Introduction
This article teaches common Brazilian Portuguese phrases and expressions to say a task is not finished. It focuses on everyday language used at work, school, and home, helping beginner to intermediate learners sound natural when explaining delays, incomplete work, or when asking for more time.
- Why these phrases matter
- Direct ways to say a task is not finished
- Polite and professional phrases
- Informal and conversational ways
- Short responses for messaging and chat
- Expressing partial completion
- Politeness and tone
- Short dialogues and scenarios
- Common mistakes and usage tips
- Useful verbs and conjugation reminders
- Practice suggestions for learners
- Conclusion
Why these phrases matter
Knowing how to communicate that a task is not finished is essential for clear communication and good relationships. In Brazil, tone and indirectness can matter, so learning several ways to say the same idea helps you adapt to formal, informal, and neutral situations.
Important vocabulary
Before we explore full sentences, learn a few key words you will see often in examples.
incompleto — incomplete
pendente — pending, outstanding
atrasado — late, delayed
faltar — to be missing, to lack
concluir — to finish, to complete
terminar — to end, to finish
Direct ways to say a task is not finished
These phrases are straightforward and useful in many contexts, from telling a colleague to speaking with a friend.
Simple statements
Não terminei — I did not finish.
Usage note: Use this in casual conversations when responsibility is yours or when you want to be brief.
Não terminei o relatório ainda.
Ainda não está pronto — It is not ready yet.
Usage note: Slightly more neutral; appropriate for both formal and informal settings.
Ainda não está pronto para a reunião.
Está incompleto — It is incomplete.
Usage note: Good for pointing out missing parts in documents, forms, or projects.
O formulário está incompleto, faltam as assinaturas.
Explaining why something is not finished
Giving a reason shows responsibility and helps manage expectations. Use these to explain delays politely.
Faltam algumas informações — Some information is missing.
Usage note: Useful when you need details from someone else.
Faltam algumas informações para eu concluir o cadastro.
Estou aguardando aprovação — I am waiting for approval.
Usage note: Professional and neutral; suitable for emails and meetings.
Estou aguardando aprovação do supervisor para continuar.
Houve um atraso — There was a delay.
Usage note: Use this to explain external causes without blaming anyone directly.
Houve um atraso na entrega dos materiais, por isso não terminei.
Polite and professional phrases
In work or academic environments, it is important to be polite and clear. These expressions convey professionalism while admitting incomplete status.
Formal statements
O trabalho ainda está em andamento — The work is still in progress.
Usage note: Formal, safe choice for emails and status updates.
O trabalho ainda está em andamento; estimamos concluir até sexta.
Não foi possível concluir dentro do prazo — It was not possible to finish within the deadline.
Usage note: Use when you need to explain that time constraints prevented completion.
Não foi possível concluir dentro do prazo devido a imprevistos.
Preciso de mais tempo — I need more time.
Usage note: Direct but polite; often followed by a proposed new deadline.
Preciso de mais tempo para revisar os documentos; posso entregar segunda?
Offering solutions
When admitting incompletion, proposing a next step shows initiative and reduces friction.
Posso entregar uma versão parcial — I can deliver a partial version.
Usage note: Helpful when something useful can be submitted while work continues.
Posso entregar uma versão parcial hoje e a versão final na próxima semana.
Vou priorizar isso agora — I will prioritize this now.
Usage note: Reassuring and action-oriented.
Vou priorizar isso agora e atualizo você em duas horas.
Informal and conversational ways
These phrases are common in casual chat with friends, classmates, or close colleagues. They sound natural and relaxed.
Casual excuses and updates
Ainda não deu tempo — I have not had time yet.
Usage note: Informal; implies a busy schedule without heavy detail.
Ainda não deu tempo, mas eu termino amanhã.
Estou em cima ainda — I am still working on it (literally on top of it).
Usage note: Very colloquial and typically used in spoken language.
Estou em cima ainda, mas já falta pouco.
Tá quase — It is almost done.
Usage note: Very common and optimistic; great for quick reassurances.
Tá quase, só falta revisar as últimas páginas.
Short responses for messaging and chat
When writing quick messages, brevity is key. These short phrases fit SMS, WhatsApp, and chat apps.
Logo entrego — I will deliver soon.
Usage note: Short and friendly; implies imminent completion.
Logo entrego, estou finalizando os detalhes.
A caminho — On the way (used figuratively for progress).
Usage note: Casual; suggests you are actively moving toward completion.
A caminho, só falta formatar.
Em breve — Soon.
