Portuguese Phrase
Tá a umas 10 milhas.
Meaning
This phrase is a casual way to express distance in Brazilian Portuguese. It uses the shortened verb 'tá' and the word 'umas' to provide a rough estimate rather than an exact measurement.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving directions or answering how far a destination is in an informal setting. It is common in spoken conversation among friends or locals.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Táaumas10milhas
Tá
A common contraction of 'está' used in daily speech to indicate location or state.
Umas
The plural feminine form of 'uma', used here to mean 'approximately' or 'roughly'.
🗨In Conversation
Onde fica o posto de gasolina mais próximo?
Where is the nearest gas station?
Tá a umas 10 milhas.
It's about 10 miles away.
✕Common Mistakes
Está para umas 10 milhas.
In Portuguese, we use the preposition 'a' to indicate distance from a point, not 'para'.
Tem umas 10 milhas.
While 'tem' can mean 'there is', 'está' (or 'tá') is the correct verb for describing the location or distance of a specific place.
↔Alternatives
Fica a mais ou menos 10 milhas.
It is more or less 10 miles away.
Está a cerca de 16 quilômetros.
It is about 16 kilometers away.
Cultural Tip
Brazil uses the metric system, so distances are usually measured in 'quilômetros'. Using 'milhas' is rare unless you are speaking specifically to someone from a country that uses miles, or if you are following a specific GPS setting. Also, 'tá' is almost always used instead of 'está' in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.