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A2 verb 9 min read

prescrever

Examples prescrever in 30 Seconds
Explanation prescrever in your Level:
At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'prescrever' yourself very often, but you should recognize it in a medical context. Think of it as the 'doctor's word.' When you go to a clinic, the doctor might say 'Vou prescrever um remédio' (I am going to prescribe a medicine). At this stage, just focus on the connection between a doctor, a piece of paper (receita), and the verb. It is a formal way of saying 'give' or 'write' a medicine. You can remember it because it looks like the English word 'prescribe.' Just remember that in Portuguese, we use it for medicines. You might also hear it in very simple sentences about basic health, like 'O médico prescreve repouso' (The doctor prescribes rest). Don't worry about the legal meanings yet; just think of doctors and pharmacies.
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At the A2 level, you should start using 'prescrever' in simple sentences, especially when talking about health and daily routines. You are likely to encounter this word when learning about body parts, illnesses, and visiting the doctor. You should be able to conjugate it in the present tense (eu prescrevo, você prescreve) and the simple past (eu prescrevi, ele prescreveu). You should also understand that 'prescrever' is more formal than 'receitar.' For example, if you are writing a short paragraph about a trip to the hospital, using 'prescrever' makes your Portuguese sound more advanced. You should also be aware of the noun form 'prescrição' (prescription), though 'receita' is more common for the physical paper. Practice using it with the preposition 'para' to indicate who the medicine is for: 'O médico prescreveu antibióticos para o meu filho.'
By the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'prescrever' in both its medical and introductory legal contexts. You should understand that this verb follows the conjugation of 'escrever' and use the past participle 'prescrito' correctly in compound tenses (e.g., 'O médico já tinha prescrito o medicamento'). In B1, you will start reading more complex texts, such as news articles or health blogs, where 'prescrever' is used to talk about public health policies or new medical treatments. You should also be introduced to the legal concept of 'prescrição'—the idea that a debt or a crime can 'prescrever' (expire) after a certain number of years. This is a common topic in Portuguese-speaking media. You should be able to explain the difference between 'receitar' (informal medical) and 'prescrever' (formal medical/legal) to someone else.
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At the B2 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'prescrever.' You can use it to discuss professional authority and institutional regulations. You should be able to use the verb in the passive voice comfortably ('O tratamento foi prescrito pelo melhor especialista da cidade'). You will also encounter 'prescrever' in literary or academic contexts where it means to 'dictate' or 'establish' a norm. For example, 'A Constituição prescreve os direitos fundamentais.' At this level, you should also be aware of the subtle differences between 'prescrever' and 'caducar.' You should be able to participate in a debate about whether certain crimes should 'prescrever' or not, using the verb correctly in the subjunctive mood: 'É importante que a lei prescreva penas severas para esses atos.'
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At the C1 level, your usage of 'prescrever' should be precise and versatile. you understand its etymological roots and how it functions as a performative verb in legal and medical discourse. You are expected to use it in professional settings, such as writing medical reports, legal briefs, or formal business correspondence. You should understand the specific legal nuances of 'prescrição aquisitiva' (usucapião) and 'prescrição extintiva.' You can use the verb to describe complex regulatory frameworks: 'A nova normativa europeia prescreve padrões rigorosos de proteção de dados.' Your vocabulary should also include related terms like 'imprescritível' (something that never expires). You should be able to use the verb in complex sentence structures, including the personal infinitive and various conditional forms, to express hypothetical professional scenarios.
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'prescrever.' You can appreciate and use the word in its most abstract and metaphorical senses. You might encounter it in philosophical texts discussing the 'prescriptive' nature of language or ethics. You can distinguish between the 'prescriptive' and 'descriptive' approaches in linguistics or sociology. In a legal context, you understand the most minute details of how 'prescrever' interacts with different types of law (civil, criminal, labor). You use the word with perfect stylistic control, choosing it over 'receitar' or 'determinar' to achieve a specific tone of authority or clinical detachment. You are also familiar with archaic or highly formal uses of the word in classical Portuguese literature. Your ability to use the past participle 'prescrito' as an adjective in varied contexts is flawless.
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Examples

prescrever in 30 Seconds

  • Prescrever is primarily used for medical prescriptions (medicines/treatments).
  • It is also a key legal term for the expiration of rights or crimes (statute of limitations).
  • It is a formal verb, conjugated exactly like 'escrever' (to write).
  • The past participle is 'prescrito', which is used more often than 'prescrevido'.

