How to say “I have a regular checkup” in Portuguese

Introduction

This article teaches how to say I have a regular checkup in Brazilian Portuguese, plus related phrases, vocabulary, and example dialogues useful for doctor visits or scheduling appointments. It is written for English-speaking learners at beginner to intermediate levels and focuses on natural, everyday expressions you will hear in Brazil.

Core phrase: saying I have a regular checkup

Start with the most direct and common way to express I have a regular checkup in Portuguese.

Tenho um exame de rotina

This phrase is neutral and widely understood. It uses the verb ter followed by the noun exame de rotina. Use it when telling a receptionist, a friend, or a healthcare professional that you already have a scheduled or routine appointment.

Alternative everyday phrases

Different people and regions may use slightly different expressions. Here are natural alternatives you will hear in Brazil.

Tenho consulta de rotina

Tenho meu check-up

Vou fazer meu check-up

Tenho acompanhamento médico

Vou ao meu exame de rotina

Notice how consulta and exame are used differently: consulta usually refers to a visit with a doctor, while exame often refers to a specific test (blood work, imaging). Check-up is an English loanword commonly used in spoken Portuguese, especially with family doctors or corporate health clinics.

Breaking down the grammar

Understanding the components helps you form variations and adjust to different contexts.

Verb ter and agir with scheduled events

Tenho is the present form of ter for eu and literally means I have. It is the most common way to say I have an appointment: Tenho uma consulta, Tenho um exame. You can also use Vou (I am going) with the infinitive to emphasize intent: Vou fazer meu check-up.

Consultation versus exam vocabulary

Consulta refers to a medical visit: consulta com clínico geral, consulta com cardiologista.

Exame refers to tests: exame de sangue, exame de urina, exame de imagem. Combining exame de rotina signals a standard battery of tests.

Possessives and articles

Use meu/minha to indicate your own appointment: meu check-up, minha consulta. Use um/uma for unspecified appointments: um exame de rotina. The gender of the article must match the noun: a consulta (feminine), o exame (masculine).

Useful phrases for scheduling and confirming

When you need to book, confirm, or ask about a routine checkup, these phrases are practical and polite.

Booking an appointment

Quero marcar uma consulta de rotina
Quero marcar um exame de rotina

Use quero marcar to express I want to schedule. Many clinics use marcar consulta or agendar consulta interchangeably. You can also say Preciso agendar um check-up if you need to schedule because of employer requirements or preventive health plans.

Confirming or changing a time

Tenho uma consulta agendada para amanhã
Preciso remarcar meu check-up

Have and scheduled are commonly paired: consulta agendada. If you must change the appointment, use remarcar. Receptionists will understand immediately.

Asking practical questions at reception

Onde é a sala de exames?
Quanto tempo dura o check-up?
Preciso fazer jejum para o exame de sangue?

These are simple questions to help you find the room, learn the duration, or prepare for tests. Jejum means fasting; it is a common instruction for blood work.

Example dialogues: reception, doctor, and friend

Short dialogues help you see the phrases in context. Each line uses natural Brazilian Portuguese expressions you can memorize and adapt.

At the clinic reception

Recepcionista: Bom dia, em que posso ajudar?
Paciente: Tenho uma consulta de rotina marcada para as 10h.
Recepcionista: Qual é o seu nome?
Paciente: Maria Silva. É só o check-up anual.

Talking to the doctor

Médico: Boa tarde, o que traz você aqui hoje?
Paciente: Estou aqui para um exame de rotina. Não tenho sintomas, é só o acompanhamento anual.
Médico: Certo. Atualize-me sobre seus medicamentos e se houve alguma mudança na saúde.

Telling a friend

Amigo: O que você vai fazer hoje?
Você: Tenho meu check-up às três. Só um exame de rotina mesmo.
Amigo: Boa! É sempre bom cuidar da saúde.

Common vocabulary for routine checkups

Memorize these words to expand your ability to describe checkups and related procedures.

