Portuguese Phrase
Confere se está respirando e se tem pulso.
Meaning
The sentence is a concise instruction used in emergency or first‑aid situations: it tells the listener to verify two vital signs – breathing and pulse – before proceeding with further care.
When to use
Use this phrase when you or a teammate are performing basic life support, such as during CPR training, in a medical emergency, or when checking a casualty on the street. It is typical in Brazilian Portuguese first‑aid protocols and in health‑care settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Confereseestárespirandoesetempulso
Confere (imperative)
‘Confere’ is the third‑person singular imperative of the verb *conferir* (to check). It is used as a command directed at a colleague or a team.
se (conjunction)
The conjunction *se* introduces a yes/no clause, equivalent to ‘if’ in English.
está respirando (present progressive)
The construction *estar* + gerund (*respirando*) expresses an ongoing action: ‘is breathing’.
tem (present of ter)
The verb *ter* in the present tense means ‘has’; here it forms the clause ‘has a pulse’.
pulso (noun)
A masculine noun meaning ‘pulse’; no article is needed after *tem*.
🗨In Conversation
Confere se está respirando e se tem pulso.
Check if (they) are breathing and if they have a pulse.
Não há respiração, mas o pulso está fraco. Começo a compressão torácica.
There is no breathing, but the pulse is weak. I’ll start chest compressions.
✕Common Mistakes
Confere se está respirando e tem pulso.
The second *se* is required to keep the parallel structure; without it the sentence sounds incomplete.
Confere se está respirando e se tem o pulso.
The article *o* is unnecessary after *tem*; the correct phrase omits it.
Confere se está respirando e se tem pulso?
In a command you normally don’t add a question mark; it changes the tone to a query.
↔Alternatives
Verifique se está respirando e se tem pulso.
Verify if (they) are breathing and if they have a pulse.
Cheque se a pessoa está respirando e tem pulso.
Check whether the person is breathing and has a pulse.
Observe se há respiração e pulso.
Observe if there is breathing and pulse.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the imperative *confere* is common in professional or technical contexts (e.g., medical, aviation). In casual conversation you would more likely hear *vê se* or *olha se*. When speaking to a layperson, soften the command with *por favor* or use the more neutral *verifique*. Also, Brazilian first‑aid guidelines stress checking breathing first, then pulse, which is reflected in the order of this phrase.