Portuguese Phrase
Termino meu dever de casa.
Meaning
Literally ‘I finish my homework.’ The sentence states that the speaker has just completed the tasks assigned by a teacher. It can also be used to announce that the work will be finished shortly.
When to use
Use this phrase after you have completed your school assignments, when a teacher asks if you’re done, or when you want to tell a friend that you’re free now because the homework is finished.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Terminomeudeverdecasa
Termino (present indicative)
‘Termino’ is the 1st‑person singular present indicative of the verb ‘terminar’ (to finish). It agrees with the implied subject ‘eu’.
Meu (possessive adjective)
‘Meu’ means ‘my’ and must agree in gender and number with the noun that follows – here ‘dever’, a masculine singular noun.
Dever de casa (noun phrase)
Literally ‘duty of house’, this fixed expression means ‘homework’. It does not take an article before it when used with a possessive.
🗨In Conversation
Você já terminou o dever de casa?
Have you already finished the homework?
Sim, termino meu dever de casa agora.
Yes, I’m finishing my homework now.
✕Common Mistakes
Termino o meu dever de casa.
The definite article is not used with a possessive adjective in this expression.
Termino meus dever de casa.
‘Dever’ is singular; the possessive must agree in number.
Termino meu dever de casa amanhã.
If you want to express a future intention, use ‘vou terminar’ instead of the present indicative.
↔Alternatives
Acabo meu dever de casa.
I finish my homework.
Concluo meu dever de casa.
I conclude my homework.
Faço meu dever de casa.
I do my homework.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil ‘dever de casa’ is the standard term for school homework. Native speakers often use ‘terminar’ when they want to stress that the task is completely done, whereas ‘acabar’ can sound a bit more casual. Avoid adding the definite article before the phrase (e.g., *o dever de casa*) when you already have a possessive like ‘meu’.