How to say “I’m still working on it” in Portuguese

Introduction

Knowing how to say I’m still working on it in Brazilian Portuguese is useful for everyday conversations at work, school, or with friends. This article explains natural phrases, formal and informal options, verb conjugations, examples, and cultural tips so you can communicate progress and timelines clearly in Portuguese.

Common ways to say I’m still working on it

There are several natural ways to express the idea I’m still working on it in Brazilian Portuguese depending on formality and context. The most frequent verbs are trabalhar, fazer, estar plus gerund, and continuar. Below are key phrases and when to use them.

1. Estou trabalhando nisso

Estou trabalhando nisso is the direct equivalent of I’m working on it and is very common in both formal and informal settings. It uses the present progressive structure with the gerund, which is widely used in Brazilian Portuguese to describe ongoing actions.

Example:

Estou trabalhando nisso agora mesmo.
Vou te mandar uma atualização até o fim do dia.

Usage note: Use this when you want to emphasize that the task is in progress at this moment.

2. Ainda estou trabalhando nisso

Ainda estou trabalhando nisso adds the adverb ainda to indicate that the work is still ongoing and may be taking longer than expected. It is helpful to manage expectations or explain delays.

Example:

Ainda estou trabalhando nisso, peço só mais um pouco de tempo.
Posso te enviar até amanhã de manhã.

Usage note: Use when the other person expects completion or asks for a status update; it signals continuation and slight delay.

3. Estou terminando

Estou terminando means I am finishing and suggests the task is close to completion. Use this when you want to reassure someone that the end is near.

Example:

Estou terminando o relatório agora.
Falta só revisar e já te passo.

Usage note: Good for both colleagues and friends when you want to communicate imminent completion.

4. Ainda falta pouco

Ainda falta pouco literally means there is still little missing, i.e., almost done. This is a casual and optimistic way to tell someone the job will be finished soon.

Example:

Ainda falta pouco para terminar o projeto.
Só preciso ajustar os detalhes finais.

Usage note: Informal and reassuring; use with teammates or friends rather than in very formal written reports.

5. Estou cuidando disso

Estou cuidando disso conveys I am taking care of it and has a slightly broader meaning than working on it. It may imply responsibility and handling the task until completion.

Example:

Pode deixar, estou cuidando disso.
Eu te atualizo se houver alguma mudança.

Usage note: Use when you want to assert responsibility and reassure someone that the task is under control.

6. Estou resolvendo

Estou resolvendo means I am resolving it or I am working to solve it. This is common for problems, issues, or technical matters.

Example:

Estou resolvendo o problema do sistema agora.
Deve voltar a funcionar em breve.

Usage note: Use this for troubleshooting, customer service, or technical contexts.

Politeness and formality: choosing the right phrase

Portuguese, like English, has different registers. For formal emails, meetings, or when speaking to someone senior, prefer more polite and measured phrasing. For friends and colleagues, informal expressions are fine.

More formal options

Estou trabalhando nisso is acceptable in formal contexts if paired with a courteous tone. You can make it more formal by adding time expectations and polite connectors.

Examples:

Estou trabalhando nisso e enviarei um relatório até sexta-feira.
Agradeço pela paciência enquanto concluo essa tarefa.

Or use a more elaborate structure:

Estou em processo de finalização deste projeto e espero concluí-lo até a próxima semana.

More informal options

Among friends or close colleagues, use short and casual forms like já estou vendo or já vou fazer. These imply prompt attention and are useful in everyday chat or messaging.

Examples:

Já estou vendo isso agora.
Já vou fazer e te mando depois.

Conjugation and grammar tips

Understanding the grammar behind these phrases helps you adapt them to different subjects, tenses, and contexts. Below are key structures and quick conjugation notes.

Present progressive: estar + gerund

The present progressive with the verb estar plus gerund (-ando, -endo, -indo) expresses ongoing actions. Common use:

Eu estou trabalhando nisso.
Você/Ele/Ela está trabalhando nisso.
Nós estamos trabalhando nisso.
Eles estão trabalhando nisso.

Note: The gerund is used widely in Brazilian Portuguese, more than in European Portuguese, and sounds natural in spoken language.

Simple present

Sometimes the simple present is used to indicate ongoing action or habitual activity:

Eu trabalho nisso hoje.
Eu faço isso agora.

Usage note: Use simple present when talking about routines or scheduled work rather than an action happening this moment.

