Portuguese Phrase
Tá acabando.
Meaning
‘Tá acabando’ literally means ‘It’s ending’ or ‘It’s running out’. It is used to say that something is about to finish, run out, or reach its limit.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal situations when you notice that time, food, a sale, or any other resource is nearly over. It’s perfect for chatting with friends, family, or coworkers, but avoid it in formal writing or presentations.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Táacabando
Tá (está)
‘Tá’ is the informal spoken contraction of the verb ‘estar’ (to be) in the third‑person singular present. It is common in casual conversation.
Gerúndio – acabando
‘Acabando’ is the gerund form of ‘acabar’ (to finish). The gerund expresses an action that is currently in progress.
🗨In Conversation
Tá acabando o café, né?
The coffee is running out, right?
Sim, vou fazer mais agora.
Yeah, I’ll make some more now.
✕Common Mistakes
Tá acabando a festa amanhã.
Do not use ‘Tá acabando’ to talk about a future event that hasn’t started yet; it only describes something currently in progress.
Tá acabando o prazo de entrega.
In formal writing, replace ‘Tá’ with the full verb ‘está’ to avoid sounding overly casual.
↔Alternatives
Está acabando.
It’s ending.
Já vai acabar.
It’s about to end.
Está quase no fim.
It’s almost at the end.
Quase acabou.
It’s almost over.
Cultural Tip
‘Tá acabando’ is strictly colloquial. Brazilians use it in everyday speech, especially among peers. In a professional email or a formal speech, replace it with the full form ‘Está acabando’ or a more neutral construction like ‘Está quase terminando’. Regionally, the contraction ‘tá’ is heard throughout Brazil, but you’ll hear slightly different intonations in the South versus the Northeast.