Portuguese Phrase
As colheitas estão indo mal.
Meaning
The sentence means that the current harvests are performing poorly, usually because of bad weather, pests, or other adverse conditions. It conveys a temporary, ongoing problem rather than a permanent state.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing agricultural results, reporting on the season’s yield, or expressing concern about crops in a conversation with farmers, journalists, or anyone interested in the countryside.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ascolheitasestãoindomal
Definite article (plural, feminine)
"As" is the plural feminine form of the definite article, used before "colheitas".
Noun (plural, feminine)
"colheitas" means "harvests" or "crops" and is a regular feminine noun in the plural.
Estar + gerúndio (progressive)
The construction "estão indo" uses the verb "estar" + gerund to express an ongoing action, similar to English "are going".
Adverb "mal"
"mal" means "badly" or "poorly"; it modifies the verb phrase and is not an adjective.
🗨In Conversation
As colheitas estão indo mal este ano.
The harvests are doing poorly this year.
Sim, a seca tem afetado muito as plantações.
Yes, the drought has greatly affected the crops.
✕Common Mistakes
As colheitas são indo mal.
Use "estão" (estar) for temporary progressive states, not "são" (ser) which denotes permanent characteristics.
As colheitas estão indo bem.
"Bem" means "well"; swapping it changes the meaning to the opposite of what you intend.
As colheitas estão indo malas.
"Malas" is a noun meaning "suitcases"; the correct adverb is "mal".
↔Alternatives
As colheitas estão ruins.
The harvests are bad.
A produção está baixa.
The production is low.
Os rendimentos das colheitas foram decepcionantes.
The yields of the harvests were disappointing.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, "colheita" refers to the gathering of crops such as soy, coffee, or corn. Farmers often talk about the "safra" (season) rather than individual "colheitas." When commenting on a bad season, it's common to mention the cause—e.g., "seca" (drought) or "pragas" (pests). Remember that "mal" is an adverb; using "bem" would completely reverse the meaning.