The Portuguese word prescrever is a sophisticated and essential verb that primarily functions within the medical and legal realms. At its core, for an English speaker, it translates directly to the English verb 'to prescribe.' However, its usage is deeply rooted in the authority of a professional—usually a doctor—giving a formal instruction for treatment. When you visit a centro de saúde in Lisbon or a consultório in São Paulo, the act of the doctor writing down a medication on a piece of paper (the receita) is the act of prescrever. It is not merely a suggestion; it is a clinical authorization that allows a pharmacist to dispense specific drugs. Beyond the pharmacy, a doctor might prescrever a specific diet, a period of rest, or even physical therapy sessions. This word carries the weight of professional expertise and legal responsibility.

Medical Context
The most common usage involves healthcare professionals authorizing medication. Example: 'O médico decidiu prescrever um antibiótico para a infecção.'
Legal Context
In law, prescrever refers to the expiration of a right or a legal action due to the passage of time (statute of limitations). Example: 'O crime pode prescrever se não houver julgamento logo.'
Regulatory Context
It can also mean to establish rules or norms. A constitution or a set of bylaws might prescrever certain behaviors or procedures.

"É necessário que o especialista venha prescrever o tratamento adequado para a sua condição rara."

— Translation: It is necessary for the specialist to prescribe the appropriate treatment for your rare condition.

Understanding prescrever also requires recognizing its formality. While in casual conversation you might hear 'O médico me deu um remédio' (The doctor gave me a medicine), using prescrever elevates the level of the discourse. It implies a formal process of diagnosis followed by a therapeutic decision. In Brazilian Portuguese, you will frequently hear the synonym receitar in everyday medical contexts, whereas prescrever remains the standard in medical charts, academic papers, and official documents. In European Portuguese, the distinction is similar, with prescrever being the preferred term in clinical guidelines issued by the Ordem dos Médicos.

"O protocolo de segurança deve prescrever todas as etapas de higienização das mãos."

Finally, the verb is regular in its '-er' conjugation, following the pattern of escrever (to write). This makes it relatively easy for learners to master once they know the root. Whether you are discussing a doctor's visit, a legal deadline, or a set of institutional rules, prescrever provides the precision needed for professional communication in Portuguese.

Using prescrever correctly involves understanding its transitive nature. In its primary medical sense, it usually takes a direct object (the medication or treatment) and an indirect object (the patient), often introduced by the preposition para or a. For example, 'O médico prescreveu (o quê?) um xarope (para quem?) para a criança.' This structure is very similar to the English 'to prescribe something for someone.'

Active Voice
Standard usage: 'A doutora prescreve o tratamento.' (The doctor prescribes the treatment.)
Passive Voice
Common in formal reports: 'O medicamento foi prescrevido pelo especialista.' Note: Use 'prescrito' as the short past participle form, which is much more common than 'prescrevido'.
Legal Expiration
In this sense, the verb is often intransitive: 'A dívida já prescreveu.' (The debt has already expired/lapsed.)

"Se os sintomas persistirem, o médico poderá prescrever uma dose mais forte."

When using the verb in the past tense, be mindful of the irregular-looking past participle prescrito. While prescrevido exists in some grammars as a regular option, prescrito is the overwhelmingly preferred form in both speech and writing. For instance, you would say 'O remédio está prescrito' rather than 'prescrevido'. This follows the same logic as escrever becoming escrito. If you are a student at the A2 level, focusing on the present tense ('Ele prescreve') and the simple past ('Ele prescreveu') will cover 90% of your needs.

