First Phrases

Pharmacy · Português

Pharmacy in Portuguese: 12 survival phrases

Ask for help with a cough, a headache or a prescription, and find the nearest late-night pharmacy. The pharmacist is often the quickest first stop, so a few exact phrases save a lot of pointing.

Phrases, not advice. These cards only help you say what you need. They give no medical, legal, tax or financial advice. For any decision, ask the pharmacist, doctor, bank or the official office.

Review pending: native-speaker review of this card has not happened yet, and the phrases marked "check" are the ones we are least sure of. Use them as a starting point and let the person you speak to correct you.

Register: Polite (formal is safer). In Portugal avoid "tu" with pharmacists and doctors; use the verb alone ("Pode ajudar-me?") or "o senhor / a senhora". A closed pharmacy shows a sign for the nearest "farmácia de serviço" (on-duty pharmacy).

How to read the sounds: European Portuguese swallows unstressed vowels, so syllables sound shorter than they look. (n) = nasal vowel, don't sound the n. sh = the 'sh' of 'ship' for final s and x. Stress is in CAPITALS.

Your recording stays on your device.

Official names used

On this card: farmácia, receita, farmácia de serviço. Spelling checked against official sites on 2026-10-20:

12 phrases you will need

  1. 01Polite
    Bom dia. Pode ajudar-me, por favor?
    Say it like: bom DEE-uh. POH-duh ah-zhoo-DAR-muh, poor fuh-VOR
    Good morning. Can you help me, please?
    Register: Polite; verb alone, no pronoun.
  2. 02Neutral
    Procuro algo para as dores de cabeça.
    Say it like: proo-KOO-roo AL-goo PAH-ruh ahsh DOH-ruhsh duh kuh-BEH-suh
    I'm looking for something for a headache.
    Register: Swap "dores de cabeça" for your complaint.
  3. 03Neutral
    Tenho dores de garganta e tosse.
    Say it like: TAYN-yoo DOH-ruhsh duh gahr-GAHN-tuh ee TOH-suh
    I have a sore throat and a cough.
    Register: Neutral.
  4. 04Neutral
    Isto precisa de receita médica?
    Say it like: EESH-too pruh-SEE-zuh duh rreh-SAY-tuh MEH-dee-kuh
    Does this need a prescription?
    Register: Neutral.
  5. 05Neutral
    Tenho uma receita. Aqui está.
    Say it like: TAYN-yoo OO-muh rreh-SAY-tuh. ah-KEE shtah
    I have a prescription. Here it is.
    Register: Neutral.
  6. 06Neutral
    Sou alérgico/alérgica à penicilina.
    Say it like: soh ah-LEHR-zhee-koo/ah-LEHR-zhee-kuh ah peh-nee-see-LEE-nuh
    I'm allergic to penicillin.
    Register: Swap the drug name for your own allergy.
  7. 07Neutral
    De quanto em quanto tempo devo tomar?
    Say it like: duh KWAHN-too ayn KWAHN-too TAYM-poo DEH-voo too-MAR
    How often should I take it?
    Register: Neutral.
  8. 08Polite
    Pode escrever-me como se toma?
    Say it like: POH-duh shkruh-VEHR-muh KOH-moo suh TOH-muh
    Could you write down how to take it?
    Register: Polite; verb alone.
  9. 09Polite
    Tem algum genérico mais barato?
    Say it like: tayn ahl-GOON zhuh-NEH-ree-koo mighsh bah-RAH-too
    Do you have a cheaper generic version?
    Register: "Tem" is the polite "you have".
  10. 10Polite
    Tem algo que não cause sonolência?
    Say it like: tayn AL-goo kuh nowng KOW-zuh soh-noo-LEHN-syuh
    Do you have something that doesn't cause drowsiness?
    Register: Polite.
  11. 11Neutralcheck
    Onde fica a farmácia de serviço esta noite?
    Say it like: OHN-duh FEE-kuh uh fahr-MAH-syuh duh sehr-VEE-soo ESH-tuh NOYT-uh
    Where is the on-duty pharmacy tonight?
    Register: "Farmácia de serviço" is the official on-duty rota.
  12. 12Neutral
    Quanto é? Posso pagar com cartão?
    Say it like: KWAHN-too eh? POH-soo pah-GAR kohn kahr-TOWNG
    How much is it? Can I pay by card?
    Register: Neutral.

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Quick answers

What do I say to start at the pharmacy in Portuguese?

Start with: "Bom dia. Pode ajudar-me, por favor?" (Good morning. Can you help me, please?)

Should I use informal or formal Portuguese at the pharmacy?

In Portugal avoid "tu" with pharmacists and doctors; use the verb alone ("Pode ajudar-me?") or "o senhor / a senhora". A closed pharmacy shows a sign for the nearest "farmácia de serviço" (on-duty pharmacy).

How do I ask whether something needs a prescription in Portuguese?

Try: "Isto precisa de receita médica?" (Does this need a prescription?)

Same errand, another language

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Portuguese, another errand

Pharmacy Doctor / GP Opening a bank account Tax office Renting a flat

All 5 × 6 survival decks · Phrases for an evening out

How it works

  1. Pick the errand and the language of the country you are in.
  2. Read the twelve phrases: each has the English meaning, an easy pronunciation guide and a register note. Tap the speaker to hear it in your device's voice, or tap Practise to record yourself and compare with the model (your recording never leaves your device).
  3. Print the card or keep it open on your phone. The official names of offices and numbers are checked against the official sites; native-speaker review is still pending.
  4. Once you are settled, open Meet & Mint to find events near you, see who else is going, join alone and chat with the group.

firstphrases.app/survival/pharmacy/pt/ · Phrases, not advice · Meet & Mint