EMERGÊNCIA
/eh-mer-ZHEN-see-ah/
Emergency
Emergency rooms, urgent situations
Emergency Services
Essential terms for reaching help.
URGÊNCIA
/oor-ZHEN-see-ah/
Urgent / Emergency
Urgent care, hospitals
More info
Good to know: Portuguese hospitals often have separate URGÊNCIA (urgent but not life-threatening) and EMERGÊNCIA (life-threatening) sections.
SOCORRO
/soh-KOH-hoo/
Help!
Cry for help
More info
Usage: Shout "SOCORRO!" to call for help in an emergency. Also used as noun for rescue/help.
AJUDA
/ah-ZHOO-dah/
Help
General help needed
AMBULÂNCIA
/ahm-boo-LAHN-see-ah/
Ambulance
Emergency medical transport
More info
Brazil: Call 192 for SAMU (public ambulance service) or 193 for Bombeiros (fire department, also responds to medical emergencies).
BOMBEIROS
/bohm-BAY-roos/
Fire Department
Fire and rescue services
More info
Brazil: Call 193. Bombeiros handle fires AND many medical emergencies/rescues.
Portugal: Call 112 for all emergencies.
POLÍCIA
/poh-LEE-see-ah/
Police
Law enforcement
More info
Brazil: Call 190 for Polícia Militar (street police), 191 for PRF (highway police).
Portugal: Call 112. PSP in cities, GNR in rural areas.
DELEGACIA
/deh-leh-gah-SEE-ah/
🇧🇷 DELEGACIA
🇵🇹 ESQUADRA
Police Station
Where to file reports
More info
Brazil tip: For tourists, look for DELEGACIA DE TURISMO (tourist police station) in major cities—staff may speak English.
PRONTO-SOCORRO
/PRON-too soh-KOH-hoo/
Emergency Room (ER)
Hospital emergency department
More info
Also called: PS (abbreviation), EMERGÊNCIA, PRONTO ATENDIMENTO (urgent care)
UPA
/OO-pah/
🇧🇷 UPA
🇵🇹 CENTRO DE SAÚDE
Urgent Care Center
Non-life-threatening emergencies
More info
Brazil: UPA (Unidade de Pronto Atendimento) is a 24-hour urgent care clinic, less crowded than hospital ERs.
Portugal: CENTRO DE SAÚDE handles non-emergency medical care.
Medical Terms
Essential medical vocabulary for getting care.
MÉDICO
/MEH-jee-koo/
Doctor
Medical professional
ENFERMEIRO(A)
/en-fehr-MAY-roo(-ah)/
Nurse
Nursing staff
HOSPITAL
/ohsh-pee-TAHL/
Hospital
Medical facility
CLÍNICA
/KLEE-nee-kah/
Clinic
Medical office/clinic
CONSULTÓRIO
/kon-sool-TOH-ryoo/
Doctor's Office
Private practice
ALERGIA
/ah-lehr-ZHEE-ah/
Allergy
Allergic reactions
More info
Critical phrase: "Tenho alergia a..." (I'm allergic to...)
Common allergens: AMENDOIM (peanuts), FRUTOS DO MAR (seafood), LACTOSE, GLÚTEN
MEDICAMENTO
/meh-jee-kah-MEN-too/
Medication
Prescription drugs
RECEITA MÉDICA
/heh-SAY-tah MEH-jee-kah/
Prescription
Doctor's prescription
INJEÇÃO
/een-zheh-SOWNG/
Injection / Shot
Medical injections
VACINA
/vah-SEE-nah/
Vaccine
Immunizations
EXAME
/eh-ZAH-mee/
Test / Exam
Medical tests
More info
Types: EXAME DE SANGUE (blood test), RAIO-X (X-ray), ULTRASSOM (ultrasound)
CIRURGIA
/see-roor-ZHEE-ah/
Surgery
Surgical procedures
SANGUE
/SAHN-gee/
Blood
Medical term
More info
Related: TIPO SANGUÍNEO (blood type), DOAÇÃO DE SANGUE (blood donation)
SEGURO SAÚDE
/seh-GOO-roo sah-OO-jee/
Health Insurance
Insurance documents
More info
Also: PLANO DE SAÚDE (health plan - Brazil), SEGURO DE VIAGEM (travel insurance)
GRÁVIDA
/GRAH-vee-dah/
Pregnant
Medical information
DIABETES
/jee-ah-BEH-teez/
Diabetes
Chronic condition
PRESSÃO ALTA
/preh-SOWNG AHL-tah/
High Blood Pressure
Medical condition
Hospital Signs
Navigate hospitals and medical facilities.
