Portuguese Phrase
Quando é que essa seca vai acabar de uma vez?
Meaning
The speaker is asking when the current drought will finally stop. The phrase conveys impatience and a desire for a definitive end.
When to use
Use this sentence when talking about a prolonged dry spell—especially in regions like the Brazilian Nordeste—where people are eager for rain to return.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quandoéqueessasecavaiacabardeumavez
Quando
Interrogative adverb meaning “when”. It always starts a question about time.
é que
Colloquial filler used in Brazilian Portuguese to introduce a question; it adds emphasis but isn’t required.
essa
Demonstrative pronoun that points to something near the listener (this drought).
vai + infinitive
Future periphrastic construction: “vai acabar” = “will end”. It’s more informal than the simple future “acabará”.
de uma vez
Idiomatic expression meaning “once and for all” or “finally”. It stresses the speaker’s impatience.
🗨In Conversation
Quando é que essa seca vai acabar de uma vez?
When will this drought finally end?
Ainda não sei, mas dizem que a chuva deve chegar na próxima semana.
I don’t know yet, but they say the rain should come next week.
✕Common Mistakes
Quando vai acabar essa seca de uma vez?
The natural order in Brazilian Portuguese places the demonstrative before the noun and keeps the filler "é que" if you want a colloquial tone.
Quando é que essa seca vai acabar de uma única vez?
"De uma única vez" is grammatically correct but sounds overly formal and uncommon in everyday speech.
↔Alternatives
Quando essa seca vai acabar?
When will this drought end?
Quando é que a seca vai terminar de vez?
When will the drought finally be over?
Quando vai parar essa seca?
When will this drought stop?
Cultural Tip
Drought (seca) is a recurring reality in Brazil’s semi‑arid Northeast, where people often talk about "quando a seca vai acabar" with a mix of hope and frustration. The expression "de uma vez" adds a colloquial punch, signalling that the speaker is tired of waiting. In formal writing you would drop "é que" and "de uma vez", saying simply "Quando a seca acabará?".