Introduction
Learn how to say and use the phrase for The paper tray is empty in Brazilian Portuguese. This practical guide explains vocabulary, simple grammar, polite ways to report the issue, common replies, and short dialogues you can use at work, school, or a print shop. Perfect for beginners who need clear, usable phrases for everyday situations.
- Core phrase and direct translations
- When to use each phrase
- Grammar tips for beginners
- Short dialogues for common contexts
- Common replies you might hear
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Pronunciation tips for beginners
- Situational variations and extra vocabulary
- Quick checklist for refilling the printer
- Conclusion
Core phrase and direct translations
The most natural way to tell someone the paper tray is empty in Brazilian Portuguese is o reservatório de papel está vazio. This is a clear, formal option you can use with colleagues or technicians.
Other common ways include a bandeja de papel está vazia and acabou o papel. Each version fits a slightly different context — we explain when to use each one below.
Short vocabulary list
o reservatório de papel — the paper tray (sounds more technical)
a bandeja de papel — the paper tray (common in offices and printers)
o compartimento de papel — the paper compartment
o carregador de papel — the paper feeder/loader
vazio / vazia — empty (vazio for masculine nouns, vazia for feminine)
acabou o papel — the paper ran out / there is no paper left
por favor — please
obrigado / obrigada — thank you (male/female speaker)
When to use each phrase
Use o reservatório de papel está vazio when speaking with a technician, IT support, or when you want to sound precise. It is slightly more formal and technical.
Use a bandeja de papel está vazia in everyday office situations, at a copy center, or when talking to coworkers. It is the most natural phrase for most speakers.
Use acabou o papel for quick, informal reports: to a colleague in a hurry, when posting a note on the printer, or when speaking with someone you know well.
Grammar tips for beginners
Pay attention to gender agreement. Bandeja and bandeja de papel are feminine, so you say está vazia. Reservatório is masculine, so you say está vazio. The verb is usually estar for a temporary state: the tray is empty now.
If you use acabou o papel, you are using a past/summary expression meaning the paper has run out. This is short and common in speech.
Polite ways to report the problem
When asking someone to refill paper or calling support, polite phrases help.
Por favor, o reservatório de papel está vazio. Pode repor o papel?
Desculpe, a bandeja de papel está vazia. Você pode colocar mais papel?
Acabou o papel na impressora. Pode verificar, por favor?
Short dialogues for common contexts
Scenario: Office coworker
Eu: A bandeja de papel está vazia. Você pode repor, por favor?
Colega: Claro, já vou colocar.
Scenario: Receptionist calls maintenance
Recepcionista: Bom dia, a impressora do 2º andar está sem papel. Pode verificar?
Técnico: Bom dia. Qual é o modelo e onde fica exatamente?
Recepcionista: É a impressora da sala de reuniões, bandeja de baixo. Obrigada.
Scenario: Copy center counter
Cliente: Boa tarde, acabei de tentar imprimir e a máquina não pega o papel.
Atendente: Obrigado por avisar. A bandeja de papel está vazia. Vou repor agora e já chamamos outra máquina se precisar.
How to write a short note to leave on a printer
When you leave a sign, keep it short and clear. Use imperatives or short statements.
Sem papel — por favor repor
Acabou o papel — favor colocar mais
A bandeja de papel está vazia. Obrigado.
Common replies you might hear
Já vou colocar — I will refill it now
Obrigado por avisar — Thank you for letting us know
Tem papel na sala ao lado — There is paper in the next room
Posso pegar papel para você — I can get paper for you
Useful verbs and sentence patterns
colocar papel — to put paper/replenish paper
repor papel — to refill paper (repor is often used with supplies)
trocar o rolo — change the roll (for machines using paper rolls)
imprimir — to print
parar de imprimir — to stop printing
Precisa de ajuda? — Do you need help?
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake: Using vazio/vazia incorrectly. Match the adjective to the noun gender. If the noun is bandeja, use vazia. If the noun is reservatório, use vazio.
Mistake: Saying o papel está vazio. Paper itself is not empty; the tray is. Use a bandeja or reservatório to be clear.
Mistake: Using faltar without context. Faltar papel is acceptable, but it’s better to say acabou o papel or a bandeja está vazia for clarity.
Practical examples you might see or use
At work: A bandeja de papel está vazia. Vou buscar um pacote de papel na copa.
In a classroom: Professora: A impressora parou porque acabou o papel. Aluno: Posso pegar mais papel na secretaria?
At a print shop: Operador: O reservatório de papel está vazio, precisamos abrir outro compartimento. Cliente: Tudo bem, eu espero.
Pronunciation tips for beginners
Brazilian Portuguese stress is usually on the penultimate syllable for words ending in vowel or -o/-a. Bandeja is pronounced ban-DEH-zhah. Reservatório: heh-zer-VAH-toh-rio. Vazios/vazias follow regular vowel patterns.
For acabou, pronounce ah-kah-BOH. The stressed syllable is the last in acabou.
Short practice phrases to say aloud
A bandeja de papel está vazia.
O reservatório de papel está vazio.
Acabou o papel, por favor repor.
Já vou colocar papel na impressora.
Situational variations and extra vocabulary
If the machine uses a paper roll, say o rolo de papel acabou. If the problem is a paper jam, do not confuse emptiness with jams: dizer encravou o papel or papel atolado means paper jammed.
Common helpful phrases: papel atolado — paper jam; sem papel — without paper; precisa de reposição — needs restocking; linha de impressão — print line.
How to ask for help politely
Você pode me ajudar com a impressora? A bandeja de papel está vazia.
Por favor, pode repor o papel na impressora da sala 3?
Quick checklist for refilling the printer
1. Verifique qual bandeja está vazia.
2. Abra a bandeja com cuidado e ajuste as guias de papel.
3. Coloque o papel com o lado certo para impressão, sem folgar.
4. Empurre a bandeja até encaixar e verifique no painel se a impressora reconheceu o papel.
Conclusion
Knowing how to say the paper tray is empty in Brazilian Portuguese helps in offices, schools, and shops. Use o reservatório de papel está vazio, a bandeja de papel está vazia, or acabou o papel depending on formality. Practice the short dialogues and vocabulary above to report the issue politely and clearly. With these beginner-friendly phrases you will handle common printing situations confidently.