RECEPÇÃO
/heh-sep-SOWNG/
Reception
Check-in desk
TRIAGEM
/tree-AH-zheng/
Triage
Initial assessment area
More info
Good to know: Brazilian hospitals often use color-coded wristbands after triage: red (critical), yellow (urgent), green (less urgent), blue (non-urgent).
SALA DE ESPERA
/SAH-lah jee esh-PEH-rah/
Waiting Room
Wait area
LABORATÓRIO
/lah-boh-rah-TOH-ryoo/
Laboratory
Blood tests, etc.
FARMÁCIA
/far-MAH-see-ah/
Pharmacy
Hospital pharmacy
UTI
/oo-teh-EE/
ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
Critical care
CENTRO CIRÚRGICO
/SEN-troo see-ROOR-zhee-koo/
Surgical Center
Operating rooms
MATERNIDADE
/mah-ter-nee-DAH-jee/
Maternity Ward
Birthing area
PEDIATRIA
/peh-jee-ah-TREE-ah/
Pediatrics
Children's care
INTERNAÇÃO
/een-ter-nah-SOWNG/
Admission / Hospitalization
Inpatient admissions
ALTA
/AHL-tah/
Discharge
Released from hospital
VISITA
/VEE-zee-tah/
Visiting Hours
Patient visits
Symptoms & Conditions
Describe what's wrong when seeking medical help.
DOR
/dohr/
Pain
General pain
More info
Body parts: DOR DE CABEÇA (headache), DOR DE ESTÔMAGO (stomachache), DOR NO PEITO (chest pain), DOR NAS COSTAS (back pain)
FEBRE
/FEH-bree/
Fever
High temperature
TOSSE
/TOH-see/
Cough
Respiratory symptom
NÁUSEA
/NOW-zee-ah/
Nausea
Feeling sick
VÔMITO
/VOH-mee-too/
Vomiting
Being sick
DIARREIA
/jee-ah-HAY-ah/
Diarrhea
Digestive issue
TONTURA
/ton-TOO-rah/
Dizziness
Feeling dizzy
SANGRAMENTO
/sahn-grah-MEN-too/
Bleeding
Blood loss
INCHAÇO
/een-SHAH-soo/
Swelling
Inflammation
QUEIMADURA
/kay-mah-DOO-rah/
Burn
Burn injury
FRATURA
/frah-TOO-rah/
Fracture
Broken bone
CORTE
/KOR-tee/
Cut
Wound
PICADA
/pee-KAH-dah/
Bite / Sting
Insect or animal bite
INFECÇÃO
/een-fek-SOWNG/
Infection
Medical condition
INTOXICAÇÃO
/een-tok-see-kah-SOWNG/
Poisoning / Food Poisoning
Toxic ingestion
More info
Specific: INTOXICAÇÃO ALIMENTAR (food poisoning)
DESMAIO
/dez-MAI-oo/
Fainting
Loss of consciousness
Police & Safety
Terms for police interactions and reporting incidents.
ROUBO
/HOH-boo/
Robbery / Theft
Crime report
More info
Legal distinction: ROUBO (robbery with threat/violence), FURTO (theft without violence)
FURTO
/FOOR-too/
Theft (non-violent)
Pickpocketing, etc.
ASSALTO
/ah-SAHL-too/
Mugging / Assault
Violent robbery
BOLETIM DE OCORRÊNCIA
/boh-leh-TING jee oh-koh-HEN-see-ah/
Police Report
Official incident report
More info
Abbreviation: B.O. - You need this for insurance claims.
