Portuguese Phrase
A impressora não tá funcionando.
Meaning
This sentence tells the listener that the printer is currently not working. It uses the informal contraction ‘tá’ and the gerund ‘funcionando’ to express a present‑time problem.
When to use
Use it in casual conversation at home, in a small office, or with friends when you need to report that a printer has stopped working. It’s too informal for official emails or formal reports.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aimpressoranãotáfuncionando.
Definite article (A)
The article 'A' is the feminine singular definite article, matching the gender of 'impressora'.
Noun gender (impressora)
Impressora is a feminine noun meaning 'printer', so it takes the article 'a' and feminine agreement.
Negation (não)
‘não’ precedes the verb phrase to negate it, equivalent to ‘not’ in English.
Colloquial contraction (tá)
‘tá’ is the informal spoken contraction of ‘está’, the third‑person singular of the verb ‘estar’ (to be).
Gerund (funcionando)
‘funcionando’ is the gerund of ‘funcionar’ (to work), forming the progressive ‘is working’.
🗨In Conversation
A impressora não tá funcionando.
The printer isn’t working.
Você já tentou reiniciar ela?
Did you try restarting it?
✕Common Mistakes
A impressora tá não funcionando.
Negation must come before the verb phrase; ‘tá não’ is ungrammatical.
A impressora não funciona.
‘Não funciona’ is correct but changes the aspect; it sounds more like a permanent state rather than a current issue.
A impressora não a tá funcionando.
The article ‘a’ is already attached to ‘impressora’; adding another ‘a’ is redundant.
↔Alternatives
A impressora não está funcionando.
The printer is not working.
A impressora está com defeito.
The printer is defective.
A impressora parou de funcionar.
The printer stopped working.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘tá’ is a very common spoken form of ‘está’, but it should be avoided in formal writing or when speaking to superiors. Also, Brazilians often add a brief apology before reporting a problem, e.g., ‘Desculpa, a impressora não tá funcionando.’