INTRODUCTION: The field of primary health care has many terms that are not used properly. It is important to retrieve the root of such terms in order to understand why they are used differently by health workers and lay people. OBJECTIVE: To research and discuss the meanings and uses of terms related to primary health care. METHOD: Review in different sources the meanings of terms such as primary health care, family medicine, general practice, internal medicine, family health program. RESULTS: Different references usually have the same meaning for similar terms. Some terms, such as "clinical medicine", which in practice means "internal medicine", do not have a clear origin. DISCUSSION: Many terms are used incorrectly due to different interests and historical reasons. This work does not intend to provide an exhaustive discussion about the importance of terminology in primary health care. It is an important field of research because might help communication between patients, health workers and politicians and, especially, support adequate understanding by students of this type of health care.
Primary Health Care; Family Health Program; Family Practice; General Practice; Internal Medicine