Brazil tip: Many states allow filing online (Delegacia Eletrônica).
DOCUMENTO
/doh-koo-MEN-too/
Document / ID
Identification
PASSAPORTE
/pah-sah-POR-tee/
Passport
Travel document
CARTEIRA
/kar-TAY-rah/
Wallet
Personal item
CELULAR
/seh-loo-LAHR/
🇧🇷 CELULAR
🇵🇹 TELEMÓVEL
Cell Phone
Mobile device
PERDIDO
/pehr-JEE-doo/
Lost
Lost item or person
TESTEMUNHA
/tehs-teh-MOON-yah/
Witness
Crime witness
ACIDENTE
/ah-see-DEN-tee/
Accident
Car accident, etc.
CONSULADO
/kon-soo-LAH-doo/
Consulate
Embassy services
More info
Related: EMBAIXADA (embassy) - Contact your consulate if your passport is lost/stolen.
Warning Signs
Recognize danger and safety warnings.
PERIGO
/peh-REE-goo/
Danger
Hazard warning
CUIDADO
/kwee-DAH-doo/
Caution / Be Careful
Warning sign
ATENÇÃO
/ah-ten-SOWNG/
Attention / Warning
Alert sign
AVISO
/ah-VEE-zoo/
Notice / Warning
Posted notices
PROIBIDO
/proh-ee-BEE-doo/
Prohibited
Forbidden action
VENENO
/veh-NEH-noo/
Poison
Toxic substance warning
INFLAMÁVEL
/een-flah-MAH-vehl/
Flammable
Fire hazard
ALTA TENSÃO
/AHL-tah ten-SOWNG/
High Voltage
Electrical hazard
PISO MOLHADO
/PEE-zoo mohl-YAH-doo/
Wet Floor
Slip hazard
SAÍDA DE EMERGÊNCIA
/sah-EE-dah jee eh-mer-ZHEN-see-ah/
Emergency Exit
Fire exits
EXTINTOR
/eesh-teen-TOHR/
Fire Extinguisher
Fire safety
ALARME DE INCÊNDIO
/ah-LAHR-mee jee een-SEN-dyoo/
Fire Alarm
Emergency system
PONTO DE ENCONTRO
/PON-too jee en-KON-troo/
Meeting Point / Assembly Area
Emergency evacuation
Documents & Forms
Common terms on official forms and documents.
NOME
/NOH-mee/
Name
Form field
More info
Related: NOME COMPLETO (full name), SOBRENOME (surname/last name)
ENDEREÇO
/en-deh-REH-soo/
Address
Form field
DATA DE NASCIMENTO
/DAH-tah jee nah-see-MEN-too/
Date of Birth
Form field
More info
Format: DD/MM/YYYY (day/month/year) - different from US format!
NACIONALIDADE
/nah-see-oh-nah-lee-DAH-jee/
Nationality
Form field
PROFISSÃO
/proh-fee-SOWNG/
Occupation
Form field
ESTADO CIVIL
/esh-TAH-doo see-VEEL/
Marital Status
Form field
More info
Options: SOLTEIRO(A) (single), CASADO(A) (married), DIVORCIADO(A) (divorced), VIÚVO(A) (widowed)
ASSINATURA
/ah-see-nah-TOO-rah/
Signature
Sign here
DATA
/DAH-tah/
Date
Form field
TELEFONE
/teh-leh-FOH-nee/
Telephone
Contact number
E-MAIL
/ee-MAY-oo/
Email
Contact info
CPF
/seh-peh-EH-fee/
Tax ID (Brazil)
Brazilian ID number
More info
Brazil only: CPF is the individual taxpayer ID. Tourists may be asked for it but can usually provide passport number instead.
NIF
/neef/
Tax ID (Portugal)
Portuguese tax number
More info
Portugal only: NIF (Número de Identificação Fiscal) is needed for many transactions. Tourists can get one at tax office (Finanças).