Daqui a Pouco vs. Em Breve: Say ‘Soon’ in Portuguese
Daqui a pouco often means ‘in a little while’; em breve means ‘soon’ without giving the same conversational sense of a short wait.
Real Life Portuguese · 4 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
Daqui a pouco is a frequent spoken expression meaning ‘in a little while’ or ‘soon.’ It points forward from now, often to the next part of a familiar routine: já volto, daqui a pouco (I’ll be right back, in a little while). It does not promise an exact number of minutes.
Use daqui a pouco for ‘in a little while’
The phrase is written with a: daqui a pouco. Do not translate daqui word by word as ‘from here’ when the full expression is describing time.
A reunião começa daqui a pouco.
The meeting starts in a little while.
Vou sair daqui a pouco.
I’m going to leave soon.
Daqui a pouco eu te mando o endereço.
I’ll send you the address in a little while.
Use em breve for a broader ‘soon’
Em breve also means ‘soon,’ but it can refer to an upcoming event without the same immediate conversational feel. You may see it in announcements: novas datas serão divulgadas em breve (new dates will be announced soon). The time could be hours, days, or longer; the phrase itself does not specify.
Both expressions depend on context. If the timing matters, give a precise time or date instead of relying on soon: em dez minutos, amanhã de manhã, or na próxima semana.
O resultado sai em breve.
The result will be released soon.
A gente conversa melhor daqui a pouco.
We’ll talk more in a little while.
As inscrições começam na próxima segunda-feira.
Registration opens next Monday.
Put it into practice
Daqui a pouco often points to a short wait in conversation; em breve works for a broader upcoming event. Give a specific time when the schedule must be clear.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “The meeting starts in a little while”?
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