Portuguese Phrase
Tenho alergia a frutos do mar.
Meaning
This sentence means ‘I have a seafood allergy.’ It tells the listener that the speaker reacts adversely to any food that comes from the sea, such as fish, shrimp, mussels, and other shellfish.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inform a doctor, a restaurant server, a host, or a friend about your dietary restriction. It is especially handy while ordering food, filling out medical forms, or traveling.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tenhoalergiaafrutosdomar
Ter (Tenho)
‘Tenho’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘ter’ (to have), used to express possession or a state.
Preposition ‘a’
The preposition ‘a’ introduces the cause or object of an allergy, equivalent to English ‘to’ or ‘of’.
Contraction ‘do’
‘do’ = ‘de + o’, linking ‘frutos’ (fruits) with ‘mar’ (sea) to form the set phrase ‘frutos do mar’ (seafood).
Noun gender
‘alergia’ is feminine, so adjectives must agree (e.g., ‘alérgica’ for a female speaker).
🗨In Conversation
Você pode comer camarão?
Can you eat shrimp?
Não, tenho alergia a frutos do mar.
No, I have a seafood allergy.
✕Common Mistakes
Tenho alergia no frutos do mar.
The preposition after ‘alergia’ is ‘a’, not ‘no’ (which means ‘in the’).
Tenho alergia alérgico a frutos do mar.
If the speaker is female, the adjective must agree in gender: ‘alérgica’.
Tenho alergia a frutos do mares.
‘Mar’ is singular; the correct phrase is ‘frutos do mar’, not ‘frutos do mares’.
↔Alternatives
Sou alérgico a frutos do mar.
I am allergic to seafood.
Sou alérgica a frutos do mar.
I am allergic to seafood. (female speaker)
Tenho intolerância a frutos do mar.
I have an intolerance to seafood.
Tenho reação alérgica a frutos do mar.
I have an allergic reaction to seafood.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, many traditional dishes—like moqueca, bobó de camarão, and feijoada with seafood—contain ‘frutos do mar.’ It’s common to tell the staff ‘Tenho alergia a frutos do mar’ before ordering. Remember that ‘alergia’ refers to a true immune response, while ‘intolerância’ is a milder digestive issue; using the correct term helps medical staff understand the seriousness of your condition.