Portuguese Phrase
A água não desce.
Meaning
Literally, 'The water doesn't go down.' It is used when water stays at the same level – for example, a bathtub that won’t drain, a sink that’s clogged, or a river that isn’t receding.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to point out a problem with drainage or flow, often in informal conversation with friends, family, or a plumber.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aáguanãodesce
Definite article (A)
The feminine singular article 'a' agrees with the noun 'água' (feminine).
Noun with accent (água)
The word 'água' carries a tilde on the 'a' to indicate nasalization.
Negation (não)
Place 'não' directly before the verb to make the statement negative.
Verb descer (desce)
Descer is a regular -er verb; 'desce' is the 3rd‑person singular present indicative.
Subject‑verb agreement
Even though the subject is implicit, the verb form matches the singular noun 'água'.
🗨In Conversation
A água não desce.
The water doesn't go down.
Vamos chamar o encanador agora.
Let's call the plumber right away.
✕Common Mistakes
A água não desça.
Use the present indicative 'desce' for a factual statement; 'desça' is subjunctive and would change the meaning.
A agua não desce.
Missing the tilde on 'água' changes pronunciation and is considered a spelling error.
A água não descer.
The infinitive 'descer' cannot follow 'não' directly in this construction.
↔Alternatives
A água não está descendo.
The water is not going down.
A água não baixa.
The water doesn't lower.
A água não flui para baixo.
The water doesn't flow downwards.
Cultural Tip
In many Brazilian homes, especially older ones, clogged drains are a common hassle. Brazilians often use informal phrases like 'A água não desce' to quickly describe the issue before calling a plumber (encanador). The tone is usually casual; in a formal setting you might say 'A água está entupida' (The water is clogged).