Old Lady & the Hospital
An old lady telephoned the hospital and asked, "Is it possible to know how a patient is doing?"
The operator said, "Yes, it is. What's the name and room number?"
- "Alice, Room 604."
- "Please, hold on for a minute."
After a few minutes, the operator said, "I have good news. Alice’s health is improving and she will be discharged on Tuesday."
- "Thank you. God bless you!"
- "You're more than welcome. Is Alice your daughter?"
- "Não, eu sou a Alice, do quarto seiscentos e quatro. Ninguém me diz nada.No, I'm Alice from room 604. No one tells me anything."
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The Plus version of this story
Uma velhinha* telefonou para o hospital e perguntou “É possível saber como está uma paciente?”A operadora disse: “Sim, é. Qual é o nome e o número do quarto?”- “Alice, quarto seiscentos e quatro.”- “Por favor, aguarde* um minuto.”Após* alguns minutos, a operadora disse: “Tenho boas notícias! A saúde da Alice está a melhorar e vai ter alta* na terça-feira.”- “Obrigada! Deus a abençoe!*”- “Não tem de quê!* A Alice é sua filha?”- “Não, eu sou a Alice, do quarto seiscentos e quatro. Ninguém me diz nada."An old lady telephoned the hospital and asked, "Is it possible to know how a patient is doing?"The operator said, "Yes, it is. What's the name and room number?"- "Alice, Room 604."- "Please, hold on for a minute."After a few minutes, the operator said, "I have good news. Alice’s health is improving and she will be discharged on Tuesday."- "Thank you. God bless you!"- "You're more than welcome. Is Alice your daughter?"- "No, I'm Alice from room 604. No one tells me anything.”
🔎 Words in this story
✴️ Velhinha (old lady)
This is the diminutive of the word “velha” (“old” - feminine singular). The most common diminutives are formed with the ending “inho” (for the masculine) or “inha” (for the feminine). They can convey:
- Smallness: “Um favorzinho” (a small favour)
- Affection: “velhinha” (dear old woman)
- Disdain: “Que homenzinho irritante!” (What an annoying man!)
- Pity: “pobrezinho” (poor man)
- Intensity: “acordar cedinho” (to wake up really early)
It’s often only by the context and tone that we know what is the intended meaning of using a diminutive.
It is also common to use “ito” and “ita” instead of “inho” and “inha.” That’s very typical with people’s first names. For example, instead of Sara, some people call me “Sarita” or “Sarinha” in an affectionate way.
There is a Plus version of this story
The same story, taken further, for DailyNata Plus members. This one works on present subjunctive.
- The whole story in Portuguese, and its English
- The words in it, explained, with examples
Written for level B1–B2. Every story has its own, anywhere from A1 to B2.