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Portuguese Phrase

Tive que cumprir um prazo apertado.

/ˈtʃi.vi ki kũˈpɾiɾ ũ ˈpɾa.zo a.peɾˈta.du/
Meaning"I had to meet a tight deadline."
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Meaning

The speaker is saying that they were forced to meet a deadline that was very tight, implying a stressful or rushed situation.

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When to use

Use this sentence when talking about work, school projects, or any task where you had limited time to finish and had to meet a strict deadline.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Tivequecumprirumprazoapertado

1

Ter que (past)

Use "tive que" (past of "ter que") to express an obligation that happened in the past.

2

Infinitive after "que"

The verb that follows "que" stays in the infinitive form, e.g., "cumprir".

3

Indefinite article + noun

"um" introduces a non‑specific noun, here "prazo" (deadline).

4

Adjective after noun

In Brazilian Portuguese, adjectives like "apertado" can appear after the noun for emphasis.

🗨In Conversation

A

Como foi o relatório que o chefe pediu?

How did the report the boss asked for turn out?

Tive que cumprir um prazo apertado, então ainda estou revisando.

I had to meet a tight deadline, so I'm still revising it.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Tinha que cumprir um prazo apertado.

    Use "tive que" for a specific past obligation; "tinha que" suggests a habitual or ongoing need.

  • Tive que cumprir um apertado prazo.

    In Brazilian Portuguese the adjective usually follows the noun in this expression.

  • Tive que cumprir um prazo apertado de forma literal.

    Do not translate "cumprir" as "cumprir" = "to fulfill" in the sense of a promise; here it means "to meet" a deadline.

↔Alternatives

  • Precisava entregar um trabalho com prazo curto.

    I needed to deliver a work with a short deadline.

  • Tive que terminar algo em pouco tempo.

    I had to finish something in little time.

  • Estava sob um prazo apertado.

    I was under a tight deadline.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil, "prazo apertado" is a very common way to describe a short or demanding deadline. The adjective "apertado" placed after the noun adds a colloquial, slightly informal tone, so it's perfect for everyday conversation and semi‑formal workplace chats, but you might choose a more formal structure (e.g., "prazo curto") in official documents.