Introduction
As a learner of Brazilian Portuguese, asking about homework is a practical skill you will use often in school, tutoring, or study groups. This article teaches natural phrases, polite questions, short dialogues, and usage notes to help you confidently ask and discuss homework in Portuguese with classmates and teachers.
- Why learning homework-related phrases matters
- Common questions to ask about homework
- Polite ways to ask and respond
- Short dialogues: realistic situations
- Useful verbs and conjugations for homework conversations
- Politeness tips and cultural notes
- Common mistakes to avoid
- How to write messages asking about homework
- Practice phrases for speaking fluency
- What teachers often expect when you ask about homework
- How to ask for feedback on homework
- Resources to learn more
- Conclusion
Why learning homework-related phrases matters
Knowing how to talk about homework goes beyond vocabulary: it builds rapport with teachers and classmates and helps you stay organized. Homework conversations often include verbs, time expressions, and polite markers that are common in everyday speech.
Key vocabulary to know
Start with these essential words. The first time each term appears it is bolded; later appearances use italics.
lição de casa — homework
tarefa — assignment, task
exercício — exercise
professor / professora — teacher (male / female)
prazo — deadline
ajuda — help
entregar — to submit, to turn in
esqueci — I forgot
Common questions to ask about homework
Here are natural, beginner-friendly questions you can use in class or in messages. Use polite forms with classmates and slightly more formal forms with teachers.
Asking what the homework is
Use this when you missed class or want clarification.
O que tem de lição de casa para hoje?
Tem alguma tarefa?
Qual é a tarefa para amanhã?
Asking about specific exercises
When you want details about which exercises to do or how many.
Quais exercícios precisamos fazer?
Quantos exercícios são para entregar?
Asking about the deadline
Clarify the due date so you avoid late submissions.
Qual é o prazo para entregar?
Quando temos que entregar a tarefa?
Asking for help
Use these when you do not understand the assignment or a specific problem.
Você pode me dar ajuda com a lição de casa?
Eu não entendi este exercício. Pode explicar?
Polite ways to ask and respond
Politeness matters especially with teachers. These phrases help you sound respectful and natural.
Formal and polite forms
With teachers use the impersonal or formal tone.
Professor, poderia repetir a tarefa, por favor?
Professora, qual é o prazo para este trabalho, por favor?
Casual forms for classmates
With friends keep it relaxed and simple.
Ei, fez a lição de casa?
Você já terminou a tarefa?
Short dialogues: realistic situations
See how these phrases appear in real conversations. Breaks are shown with line breaks for clarity.
Dialogue 1 — Asking a classmate after class
Você: Oi, você sabe o que tem de lição de casa pra amanhã?
Colega: Sim. São os exercícios 5 a 8 do capítulo 3.
Você: Obrigado! Tem que entregar na segunda?
Colega: Não, só na quarta.
Dialogue 2 — Asking the teacher during class
Aluno: Professor, qual é a tarefa para esta semana?
Professor: Leiam o texto na página 42 e respondam as perguntas 1 a 4.
Aluno: E o prazo?
Professor: Entreguem na sexta-feira.
Dialogue 3 — Asking for help in a study group
Você: Pessoal, alguém entende o exercício 3?
Amiga: Eu entendi um pouco. Quer que eu mostre?
Você: Sim, preciso de ajuda com a parte b.
Amiga: Ok, vamos resolver juntos.
Useful verbs and conjugations for homework conversations
Verbs are central when discussing homework. Learn these common verbs and simple conjugations you will use often.
entregar
Eu entrego, você entrega, ele/ela entrega, nós entregamos, eles entregam.
Use when talking about submitting work: Quando eu entrego a tarefa?
fazer
Eu faço, você faz, ele/ela faz, nós fazemos, eles fazem.
A workhorse verb meaning to do: Eu ainda não fiz os exercícios.
esquecer
Eu esqueci, você esqueceu, ele/ela esqueceu.
When you miss the assignment: Desculpe, eu esqueci a lição de casa.
entender
Eu entendo, eu não entendo, você entende.
When you need clarification: Eu não entendo a pergunta 2.
Politeness tips and cultural notes
Brazilians are generally warm and informal, but context matters. Use polite words when addressing teachers and more relaxed language with peers.
Using por favor and obrigado/obrigada
Always add por favor to requests to sound polite when asking the teacher for clarification.
Say obrigado if you are male and obrigada if you are female when thanking someone for help.
Using diminutives to be friendly
Brazilians often use diminutives to soften requests. Add -inho or -inha to nouns.
Você pode me ajudar com a liçãozinha? — A friendly, informal way to ask for help.
Common mistakes to avoid
Beginners often make predictable errors; being aware of them helps you communicate clearly.
Mixing up lição de casa and tarefa
Both are correct, but lição de casa commonly refers to homework assigned to be done at home. tarefa can be used more broadly for assignments or tasks.
Forgetting the article
In Portuguese, articles are often used before homework words. Say a lição de casa or a tarefa, not just lição de casa or tarefa in many contexts.
Using the wrong form of obrigado/obrigada
Match the gender of the speaker: If you are female say obrigada; if male say obrigado.
How to write messages asking about homework
Texting or sending chat messages is common. Keep them short, clear, and polite. Here are templates you can copy and adapt.
Message to a classmate
Oi, tudo bem?
Você sabe qual é a lição de casa pra amanhã?
Valeu!
Message to a teacher (formal)
Boa tarde, professora.
Poderia, por favor, confirmar a tarefa e o prazo para esta semana?
Obrigada.
Follow-up message if you missed class
Oi, perdi a aula hoje. Poderia me dizer o que tenho de lição de casa?
Practice phrases for speaking fluency
Repeating common phrases aloud helps build confidence. Use these short lines in study sessions or when practicing with a partner.
O que temos de lição de casa?
Você pode me explicar este exercício?
Qual é o prazo?
Eu já terminei a tarefa.
Posso entregar amanhã?
What teachers often expect when you ask about homework
Teachers appreciate clear, respectful questions that show you are trying to understand or meet deadlines. Be specific: mention the page, exercise number, or deadline when possible.
Examples of specific queries
O exercício 7 da página 56 é individual ou em grupo?
A atividade do capítulo 2 vale nota?
Tem material de apoio para essa tarefa?
How to ask for feedback on homework
Once you submit work, you may want to ask for corrections or feedback. Use these phrases to request constructive comments politely.
Professora, poderia corrigir meu texto e dizer o que posso melhorar?
Você pode revisar meus exercícios antes de eu entregar?
Resources to learn more
Complement homework conversations with listening and repetition. Watch short classroom videos, listen to audio dialogues, and practice with native speakers. Language exchange apps and classroom materials focused on school topics are especially useful.
Conclusion
Mastering how to ask about homework in Brazilian Portuguese helps you stay organized and connect with teachers and classmates. Use the phrases, verbs, and polite forms in this article to ask what the lição de casa is, check the prazo, request ajuda, and follow up professionally. Practice these lines aloud and in real conversations to build confidence and fluency.
