Portuguese Phrase
Estamos esperando o retorno do cliente.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘We are waiting for the client’s response/return.’ It is commonly used in professional settings when a team is awaiting feedback, approval, or any reply from a client.
When to use
Use this phrase in business emails, meetings, or phone calls when you want to inform a colleague or partner that you are still waiting for the client’s answer. It conveys patience and professionalism without sounding impatient.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Estamosesperandooretornodocliente.
Estar + gerúndio
The present progressive in Portuguese is formed with the verb estar + gerund (e.g., estamos esperando).
Gerúndio de esperar
Esperar → esperando. The gerund expresses an ongoing action.
Artigo definido
‘o’ is the masculine singular definite article that precedes the noun retorno.
Preposição + artigo (do)
‘de’ + ‘o’ contracts to ‘do’, meaning ‘of the’.
Substantivo cliente
Cliente is a masculine noun meaning ‘client’ or ‘customer’.
🗨In Conversation
Já recebemos o retorno do cliente?
Have we received the client’s response yet?
Ainda não, estamos esperando o retorno do cliente.
Not yet, we are waiting for the client’s response.
✕Common Mistakes
Estamos espera o retorno do cliente.
‘Esperar’ must be in gerund form after ‘estamos’; use ‘esperando’, not ‘espera’.
Estamos esperando o retorno do cliente’s.
Portuguese does not use the English possessive ’s; use ‘do cliente’ (de + o).
Estamos esperando o retorno do cliente (when meaning a product return).
If you want to refer to a physical return (e.g., a product), you would need context; otherwise, ‘resposta’ or ‘feedback’ is clearer for a reply.
↔Alternatives
Aguardamos a resposta do cliente.
We are awaiting the client’s answer.
Estamos aguardando o feedback do cliente.
We are waiting for the client’s feedback.
Ainda não tivemos retorno do cliente.
We haven’t had a response from the client yet.
Cultural Tip
In Brazilian business culture, it is polite to acknowledge the waiting period and show that you respect the client’s timeline. Phrases like ‘Estamos aguardando’ or ‘Ainda não tivemos retorno’ soften the message and keep the tone courteous. Avoid sounding demanding; instead, pair the waiting phrase with a thank‑you or a brief update on next steps.