pílulas
1. Small round or oval tablets of medicine to be swallowed whole
The doctor prescribed me some pills for my headache.
O médico me prescreveu algumas pílulas para minha dor de cabeça.
2. The contraceptive pill, especially oral contraceptive medication
She takes the pill every morning to prevent pregnancy.
Ela toma a pílula todos os dias de manhã para evitar gravidez.
3. Something unpleasant that must be endured or accepted
Losing the game was a bitter pill to swallow.
Perder o jogo foi uma pílula amarga de engolir.
4. Slang term for MDMA/ecstasy drug
He was caught dealing pills at the concert.
Ele foi pego vendendo pílulas no show.
In Brazilian Portuguese, 'pílulas' is widely used for pharmaceutical tablets and capsules. The phrase 'estar na pílula' (to be on the pill) is common when discussing contraception. In the USA, 'the pill' has become synonymous with oral contraceptives, while in Brazil and Portugal 'comprimidos' is often preferred in clinical contexts. The term can also carry cultural significance regarding women's reproductive autonomy, particularly in discussions about birth control access.
NYC Slang
poppers, rolls, molly (depending on context and type of pill)
Related Idioms & Phrases
a bitter pill to swallow - uma pílula amarga de engolir (something difficult to accept)
swallow a pill - engolir uma pílula (to accept something unpleasant)
on the pill - estar na pílula (taking contraceptive medication)
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