"Não se deve prescrever medicamentos sem antes realizar os exames laboratoriais."

In a legal or bureaucratic sentence, the subject is often an abstract concept like 'o prazo' (the deadline) or 'a ação' (the legal action). For example: 'O prazo para recorrer da sentença prescreve em quinze dias.' Here, the verb implies that the legal validity of the right to appeal will vanish after the specified time. This is a crucial distinction for anyone dealing with contracts or legal documents in a Portuguese-speaking country.

You will encounter prescrever in several specific environments. The most obvious is the healthcare setting. If you are in a hospital in Brazil or Portugal, you will hear doctors discussing 'prescrever a alta' (prescribing the discharge/release of a patient) or 'prescrever medicação intravenosa.' On television, medical dramas (like the dubbed versions of Grey's Anatomy or The Good Doctor) are filled with this verb. It adds a layer of clinical professionalism to the dialogue that the simpler 'dar um remédio' lacks.

In the Pharmacy
Pharmacists often ask: 'O que o médico prescreveu para a sua tosse?' (What did the doctor prescribe for your cough?)
In Legal News
News reports regarding corruption or old court cases often use the phrase 'O crime prescreveu,' which is a major point of public debate in Brazil.
In Formal Instructions
Company policy handbooks or safety manuals might use it to dictate mandatory procedures.

"O farmacêutico não pode vender este remédio se o médico não o prescrever formalmente."

Another place you'll hear this is in fitness and wellness contexts. A high-end personal trainer or a nutritionist might say they are going to prescrever a training routine or a specific meal plan. By using this word, they are positioning their advice as a professional 'prescription' rather than just a friendly tip. It reinforces the authority of the professional. In the world of finance, you might hear about 'dívidas prescritas' (expired debts) in commercials for debt negotiation services like Serasa in Brazil, where they help people clean their credit history of debts that the law says are too old to be collected.

"O juiz declarou que a pretensão punitiva do Estado veio a prescrever no ano passado."

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing prescrever with descrever (to describe). While they sound similar, their meanings are entirely different. To descrever is to give a detailed account of something, whereas to prescrever is to issue an order or authorization. Another common error involves the past participle. Many students try to use 'prescrevido' because it follows the regular '-er' pattern, but 'prescrito' is the correct and much more natural-sounding form used with the auxiliary verbs 'ter' and 'haver'.

Confusion with 'Receitar'
While often interchangeable in medical contexts, you cannot use 'receitar' for legal expiration. You would never say 'o crime receitou'.
Spelling Errors
Learners sometimes write 'prescreve' as 'prescrevei' or mix up the 's' and 'c'. Remember: pre-s-c-rever.
Misusing Prepositions
Some students say 'prescrever com' when they should say 'prescrever para'. Example: 'O médico prescreveu para mim' (Correct) vs 'O médico prescreveu com mim' (Incorrect).

"Errado: O médico vai descrever um remédio. Correto: O médico vai prescrever um remédio."

In the legal sense, a common mistake is thinking prescrever means 'to write a law'. While 'praescribere' in Latin meant 'to write before', in modern Portuguese legal terminology, it almost exclusively refers to the loss of a right due to time. If you want to say a law was written or enacted, use 'promulgar' or 'estabelecer'. Furthermore, don't confuse it with proibir (to prohibit). Although both are authoritative acts, they are opposites in spirit: one authorizes/orders a solution, the other forbids an action.

"Cuidado para não usar 'prescrevido' em documentos formais; a forma prescrito é a correta."

Portuguese offers several alternatives to prescrever depending on the context and the level of formality you wish to convey. The most common synonym in a medical setting is receitar. While prescrever sounds like something you'd read in a textbook, receitar is what you'd say to your neighbor: 'O médico me receitou umas vitaminas.' Both are correct, but receitar is more 'human' and less 'institutional.'

