Running Late in Brazil? Portuguese Phrases to Share Your ETA Politely — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Say that you are on your way but delayed
Estou atrasado (masculine) and estou atrasada (feminine) mean “I’m running late.” You can add um pouco to soften the message, or say houve um imprevisto when something unexpected happened.
If you are still traveling, say where you are in the journey only when it helps the other person. A short, clear update is usually easier to act on than a long apology without an arrival time.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Desculpa, estou um pouco atrasado. | Sorry, I’m running a little late. |
| Houve um imprevisto no caminho. | Something unexpected came up on the way. |
| Já estou a caminho. | I’m already on my way. |
Give an estimate and offer a practical choice
Chego em vinte minutos means “I’ll arrive in twenty minutes.” Use em + a time period for an estimate, and update it if traffic or transit changes the timing.
If the wait affects a reservation or another person’s schedule, ask whether they would rather wait, start without you, or choose another time. That turns an apology into a useful next step.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Acho que chego em quinze minutos. | I think I’ll arrive in fifteen minutes. |
| Você prefere começar sem mim? | Would you prefer to start without me? |
| Se for melhor, a gente pode remarcar. | If it’s better, we can reschedule. |
Remember: Send the update as soon as you know, give a realistic estimate, and revise it if the situation changes.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
Sorry, I’m running a little late.
Show a Portuguese answer
Desculpa, estou um pouco atrasado.
Something unexpected came up on the way.
Show a Portuguese answer
Houve um imprevisto no caminho.
I’m already on my way.
Show a Portuguese answer
Já estou a caminho.
I think I’ll arrive in fifteen minutes.
Show a Portuguese answer
Acho que chego em quinze minutos.
Would you prefer to start without me?
Show a Portuguese answer
Você prefere começar sem mim?
If it’s better, we can reschedule.
Show a Portuguese answer
Se for melhor, a gente pode remarcar.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Send the update as soon as you know, give a realistic estimate, and revise it if the situation changes.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Running Late in Brazil? Portuguese Phrases to Share Your ETA Politely lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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