Check-up — check-up (loanword, used widely)
Consulta — consultation, doctor’s visit
Exame — test, exam (blood test, imaging)
Acompanhamento — follow-up, ongoing monitoring
Rotina — routine
Agendar / marcar — to schedule, to book
Remarcar — to reschedule
Jejum — fasting
Resultado — result
Recepção — reception

Usage notes on check-up and exame

Both check-up and exame de rotina are commonly used. If you speak with a specialist, you may say consulta com cardiologista, consulta com ginecologista, etc. For corporate health plans, the phrase exame admission is sometimes heard, but keep to exame de rotina or check-up for general preventive care.

Politeness and formal vs informal register

Brazilian Portuguese has flexible levels of formality. Use more polite phrasing with clinic staff or older people, and more casual phrasing with friends.

Polite formulas

Por favor and com licença are the basic politeness markers. For instance:

Por favor, eu tenho uma consulta de rotina às 14h.
Com licença, onde fica a sala 5?

Casual phrases

With friends, you can be more relaxed:

Vou ao médico só para um check-up.
Já marquei meu exame de rotina.

How to respond when asked about symptoms

Sometimes receptionists or nurses will ask if you have symptoms. Here are simple responses for routine checkups where you are asymptomatic or have minor issues.

Não, é só o check-up — No, it’s just the check-up.
Tenho apenas alguns sintomas leves — I only have a few mild symptoms.
Estou bem, é só o acompanhamento — I’m fine, it’s just follow-up.

Describing minor issues

If you need to mention small concerns, keep phrases short and clear:

Sinto cansaço às vezes — I feel tired sometimes.
Tenho dores leves nas costas — I have mild back pain.
Note that for routine checkups you are usually not expected to give long medical histories at reception; tell the nurse or doctor during the consultation.

Practical tips for Brazilian clinics

Knowing how clinics work in Brazil helps your language and reduces stress.

Bring identification and health card

Always carry an ID and your health insurance card (cartão do plano de saúde) if you have one. At reception you may be asked to show them.

Arrive a little early

Arrive 10–20 minutes early for registration. Use Tenho uma consulta para confirmar at the desk if the clinic is busy.

Ask for instructions clearly

If specific prep is required ask: Preciso fazer jejum? or Preciso trazer algo? Receptionists will tell you if you need to stop eating, drink water, or arrive with an empty bladder for certain exams.

Regional variations and pronunciation tips

Brazil is large and pronunciation changes by region, but the vocabulary stays consistent.

Pronunciation notes

Pronounce tenho like tenao with a nasal ão sound. Consulta and exame are pronounced similarly across regions, though vowel reduction is common in Rio and São Paulo speech. Check-up is pronounced like the English word but with softer consonants in casual speech.

Regional words to watch for

Some people use triagem for triage or initial screening, and unidade de saúde for health unit or clinic. These terms may appear when you are directed within a municipal or public clinic.

Putting it all together: common scenarios

Here are three short scenario templates you can adapt when communicating about a regular checkup.

Scenario 1: Scheduling over the phone

Alô, bom dia. Gostaria de marcar um exame de rotina com o clínico geral. Tenho preferência às terças pela manhã. Há disponibilidade?

Receptionist will typically respond with available times and ask for your details.

Scenario 2: Arriving at the clinic

Bom dia. Tenho uma consulta de rotina marcada para as 9h. Meu nome é João Pereira. Posso entrar?

The receptionist checks the name and confirms the appointment, then guides you to waiting room or triage.

Scenario 3: Talking with your doctor

Olá doutor, estou aqui para um check-up anual. Não tenho queixas, apenas quero acompanhar a saúde e atualizar meus exames.

Doctors appreciate concise explanations and a list of current medications or past conditions. Bring any recent exames if available.

Quick reference cheat sheet

Keep these short phrases handy for fast communication.

Tenho um exame de rotina
Tenho consulta de rotina
Quero marcar uma consulta
Preciso remarcar
Preciso fazer jejum?
Onde fica a recepção?

Conclusion

Learning how to say I have a regular checkup and related phrases prepares you for routine medical interactions in Brazil. Use Tenho um exame de rotina or Tenho consulta de rotina to state your appointment, and remember useful verbs like agendar and remarcar. Practice the sample dialogues and vocabulary to feel confident at reception and with your doctor.