Prescrever vs. Receitar
Prescrever: Formal, technical, used for medicines and legal terms. Receitar: Common, everyday use, specifically for medicines or home remedies.
Prescrever vs. Ordenar
Prescrever: Implies expert authorization (like a doctor). Ordenar: Implies a command or hierarchy (like a general or boss).
Prescrever vs. Caducar
Prescrever: Used for the expiration of crimes or debts. Caducar: Used for the expiration of documents (like a passport) or food items.

"Embora o médico possa receitar um chá, ele prefere prescrever uma medicação comprovada."

In a legal context, if you find prescrever too technical, you might see phrases like 'perder a validade' (to lose validity) or 'vencer o prazo' (the deadline has passed). However, in a court of law, prescrever is the only precise term. For general instructions, you could use determinar (to determine) or estabelecer (to establish). For example, 'A empresa estabeleceu novas regras' is more common than 'A empresa prescreveu novas regras,' unless the rules are very strict and formal.

"O contrato pode estabelecer multas, mas a lei é que vai prescrever os limites dessas cobranças."

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pɾɨʃ.kɾɨ.ˈveɾ/
US /pɾes.kɾe.ˈve(ʁ)/
The stress is on the last syllable: pres-cre-VER.
Rhymes With
escrever viver beber correr ver querer fazer trazer
Common Errors
  • Pronouncing it like 'pressure' (English influence).
  • Confusing the 'e' sounds with 'i' (e.g., priscriver).
  • Stress on the 'pre' instead of the 'ver'.
  • Mixing up the 's' and 'c' sounds (it should be 'pres-cre-ver').
  • Adding a vowel sound at the end in Brazil (prescrevê-ri).
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Examples by Level

1

O médico vai prescrever um remédio.

The doctor is going to prescribe a medicine.

Simple future with 'ir' + infinitive.

2

Você prescreve este xarope?

Do you prescribe this syrup?

Present tense, 2nd person (você).

3

O doutor prescreve muito repouso.

The doctor prescribes a lot of rest.

Third person singular present.

4

Eu preciso prescrever a dieta.

I need to prescribe the diet.

Infinitive after 'preciso'.

5

Eles prescrevem vitaminas hoje.

They prescribe vitamins today.

Third person plural present.

6

O médico não prescreveu nada.

The doctor didn't prescribe anything.

Simple past (Pretérito Perfeito) with negation.

7

Ela quer prescrever um exame.

She wants to prescribe an exam.

Infinitive after 'quer'.

8

Nós vamos prescrever a medicação.

We are going to prescribe the medication.

First person plural future.

1

O pediatra prescreveu um antibiótico para a gripe.

The pediatrician prescribed an antibiotic for the flu.

Pretérito Perfeito of 'prescrever'.

2

É proibido prescrever remédios sem licença.

It is forbidden to prescribe medicines without a license.

Impersonal 'é' + adjective + infinitive.

3

O médico prescreve uma caminhada todos os dias.

The doctor prescribes a walk every day.

Present tense for habitual actions.

4

Você pode prescrever algo para a minha dor?

Can you prescribe something for my pain?

Modal verb 'pode' + infinitive.

5

Ontem, o doutor prescreveu novas vitaminas.

Yesterday, the doctor prescribed new vitamins.

Past tense with time marker 'ontem'.

6

Ela sempre prescreve tratamentos naturais.

She always prescribes natural treatments.

Adverb 'sempre' + present tense.

7

O hospital não prescreve esse tipo de droga.

The hospital does not prescribe that type of drug.

Negative sentence in the present.

8

Nós prescrevemos o melhor para os pacientes.

We prescribe the best for the patients.

First person plural present.

1

O médico já tinha prescrito o remédio quando cheguei.

The doctor had already prescribed the medicine when I arrived.

Pluperfect (Pretérito Mais-que-perfeito) using 'tinha' + 'prescrito'.

2

Se eu fosse médico, não prescreveria tantos calmantes.

If I were a doctor, I wouldn't prescribe so many sedatives.

Conditional mood (prescreveria) with imperfect subjunctive.

3

Dizem que esta dívida já prescreveu há anos.

They say this debt already expired years ago.

