Portuguese Phrase
O rio está saindo das margens.
Meaning
The river is overflowing its banks, i.e., water is spilling out onto the surrounding land. It conveys a sudden or ongoing flood situation.
When to use
Use this sentence when describing a flood, reporting weather‑related news, or talking about a river that has exceeded its normal limits. It’s common in conversations about natural disasters, environmental reports, or everyday talk during heavy rains.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Orioestásaindodasmargens
Definite article (O)
‘O’ is the masculine singular definite article, used before masculine nouns like ‘rio’.
Noun gender (rio)
‘Rio’ is a masculine singular noun meaning ‘river’.
Estar + gerúndio
‘Está’ (from estar) + gerund ‘saindo’ expresses an action in progress, similar to ‘is …ing’ in English.
Gerúndio (saindo)
‘Saindo’ is the gerund form of ‘sair’, meaning ‘leaving’ or ‘flowing out’.
Contraction (das)
‘Das’ = de + as, a preposition + feminine plural article, used before ‘margens’.
Plural noun (margens)
‘Margens’ is the feminine plural of ‘margem’, meaning ‘bank/edge’.
🗨In Conversation
O rio está saindo das margens.
The river is overflowing its banks.
Precisamos evacuar as casas próximas imediatamente.
We need to evacuate the nearby houses immediately.
✕Common Mistakes
O rio é saindo das margens.
‘É’ (from ser) describes permanent states; use ‘está’ for a temporary situation like a flood.
O rio está sair das margens.
The infinitive ‘sair’ cannot follow ‘está’; you need the gerund ‘saindo’.
O rio está saindo margens.
Do not omit the preposition; ‘das’ (de + as) is required before ‘margens’.
↔Alternatives
O rio está transbordando.
The river is overflowing.
A água está invadindo as margens do rio.
The water is invading the river’s banks.
O nível da água subiu acima das margens.
The water level rose above the banks.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, heavy rains during the summer can cause rivers to burst their banks, especially in the Amazon and the South‑East. News reports and emergency alerts often use the phrase ‘está saindo das margens’ to warn residents. The expression is neutral in register, suitable for both formal news and casual conversation, but avoid using it metaphorically unless the context is clearly about an emotional ‘overflow’.