Portuguese Phrase
Conta como você sente os sintomas.
Meaning
The sentence asks someone to describe the way they experience their symptoms. It is a direct request for a personal account of how the symptoms feel, often used in medical or health‑related conversations.
When to use
Use this phrase when a doctor, nurse, or caregiver wants a patient to give a detailed, personal description of their symptoms. It works best in informal or semi‑formal settings; in a very formal medical interview you might prefer ‘Descreva…’ or ‘Relate…’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Contacomovocêsenteossintomas
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Conta’ is the informal imperative of the verb ‘contar’ (to tell), used when speaking to someone you address with ‘você’ in a familiar context.
‘como’ as a question word
‘Como’ means ‘how’ and introduces a clause that asks for a description of the manner or way something occurs.
Present indicative of ‘sentir’
‘Sente’ is the 3rd‑person singular present indicative of ‘sentir’ (to feel), agreeing with the subject ‘você’.
Definite article with plural noun
‘Os sintomas’ uses the definite article ‘os’ because the speaker refers to the specific symptoms the listener is experiencing.
🗨In Conversation
Conta como você sente os sintomas.
Tell me how you feel the symptoms.
Eu sinto uma dor aguda no peito e falta de ar quando subo escadas.
I feel a sharp chest pain and shortness of breath when I go up stairs.
✕Common Mistakes
Conta-me como você sente os sintomas.
‘Conta‑me’ is the correct clitic form, but it sounds overly formal for the informal imperative used with ‘você’. Use ‘Conta’ alone or switch to the formal ‘Conte‑me’.
Conta como você sente os sintoma.
The noun ‘sintoma’ must be pluralized with the article ‘os’ because the speaker refers to more than one symptom.
Conta como você sente o sintomas.
The article must agree in number with the noun; use ‘os sintomas’ (plural) not ‘o sintomas’ (singular article with plural noun).
↔Alternatives
Descreva como você sente os sintomas.
Describe how you feel the symptoms.
Fale como você sente os sintomas.
Talk about how you feel the symptoms.
Relate os sintomas que você está sentindo.
Report the symptoms you are feeling.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, health professionals often use a friendly tone to put patients at ease, so ‘Conta…’ is common in private clinics or when the doctor already has a rapport with the patient. In a strictly formal hospital setting, you’ll hear ‘Descreva…’ or ‘Informe…’ instead. Also, remember that ‘conta’ is informal; using ‘conte’ (imperative of ‘contar’ for ‘você’ in formal speech) sounds more polite.