Portuguese Phrase
Aqui o sinal tá fraco.
Meaning
Literally, 'Here the signal is weak.' It is used to comment on poor reception of mobile phones, Wi‑Fi, or any other type of signal in the current location. The phrase is informal because of the contraction 'tá'.
When to use
Use this sentence when you notice that your phone or internet connection is dropping or lagging in a specific place, such as a café, a subway station, or a remote area. It’s perfect for casual conversation with friends or colleagues.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aquiosinaltáfraco
Aqui
Adverb of place meaning 'here'. It usually appears at the beginning of a sentence to set the location.
o
Definite article 'the' used before masculine singular nouns.
sinal
Masculine noun meaning 'signal' (e.g., cell phone, Wi‑Fi).
tá
Colloquial contraction of the verb 'estar' (to be) in the third person singular present; informal but very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
fraco
Adjective meaning 'weak' or 'poor'. It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies (here, masculine singular).
🗨In Conversation
Aqui o sinal tá fraco.
The signal is weak here.
Vamos mudar de mesa, talvez melhore.
Let's change tables, maybe it'll get better.
✕Common Mistakes
Aqui o sinal é fraco.
Use 'está' (or its informal form 'tá') for temporary states like signal strength, not the verb 'ser'.
Aqui o sinal tá fraco.
Avoid 'tá' in formal writing or when speaking to someone you need to show respect; use 'está' instead.
↔Alternatives
O sinal aqui está fraco.
The signal here is weak.
A conexão está ruim aqui.
The connection is bad here.
Não tem sinal aqui.
There is no signal here.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the informal 'tá' is used in everyday speech, especially among friends and in relaxed settings. In more formal contexts—like speaking with a manager or in a business email—use the full form 'está'. Also, Brazilians often point out signal problems as a quick excuse to move or to end a conversation, so the phrase can be a subtle social cue.