Continuar + gerund

Continuar plus gerund emphasizes the continuation of an action. It is useful when you want to stress that the work has been ongoing.

Continuo trabalhando nisso desde ontem.
Continuamos pesquisando o assunto.

Natural short replies and follow-ups

In conversations, short and polite replies are common. Here are quick phrases you can use in chat, email, or face-to-face.

Quick status replies

Use these when someone asks for a brief update:

Estou verificando.
Ainda estou nessa.
Quase pronto.
Já está em andamento.

Usage note: These are informal and ideal for instant messaging or quick verbal updates.

Adding a time expectation

Adding a time frame makes your response more useful and professional:

Ainda estou trabalhando nisso; entrego até as 17h.
Estou quase terminando, envio até amanhã.

Usage note: Always be realistic with deadlines to build trust and avoid repeated delays.

Examples in different real-life situations

Below are sample dialogues and sentences tailored to common scenarios so you can see how native speakers would naturally respond.

At work — colleague asks for a report

Colleague: Você já terminou o relatório?
You: Ainda estou trabalhando nisso. Vou te enviar até o fim do dia.

Customer support — solving an issue

Customer: O problema com minha conta foi resolvido?
Agent: Estou resolvendo o caso agora. Devo ter uma solução em até 2 horas.

With friends — favors and quick tasks

Friend: Você pode me ajudar com aquilo?
You: Já vou fazer, só preciso terminar essa tarefa primeiro.

Formal email to manager

Subject: Atualização do Projeto
Estou trabalhando nisso e preparo um resumo com os pontos pendentes. Entregarei o documento até segunda-feira.

Helpful vocabulary related to progress and completion

Knowing related words will help you create more precise sentences about status and progress.

Concluir — to conclude, to finish
Finalizar — to finalize
Entregar — to deliver, to hand in
Prazos — deadlines
Prazo — deadline or time limit
Atualização — update
Progresso — progress

Example:

Estou quase pronto para entregar; só falta concluir alguns detalhes finais.
Farei uma atualização do progresso no final da semana.

Common mistakes to avoid

Beginner learners sometimes make predictable mistakes. Here are a few to watch for with corrections and short explanations.

Incorrect: Estou trabalhar nisso.
Correct: Estou trabalhando nisso.
Explanation: Use the gerund after estar for ongoing actions.

Incorrect: Ainda trabalho nisso.
Correct: Ainda estou trabalhando nisso or Ainda trabalho nisso (contextual).
Explanation: While the simple present can be used, the progressive form is more natural for ongoing tasks.

Incorrect: Eu vou terminar agora mesmo amanhã.
Correct: Vou terminar amanhã mesmo or Estou terminando agora.
Explanation: Be careful with time adverbs; place them to avoid confusion.

Pronunciation tips for non-native speakers

Pronunciation can affect clarity. Here are a few tips for common words in the phrases above.

Trabalhando — stress on the second syllable: tra-ba-LHAN-do. The lh sound is similar to the gl in million but softer.
Estou — pronounce the o like the oo in cool when unstressed; stress the vowel slightly.
Ainda — ai as in eye, and the nda sounds like n-dah.
Cuidando — qui is pronounced kee, cuidando sounds like koo-ee-DAHN-do.

Tip: Listen to native speakers in podcasts or videos and repeat short phrases to match rhythm and intonation. Brazilians often use contractions and fast speech in casual conversation.

Variation by region and register

Brazil is large, and regional speech affects word choice and intonation. However, the phrases presented are widely understood across Brazil.

In the Southeast and South, the gerund is used frequently. In the Northeast, you might hear similar structures with different intonation. Informal contractions like tovê (tenho) are regional slang—avoid these in formal contexts.

Putting it all together: sample dialogues

Short dialogue for work:

Gerente: Como está o progresso do relatório?
Você: Ainda estou trabalhando nisso. Entrego até as 16h.

Short dialogue for friends:

Amigo: Você pode montar a playlist para a festa?
Você: Já estou vendo, te mando em uma hora.

Conclusion

Learning to say I’m still working on it in Brazilian Portuguese opens up clearer communication in many everyday situations. Use forms like Estou trabalhando nisso, Ainda estou trabalhando nisso, and Estou terminando to convey progress. Adjust formality, add time frames, and practice pronunciation to sound natural and reliable when giving updates.