Introduction
Knowing how to respond when someone asks if you finished a task in Brazilian Portuguese is essential for everyday conversations at work, school, or home. This article teaches common questions, natural replies, polite variations, and useful vocabulary so learners can answer confidently and sound more native.
- Common ways to ask if you finished a task
- Simple, direct responses
- Polite and professional replies
- Expressing certainty, uncertainty, and completion quality
- Short dialogues and situational examples
- Useful verbs and vocabulary to know
- Tone, politeness, and cultural tips
- Quick reference cheat-sheet
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Resources to practice
- Conclusion
Common ways to ask if you finished a task
In Brazilian Portuguese, people ask about finished tasks in several informal and formal ways. Recognizing these questions helps you respond appropriately.
Informal questions
Everyday, casual ways to ask include short phrases that are quick and direct.
Terminou?
Used between colleagues or friends when you want a quick status update.
Já acabou?
Another casual option that implies curiosity about completion.
Fez isso?
Direct and slightly more action-oriented: did you do this?
Neutral and polite questions
When you want to be polite or in a semi-formal environment, these options work well.
Você terminou?
Polite and neutral; suitable for co-workers, classmates, or acquaintances.
Você já conseguiu terminar?
Shows interest without pressure, often used when someone might have struggled with the task.
O trabalho foi concluído?
More formal, sometimes used in written messages or official contexts.
Contextual variations
Different contexts change the tone and word choice. At work, people might use technical terms; at home, they use simpler language.
Examples of context-driven questions:
Prazo: Você entregou o relatório?
Home: Já lavou a louça?
School: Você acabou o exercício?
Simple, direct responses
Short answers are common in fast conversations. These keep the exchange clear and efficient.
Yes — finished
Use these when the task is complete and you want to confirm quickly.
Sim, terminei.
Clear and concise: yes, I finished.
Já acabou.
Short and casual: it’s already done.
Pronto.
Very casual, commonly used to mean everything is ready or done.
No — not finished
Be honest and indicate whether you need more time.
Não, ainda não.
Polite and neutral: no, not yet.
Ainda estou trabalhando nisso.
Implies you are still on it and makes expectations clear.
Falta pouco.
Short way to say there is just a little left.
Partial completion
Sometimes only part of the task is finished. These replies explain how much is done.
Está quase pronto.
Means you are close to finishing.
Completei a parte X, falta a parte Y.
Useful when tasks are multi-step: I completed part X, part Y is missing.
Terminei a primeira etapa.
Good for projects with clear phases: I finished the first stage.
Polite and professional replies
In workplace or formal settings, you should sound professional and courteous. These phrases help maintain a respectful tone.
Formal confirmations
When replying to a manager, client, or teacher, use polite and clear language.
Sim, já finalizei o relatório. Posso enviar por e-mail?
Confirms completion and offers a next step.
Finalizei e anexei os arquivos.
Useful when you already delivered the work electronically.
Concluí, mas gostaria de revisar antes de entregar.
Shows diligence and proactivity: I finished, but I want to review before handing it in.
Polite delays and requests for more time
If you need more time, be honest and give a clear estimate.
Não terminei ainda. Preciso de mais duas horas.
Provides a time estimate, which helps planning.
Posso entregar até amanhã?
A polite request for a deadline extension.
Houve um imprevisto. Posso terminar até o fim do dia?
Use this when unexpected issues caused delay; it sounds responsible and respectful.
Expressing certainty, uncertainty, and completion quality
Beyond yes or no, Brazilian Portuguese has useful ways to express confidence about the result or to signal uncertainty.
High confidence
If the task is completed well and you want to stress reliability, use stronger verbs and reassurances.
Sim, está pronto e revisado.
Indicates both completion and review.
Concluí com sucesso.
Sounds formal and confident: I completed it successfully.
Uncertainty or partial knowledge
When you are not sure about the exact state or need someone else to check, use cautious language.
Acho que sim, mas preciso confirmar.
Useful when you’re reasonably sure but want to verify.
Creio que ficou pronto, vou checar agora.
Indicates belief about completion but promises to check and confirm.
Quality-related comments
Sometimes people ask not only if a task is done but whether it meets standards. These phrases handle that nuance.
Terminei, mas posso melhorar alguns pontos se quiser.
Shows willingness to refine the work.
Está concluído conforme as especificações.
Useful in formal project contexts to confirm compliance with requirements.
Short dialogues and situational examples
Reading short, natural dialogues helps learners see how phrases fit into real conversations.
Office: quick status check
Chefe: Você terminou o relatório?
Funcionario: Não, ainda não. Preciso de mais uma hora.
Household chore
Parceiro: Já lavou a louça?
Você: Já, terminei agora.
Classroom assignment
Professor: Você acabou o exercício?
Aluno: Estou quase. Falta só o último problema.
Team project
Coordenador: Concluímos a apresentação?
Membro: Completei minha parte. O slide final ainda precisa de revisão.
Useful verbs and vocabulary to know
Knowing a few core verbs and nouns makes constructing replies easier and more precise.
Terminar — to finish (first appearance bolded; use terminei etc. later)
Acabar — to end, to finish
Concluir — to conclude, complete
Finalizar — to finalize
Entregar — to deliver, submit
Revisar — to review
Prazo — deadline
Etapa — stage, phase
Parte — part
Usage notes: choose terminar or acabar for informal speech; use concluir or finalizar in formal or written contexts. Use entregar when you hand in something to someone or upload a file.
Tone, politeness, and cultural tips
Brazilian Portuguese places value on politeness and warmth. Even brief workplace interactions often include a friendly tone.
When answering a superior or client, add a short polite phrase like por favor, obrigado, or com certeza to sound respectful. For example: Sim, terminei. Posso enviar por e-mail, por favor?
In casual contexts, contractions and dropped pronouns are common. Saying Terminei instead of Eu terminei is perfectly natural.
Also, offering next steps is appreciated in professional settings. If you finished a task, suggest what you will do next: Terminei. Quer que eu revise mais alguma coisa?
Quick reference cheat-sheet
Keep this small list of ready-made replies for common situations.
Yes, finished: Sim, terminei.
Already done: Já acabou.
Not yet: Não, ainda não.
Almost done: Está quase pronto.
Need more time: Preciso de mais tempo.
Delivered: Finalizei e entreguei.
Partial complete: Completei a parte X, falta a Y.
Common mistakes to avoid
Beginners often make predictable errors when answering questions about completion.
1. Using literal English structure: Avoid direct translations like I finish = Eu finish. Use conjugated verbs: Eu terminei or Terminei.
2. Forgetting agreement with the subject: Some verbs require reflexive or auxiliary forms in certain contexts; use simple past when appropriate: Terminei not Terminar.
3. Being too blunt in formal settings: Instead of only saying Não, add an explanation and timeframe: Não, ainda não. Posso terminar até amanhã?
Resources to practice
To internalize these replies, listen to Brazilian Portuguese podcasts, watch short workplace dialogues, or practice with language partners. Focus on rhythm and intonation: short answers tend to be quick, while polite requests use softer intonation.
Try to note how native speakers shorten phrases or omit pronouns: Já entreguei rather than Eu já entreguei in casual speech.
Conclusion
Responding to questions about finished tasks in Brazilian Portuguese becomes natural when you know common questions, short replies, polite forms, and useful verbs. Use the examples and phrases here to build confidence in workplace, school, and home conversations. Practice listening, imitation, and small role-plays to sound more fluent and polite in real situations.
