Portuguese Phrase
Meu celular tá com pouca bateria.
Meaning
Literally, "My cell phone is with little battery," which in natural English is "My phone has low battery." The phrase uses the informal "tá" and the construction "com pouca bateria" to describe a low charge level.
When to use
Use this sentence in everyday, informal conversations when you notice your phone is running out of power and want to tell a friend, ask for a charger, or excuse a delayed reply.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meucelulartácompoucabateria.
Possessive adjective
"Meu" means "my" and agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (celular, masculine singular).
Colloquial "tá"
"tá" is the informal contraction of the verb "estar" (to be) in the third person singular, used in casual speech.
Preposition "com"
"com" means "with" and introduces the state or condition of the noun that follows.
Adjective agreement
"pouca" is an adjective meaning "little/low" and must agree in gender and number with "bateria" (feminine singular).
Noun "bateria"
In Brazilian Portuguese, "bateria" refers to the battery of electronic devices, not to a musical group.
🗨In Conversation
Meu celular tá com pouca bateria.
My phone has low battery.
Ah, vamos procurar um carregador.
Ah, let's look for a charger.
✕Common Mistakes
Meu celular tá com pouco bateria.
"Bateria" is feminine, so the adjective must be "pouca".
Meu celular tá com pouca bateria.
In formal writing you should use "está" instead of the colloquial "tá".
Meu celular tem pouca bateria.
The verb "ter" (to have) does not convey the state of being low; use "está" or "tá" with "com".
↔Alternatives
Meu celular está com pouca bateria.
My phone is low on battery.
Meu telefone está quase sem carga.
My phone is almost out of charge.
A bateria do meu celular está acabando.
The battery of my phone is running out.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "tá" is the go‑to informal form of "está" among friends, family, and peers. Using it with strangers or in a formal setting can sound too casual. Also, Brazilians often say "bateria" for a phone’s charge, while "carga" (charge) is more generic. When you need a charger, it’s common to ask "Tem um carregador aí?" rather than a more formal request.