Legal sense of the verb in the past.

4

É importante que o médico prescreva a dosagem correta.

It is important that the doctor prescribes the correct dosage.

Present subjunctive (prescreva) after 'é importante que'.

5

O especialista prefere prescrever exames antes do diagnóstico.

The specialist prefers to prescribe exams before the diagnosis.

Infinitive used after the verb 'preferir'.

6

Muitas multas de trânsito acabam por prescrever.

Many traffic fines end up expiring.

Periphrastic construction 'acabar por' + infinitive.

7

Quem prescreveu este tratamento para você?

Who prescribed this treatment for you?

Interrogative pronoun 'quem' with past tense.

8

O conselho de ética proíbe prescrever para familiares.

The ethics council forbids prescribing for family members.

Infinitive as a direct object.

1

A lei prescreve que todos são iguais perante o tribunal.

The law prescribes that everyone is equal before the court.

Usage in the sense of 'establishing a rule'.

2

O crime de injúria costuma prescrever em pouco tempo.

The crime of insult usually expires in a short time.

Legal context regarding statutes of limitations.

3

Embora o médico tenha prescrito repouso, ele continuou a trabalhar.

Although the doctor prescribed rest, he continued to work.

Concessive clause with 'embora' + perfect subjunctive.

4

Não se pode prescrever sem uma avaliação clínica minuciosa.

One cannot prescribe without a thorough clinical evaluation.

Passive 'se' with modal verb 'pode'.

5

O regulamento prescreve o uso obrigatório de capacete.

The regulation prescribes the mandatory use of a helmet.

Subject is an abstract noun (regulamento).

6

Caso o médico prescreva a cirurgia, teremos que nos preparar.

In case the doctor prescribes surgery, we will have to prepare.

Conditional 'caso' + present subjunctive.

7

O paciente questionou o que lhe foi prescrito.

The patient questioned what was prescribed to him.

Passive voice with past participle 'prescrito'.

8

A empresa prescreveu novas normas de segurança interna.

The company prescribed new internal safety standards.

Usage in an organizational/regulatory sense.

1

A pretensão executória prescreve no mesmo prazo da ação.

The right to enforce a judgment expires within the same period as the action.

Highly technical legal terminology.

2

O médico foi processado por prescrever substâncias ilícitas.

The doctor was sued for prescribing illicit substances.

Passive voice with 'ser' + past participle.

3

É imperativo que a norma prescreva sanções proporcionais.

It is imperative that the norm prescribes proportional sanctions.

Subjunctive mood expressing necessity.

4

A prescrição pode ser interrompida por um ato judicial.

The expiration period can be interrupted by a judicial act.

Noun form 'prescrição' used in a passive sentence.

5

O protocolo clínico prescreve a administração imediata do soro.

The clinical protocol prescribes the immediate administration of the serum.

Formal medical/scientific register.

6

Nenhum código de ética deveria prescrever o silêncio diante do erro.

No code of ethics should prescribe silence in the face of error.

Conditional mood 'deveria' + infinitive.

7

O direito de cobrar a dívida prescreverá no próximo mês.

The right to collect the debt will expire next month.

Future tense (Futuro do Presente).

8

Ao prescrever o tratamento, o médico deve considerar o histórico familiar.

When prescribing the treatment, the doctor must consider the family history.

Prepositional infinitive 'ao' + infinitive.

1

A natureza imprescritível de certos crimes é debatida por juristas.

The unprescribable nature of certain crimes is debated by jurists.

Adjective 'imprescritível' derived from the verb.

2

O filósofo busca prescrever uma ética universal para a humanidade.

The philosopher seeks to prescribe a universal ethic for humanity.

Abstract/Philosophical usage.

3

A doutrina prescreve que a nulidade não se sana pelo tempo.

The doctrine prescribes that nullity is not cured by time.

Usage in high-level legal theory.

4

O autor prescreve um retorno às tradições clássicas na literatura.

The author prescribes a return to classical traditions in literature.

