appointment in Brazil: Explain What You Need — Practice

Explain the reason for your appointment simply

At reception, say that you have an appointment, give your name, and explain whether you are there for a consultation or follow-up. Consulta is an appointment or medical consultation, and retorno is a follow-up visit. Staff can tell you which forms or identification they need.

When speaking with a clinician, a short description can include where you feel discomfort, when it began, and what changes you have noticed. These phrases are communication practice only; they do not replace professional assessment or emergency care.

Ask for clarification and confirm next steps

If you do not understand a question or instruction, ask the clinician to repeat it more slowly or explain one word. You can also repeat the main point in your own words and ask whether you understood correctly. Clear clarification is more useful than pretending you understood.

For medication, tests, or follow-up plans, ask the clinician or pharmacist to explain the specific instructions. Do not rely on a phrase list to make health decisions; use it to communicate with the qualified professional responsible for your care.

Remember: Use short, factual phrases to describe what you need and ask questions. Let a qualified medical professional assess symptoms and explain care.

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.

1. I have an appointment scheduled for ten.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Tenho uma consulta marcada para as dez.

2. The pain started last night.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   A dor começou ontem à noite.

3. I’m having difficulty explaining in Portuguese.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estou com dificuldade para explicar em português.

4. Could you repeat that more slowly, please?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode repetir mais devagar, por favor?

5. I understood that I need to come back next week. Is that right?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Entendi que preciso voltar na próxima semana. Está certo?

6. Could you explain that word?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode explicar essa palavra?

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.

Use short, factual phrases to describe what you need and ask questions. Let a qualified medical professional assess symptoms and explain care.

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 At a Doctor’s Appointment in Brazil: Explain What You Need 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.