Portuguese Phrase
Vou ver um pouco de TV.
Meaning
Literally, ‘I am going to watch a little TV.’ It conveys a casual intention to turn on the television for a short period, often as a way to relax or fill a brief idle moment.
When to use
Use this sentence when you want to tell a friend, family member, or colleague that you plan to watch some television but not for long. It’s informal and perfect for everyday conversation at home or in a shared living space.
✦Grammar Breakdown
VouverumpoucodeTV
Ir + infinitive (future immediate)
‘Vou’ is the first‑person singular present of ‘ir’ followed by an infinitive, expressing a near‑future intention: ‘I am going to …’
Infinitive verb
‘ver’ stays in the infinitive after ‘vou’; it means ‘to watch/see’.
Indefinite article ‘um’
‘um’ is the masculine singular indefinite article, used here before the quantifier ‘pouco’.
Quantifier ‘pouco’
‘pouco’ means ‘a little’ and works with the preposition ‘de’ to modify the noun that follows.
Preposition ‘de’
‘de’ links the quantifier to the noun, similar to ‘of’ in English ‘a little of TV’.
Abbreviation ‘TV’
‘TV’ is pronounced as the letters ‘tê‑vê’ and is a common, gender‑neutral noun for television.
🗨In Conversation
Vou ver um pouco de TV.
I’m going to watch a little TV.
Tudo bem, eu também preciso de um descanso.
Alright, I also need a break.
✕Common Mistakes
Vou ver TV.
Missing the quantifier ‘um pouco de’ makes the sentence sound abrupt; it’s more natural to specify a small amount of time.
Vou assistir TV.
‘Assistir’ normally requires the preposition ‘a’ before a person or thing (assistir a algo). The correct form is ‘assistir à TV’ or use ‘ver’ without a preposition.
Vou ver a TV.
‘A TV’ refers to a specific television set, not the content. Use ‘TV’ alone or add a quantifier if you mean the program.
↔Alternatives
Vou assistir um pouco de TV.
I’ll watch a little TV.
Vou ligar a TV por um tempo.
I’ll turn the TV on for a while.
Vou dar uma olhada na TV.
I’ll take a look at the TV.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, TV is a common way to unwind after work or school. Popular programs include telenovelas, news bulletins, and variety shows. When you say you’ll watch ‘um pouco de TV’, people understand you’ll probably flip through a few channels rather than sit through a full episode. In more formal settings, you might replace ‘ver’ with ‘assistir’ to sound slightly more polished.