Portuguese Phrase
Vai ao médico se tiver fraturas.
Meaning
The sentence is a piece of health advice: ‘Go to the doctor if you have fractures.’ It uses a conditional structure to warn the listener that medical attention is necessary when a bone is broken.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving someone a precautionary tip after an accident, in a conversation about injuries, or when writing health‑safety instructions. It is informal, so it fits casual spoken Portuguese rather than a formal medical report.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vaiaomédicosetiverfraturas.
Vai (imperative)
‘Vai’ is the informal imperative form of the verb ‘ir’ (to go), used for giving a direct suggestion or command.
ao (contraction)
‘ao’ is the contraction of the preposition ‘a’ + the masculine singular definite article ‘o’, meaning ‘to the’. It is required before a masculine singular noun.
se (conditional conjunction)
‘se’ introduces a conditional clause, equivalent to ‘if’ in English.
tiver (present subjunctive)
After ‘se’, Portuguese uses the present subjunctive of ‘ter’ (to have) – ‘tiver’ – because the condition is uncertain or hypothetical.
fraturas (plural noun)
‘fraturas’ is the plural of ‘fratura’, meaning ‘fracture(s)’. It agrees with the verb ‘tiver’ in number.
🗨In Conversation
Vai ao médico se tiver fraturas.
Go to the doctor if you have fractures.
Obrigado, vou marcar uma consulta agora mesmo.
Thanks, I’ll book an appointment right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Vai ao médico se tem fraturas.
After ‘se’, Portuguese requires the subjunctive mood, not the indicative. Use ‘tiver’ instead of ‘tem’.
Vai médico se tiver fraturas.
If you want to be more formal, you can say ‘ao médico’ or ‘a um médico’; dropping the article (‘ao médico’) is the most natural in spoken Portuguese.
↔Alternatives
Procure um médico caso tenha fraturas.
Seek a doctor in case you have fractures.
Se houver fraturas, vá ao médico imediatamente.
If there are fractures, go to the doctor immediately.
É melhor consultar um médico se você quebrou algum osso.
It’s better to see a doctor if you broke any bone.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, public health (SUS) provides emergency care for injuries, but many people still prefer private clinics for faster service. Saying ‘Vai ao médico’ is common advice, but it’s polite to add ‘por favor’ or ‘se puder’ when speaking to strangers. Also, note that ‘fratura’ can refer to any broken bone, not just a simple crack, so the phrase carries a serious tone.