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How to Say ‘I've been having back pain.’ in Portuguese

Tenho tido dores nas costas.

teh-nyo TEE-doo DOH-resh naz KOSH-tash

[teh-nyo TEE-doo DOH-resh naz KOSH-tash]

Phrase Breakdown

Tenho tido dores

teh-nyo TEE-doo DOH-resh

I have been having pains

This tense describes something that has been happening lately. Say it as 'TAY-nyu TEE-du DOH-rɨsh'.

Example

Tenho tido dores nos joelhos.

I've been having knee pain.

Words in this phrase

Tenho

[teh-nyo]

I have

A phrase used to express possession or a state of being.

Example

Tenho alergia a certos tipos de leite.

I have an allergy to certain types of milk.

tido

[TEE-doo]

had

Past participle of 'ter'; 'tenho tido' means 'I have been having'.

Example

Tenho tido muito trabalho.

I have been having a lot of work.

dores

[DOH-resh]

pains

Plural of 'dor', pain or ache.

Example

Tenho dores de cabeça.

I have headaches.

nas costas.

naz KOSH-tash

in the back

'Nas costas' means 'in the back' (the body part). Say it as 'nash KOSH-tash', with a 'sh' sound for each 's'.

Example

Dói-me nas costas.

It hurts in my back.

Words in this phrase

nas

[naz]

in the / on the

Contraction used before feminine plural nouns.

Example

Em “Desconto nas sobremesas”, “nas” indica em que produtos há redução.

In “Desconto nas sobremesas,” “nas” indicates which products have a reduction.

costas

[KOSH-tash]

back

The back of the body; always plural in Portuguese.

Example

Dói-me as costas.

My back hurts.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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