Portuguese Phrase
Um táxi chega em cinco minutos.
Meaning
A taxi will arrive in five minutes. The present tense ‘chega’ is used to talk about an event that is about to happen, a common way to give a short time estimate.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re waiting for a taxi and want to let someone know how long it will take, or when you’re confirming the estimated arrival time with a driver or a friend.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Umtáxichegaemcincominutos
Um (indefinite article)
Masculine singular indefinite article used before a masculine noun.
táxi (noun)
Masculine noun meaning ‘taxi’; the accent on the á indicates the stressed syllable.
chega (verb)
Third‑person singular present indicative of ‘chegar’ (to arrive). In Portuguese the present can express a near future.
em (preposition)
Introduces a time expression, equivalent to ‘in’ or ‘within’ in English.
cinco (numeral)
Cardinal number ‘five’; it does not change with gender or number.
minutos (noun, plural)
Plural of ‘minuto’, meaning ‘minute’; agrees with the numeral that precedes it.
🗨In Conversation
Quando o táxi vai chegar?
When will the taxi arrive?
Um táxi chega em cinco minutos.
A taxi will arrive in five minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
Um táxi chegará em cinco minutos.
‘Chegará’ is correct but sounds formal; beginners often over‑use it in casual conversation.
Um táxi chega em daqui a cinco minutos.
‘Daqui a’ is also correct, but learners sometimes mix it with ‘em’ (e.g., ‘chega em daqui a cinco minutos’), which is redundant.
Um táxi chega em cinco minuto.
The noun must agree in number: ‘minutos’, not ‘minuto’.
↔Alternatives
Um táxi chegará em cinco minutos.
A taxi will arrive in five minutes.
O táxi chega em cinco minutos.
The taxi arrives in five minutes.
Um táxi vai chegar em cinco minutos.
A taxi is going to arrive in five minutes.
Um táxi chega daqui a cinco minutos.
A taxi arrives in five minutes from now.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it’s common to say ‘táxi’ with the accent on the first ‘a’ to mark the stressed syllable. When you’re on the street, you might also hear people say ‘Táxi, táxi!’ to hail a cab. Using the present tense for a near‑future event (e.g., ‘chega’) sounds natural and informal, while ‘chegará’ sounds more formal or written.