Metaphorical usage in literary criticism.

5

Caso a pretensão venha a prescrever, o autor perderá o objeto da ação.

Should the claim expire, the plaintiff will lose the subject of the action.

Complex conditional structure 'venha a prescrever'.

6

A gramática normativa tende a prescrever regras rígidas de uso.

Normative grammar tends to prescribe rigid rules of usage.

Usage in linguistics.

7

O contrato prescrevia cláusulas de confidencialidade perpétuas.

The contract prescribed perpetual confidentiality clauses.

Imperfect tense (Pretérito Imperfeito) for descriptive states.

8

Não cabe ao Estado prescrever a moralidade privada dos cidadãos.

It is not up to the State to prescribe the private morality of citizens.

Usage of 'caber' + 'prescrever' in political discourse.

Common Collocations

prescrever medicamentos
prescrever repouso
prescrever exames
prescrever uma dieta
crime prescrever
dívida prescrever
prescrever normas
prescrever tratamento
prescrever cura
prescrever sanções

Common Phrases

O médico prescreveu.

— The standard way to say a doctor gave an order. Used when someone asks why you are taking a pill.

Estou tomando isso porque o médico prescreveu.

Deixar prescrever.

— To allow a legal deadline to pass. Often used in legal negligence contexts.

O advogado deixou o prazo prescrever.

Já prescreveu.

— It has already expired. Used for old debts or legal cases.

Não preciso pagar, a dívida já prescreveu.

Prescrever por escrito.

— To prescribe in writing. Emphasizes the need for a physical document.

Ele deve prescrever por escrito para a farmácia aceitar.

Prescrever uma rotina.

— To set a specific schedule or routine. Common in coaching or fitness.

Meu treinador prescreveu uma rotina pesada.

Poder de prescrever.

— The legal power or authority to issue a prescription.

Enfermeiros têm poder de prescrever em certos casos?

Prescrever de acordo com a lei.

— To prescribe following legal guidelines.

O médico deve prescrever de acordo com a lei vigente.

Impedir de prescrever.

— To stop someone from being able to prescribe.

O conselho pode impedi-lo de prescrever medicamentos.

Prescrever em excesso.

— To over-prescribe. A common topic in medical ethics.

Muitos médicos prescrevem antibióticos em excesso.

Prescrever a alta.

— To authorize a patient to leave the hospital.

O médico só vai prescrever a alta amanhã cedo.

Idioms & Expressions

"Prescrever no tempo"

— To be forgotten or lose relevance as time goes by. Similar to 'fading away'.

Aquelas mágoas antigas acabaram por prescrever no tempo.

literary
"Remédio prescrito"

— A solution that follows a specific formula or plan perfectly.

Sua estratégia foi o remédio prescrito para a crise.

metaphorical
"Fora do prescrito"

— Outside of what was ordered or expected. Not following the rules.

Ele agiu totalmente fora do prescrito no manual.

formal
"Prescrição médica"

— Not just the paper, but the doctor's authority itself.

Seguir a prescrição médica é fundamental.

neutral
"Prescrever a própria sorte"

— To dictate or determine one's own future.

Ele decidiu prescrever a própria sorte saindo do emprego.

literary
"Letra de médico (ao prescrever)"

— Illegible handwriting, specifically when writing a prescription.

Não entendo nada, ele tem letra de médico ao prescrever.

informal
"Prescrever o óbvio"

— To state or order something that is already clear to everyone.

O relatório apenas prescreve o óbvio.

neutral
"Ato de prescrever"

— The formal clinical act of medical decision making.

O ato de prescrever exige muita responsabilidade.

formal
"Prescrever silêncio"

— To command everyone to be quiet.

O juiz prescreveu silêncio no tribunal.

formal
"Nada prescrito"

— Nothing planned or ordered; spontaneity.

Não havia nada prescrito para aquela tarde.

neutral

Word Family

Nouns

prescrição (prescription/expiration)
prescritor (the person who prescribes)
imprescritibilidade (the state of being unprescribable)
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