Usage note: Very short and often used to set expectation without specifics.
Em breve envio o arquivo.
Adding a time frame
Giving a clear time frame reduces uncertainty. Combine simple phrases with time markers.
Hoje à tarde eu termino — I finish this afternoon.
Usage note: Specific and useful for short-term deadlines.
Hoje à tarde eu termino e te mando por e-mail.
Até amanhã — By tomorrow.
Usage note: Common deadline extension phrase.
Até amanhã eu entrego a versão final.
Até o fim da semana — By the end of the week.
Usage note: A common professional deadline when more time is needed.
Até o fim da semana estará pronto.
Expressing partial completion
When a task has been started but not finished, use these phrases to communicate progress.
Showing what is done vs. what remains
Já fiz a parte A, falta a parte B — I already did part A, part B is missing.
Usage note: Clear breakdown helps others understand exactly what remains.
Já fiz a parte A, falta a parte B para fechar o projeto.
Concluí 70% do trabalho — I completed 70 percent of the work.
Usage note: Quantifying progress is especially useful in project management.
Concluí 70% do trabalho; ainda faltam ajustes finais.
Terminei a primeira versão — I finished the first draft/version.
Usage note: Signals that the work exists but may still need revision.
Terminei a primeira versão, aguardo feedback.
Politeness and tone
Brazilian Portuguese often values friendly and collaborative tone. Small words and expressions can soften a message and show respect.
Softening phrases
Desculpe, ainda não terminei — Sorry, I have not finished yet.
Usage note: Use when you must apologize for a delay.
Desculpe, ainda não terminei, tive alguns imprevistos.
Com licença, ainda está pendente — Excuse me, this is still pending.
Usage note: Polite for interrupting or reminding someone in formal contexts.
Com licença, ainda está pendente a assinatura do gerente.
Se não for incômodo, preciso de mais tempo — If it is not an inconvenience, I need more time.
Usage note: Very polite and indirect; good if asking for a favor.
Se não for incômodo, preciso de mais tempo para revisar tudo com calma.
Short dialogues and scenarios
Seeing short dialogues helps you hear how phrases fit together in conversation. Each line uses natural Brazilian Portuguese.
Scenario: workplace update
Chefe: Como está o relatório?
Você: Ainda não está pronto, ainda não está pronto. Eu estou aguardando aprovação do departamento financeiro.
Chefe: Quando pode ficar pronto?
Você: Posso entregar uma versão parcial hoje e entregar a versão final até sexta.
Scenario: group project
Colega: Você já terminou a apresentação?
Você: Ainda não terminei. Já fiz a parte do design, já fiz a parte do design, falta montar os slides.
Colega: Precisa de ajuda?
Você: Sim, pode me ajudar amanhã?
Common mistakes and usage tips
Beginners often mix verb forms or choose words that sound literal. These tips help you avoid awkward phrasing.
Tip 1: Use não terminei for personal responsibility and ainda não está pronto for neutral status.
Tip 2: When giving a reason, be concise: havia um problema or houve um atraso are idiomatic.
Tip 3: For formal writing, prefer verbs like concluir and nouns like pendente. For speech, use terminar, faltar, and colloquial shortcuts like tá quase.
Useful verbs and conjugation reminders
Understanding a few verbs and how they change helps you make many of the phrases above.
Terminar — eu termino, tu terminas, ele/ela termina, nós terminamos, vocês terminam, eles terminam.
Concluir — eu concluo, tu concluis, ele/ela conclui, nós concluímos, vocês concluem, eles concluem.
Faltar — eu falto, tu faltas, ele/ela falta, nós faltamos, vocês faltam, eles faltam.
Aguardar — eu aguardo, tu aguardas, ele/ela aguarda, nós aguardamos, vocês aguardam, eles aguardam.
Quick grammar note
Use ainda with present tense to indicate something is not done yet: ainda não terminei, ainda não está pronto. Use já to indicate a completed step: já fiz, já entreguei.
Practice suggestions for learners
To internalize these expressions, try writing short status updates in Portuguese, replace English updates with Portuguese ones in your notes, and practice brief spoken responses for common scenarios. Listening to native Brazilian speakers in meetings, videos, or podcasts will help you pick up natural intonation and preferred phrases.
Conclusion
Learning multiple ways to say a task is not finished helps you communicate clearly, politely, and professionally in Brazilian Portuguese. Memorize core vocabulary, practice short phrases, and adapt tone to the situation. With these expressions you will manage expectations and keep conversations smooth whether at work, school, or home.
