Portuguese Phrase
Quero ver o Dr. Smith.
Meaning
The speaker is stating a personal desire to see (or meet) Dr. Smith, usually in a medical context. It can refer to a scheduled appointment or a spontaneous request to speak with the doctor.
When to use
Use this sentence when you are at a clinic, hospital, or calling a medical office and you want to let the staff know you would like to be seen by Dr. Smith. It works both in spoken and written requests.
✦Grammar Breakdown
QueroveroDr.Smith
Quero (querer)
‘Quero’ is the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘querer’ (to want). It is used to express a personal desire.
ver (infinitive)
‘ver’ is the infinitive form of the verb ‘ver’ (to see, to meet). After ‘querer’, the infinitive follows directly.
o (definite article)
‘o’ is the masculine singular definite article, required before a masculine noun or title such as ‘Dr.’.
Dr. (abreviation)
‘Dr.’ stands for ‘Doutor’, the honorific used for physicians in Brazil, regardless of whether they hold a doctorate.
Smith (proper name)
Proper names keep their original spelling and are not inflected in Portuguese.
🗨In Conversation
Quero ver o Dr. Smith.
I want to see Dr. Smith.
Claro, vou marcar para você agora mesmo.
Sure, I’ll book you in right now.
✕Common Mistakes
Quero ver Dr. Smith.
The definite article ‘o’ is required before the title ‘Dr.’ in Portuguese.
Quero ver o Doutor Smith.
When using the abbreviation ‘Dr.’ you keep the article ‘o’; if you write out ‘Doutor’, the article stays the same, but you should not add an extra article before the name.
Quero ver a Dr. Smith.
‘Dr.’ is masculine, so the article must be ‘o’, not ‘a’. Use ‘a’ only with female titles such as ‘Dra.’
↔Alternatives
Preciso consultar o Dr. Smith.
I need to consult Dr. Smith.
Gostaria de encontrar o Dr. Smith.
I would like to meet Dr. Smith.
Preciso ver o Dr. Smith.
I need to see Dr. Smith.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, doctors are commonly addressed as ‘Doutor’ (abbreviated ‘Dr.’) even if they do not hold a PhD. When you request an appointment, it is polite to use a courteous tone and, if possible, mention the reason for the visit. Some regions may prefer ‘consultar’ over ‘ver’ when talking about a medical appointment, but both are understood.