Portuguese Phrase
Tô levando dia a dia.
Meaning
The sentence means ‘I’m taking it day by day.’ It expresses a relaxed, pragmatic attitude toward a situation, indicating that the speaker is handling things one day at a time without over‑planning.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to tell someone you’re coping with a challenge, a new job, a health issue, or any ongoing situation by focusing on the present day rather than the future.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tôlevandodiaadia
Tô = Estou
‘Tô’ is the colloquial contraction of ‘estou’, the first‑person singular present of the verb ‘estar’ (to be). It’s used in informal spoken Portuguese.
Gerúndio – levando
‘Levando’ is the gerund form of ‘levar’ (to take, to carry). In this context it works like the English ‘taking’ or ‘going through’.
Dia a dia (idiom)
The expression ‘dia a dia’ literally means ‘day to day’ and idiomatically means ‘day by day’ or ‘daily’. It conveys a sense of dealing with each day as it comes.
🗨In Conversation
Como você está lidando com o novo trabalho?
How are you handling the new job?
Tô levando dia a dia.
I’m taking it day by day.
✕Common Mistakes
Tô levando dia a dia.
‘Tô’ is informal; in formal contexts use ‘estou’.
Tô levar dia a dia.
Do not use the infinitive ‘levar’ here; the gerund ‘levando’ is required to convey the ongoing action.
Tô levando dia a.
The phrase must stay together; splitting it (e.g., ‘dia a’ ‘dia’) loses the idiomatic meaning.
↔Alternatives
Estou levando um dia de cada vez.
I’m taking one day at a time.
Vou levando dia após dia.
I’ll keep going day after day.
Estou vivendo dia a dia.
I’m living day by day.
Cultural Tip
‘Dia a dia’ is a very common idiom in Brazil and appears in everyday conversation, news, and even advertising. The contraction ‘tô’ is strictly informal; avoid it in formal writing or when speaking to authority figures. In a formal context you would say ‘Estou levando dia a dia.’