How to Say ‘Run Out of’ in Portuguese: Ficar Sem — Practice

Use ficar sem when you have none left

Ficar sem means to end up without something. Use it for everyday resources such as coffee, time, money, or phone battery. The phrase is followed directly by the noun.

Use acabar to describe the supply ending

Acabar means to finish or run out. The thing that is being used up can be the subject: acabou o café (the coffee ran out). For a person who has used all of something, combine acabar with de and the verb.

Say what you need next

After explaining that something ran out, add a practical next step: precisamos comprar mais (we need to buy more) or dá para recarregar? (can we recharge it?). This turns a problem into a useful request.

Remember: Use ficar sem to say you have none left and acabar when a supply comes to an end.

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.

1. I ran out of battery in the middle of the trip.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Fiquei sem bateria no meio da viagem.

2. We’re running out of water.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Estamos ficando sem água.

3. We ran out of milk yesterday.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O leite acabou ontem.

4. I just used up all my credit.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Acabei de gastar todo o meu crédito.

5. We ran out of bread. Can you buy some more?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ficamos sem pão. Você pode comprar mais?

6. The phone is almost out of battery.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   O celular está quase sem bateria.

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.

Use ficar sem to say you have none left and acabar when a supply comes to an end.

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 How to Say ‘Run Out of’ in Portuguese: Ficar Sem 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.