How to Report a Power or Water Outage in Brazilian Portuguese
A few clear details help you explain an outage to a building manager or service provider in Brazil. Practise the phrases for saying what stopped, where, and when it began.
Real Life Portuguese · 6 min read · Updated October 15, 2026
The short answer
Begin with the service and the problem: acabou a luz (the power went out) or estamos sem água (we have no water). If only one appliance or tap is affected, explain that instead of saying the whole home has an outage. A precise first sentence helps the listener ask the right follow-up question.
State what is not working
Use desde to say when an issue began: estamos sem luz desde as oito (we have had no power since eight). If you do not know the cause, describe what you observe rather than guessing whether the problem is inside the building or outside.
Acabou a luz no meu apartamento há uns vinte minutos.
The power went out in my apartment about twenty minutes ago.
Estamos sem água desde esta manhã.
We have had no water since this morning.
Give an address the other person can confirm
Say the street, number, apartment or unit, and neighborhood if needed. In a condominium, include the building name and bloco (building section) when relevant. Ask the other person to repeat the unit or address if you are not sure they heard it correctly.
If other homes are affected, say so: os apartamentos do meu andar também estão sem água (the apartments on my floor also have no water). This is a factual detail, not proof of where the issue started.
É na Rua das Flores, número 80, apartamento 302.
It’s at 80 Rua das Flores, apartment 302.
Você pode confirmar o endereço que anotou?
Can you confirm the address you wrote down?
Ask what happens next
You can ask whether a report has been opened and how to follow it: já registraram o problema? (has the problem been reported yet?) or qual é o número do protocolo? (what is the reference number?). Processes and response times depend on the provider and location, so ask the person handling your report for the current details.
If someone gives an estimated time, check whether it is only an estimate: esse horário é uma previsão? (is that time an estimate?). Repeat the next step back to confirm whether you should wait, contact the provider again, or speak to the building manager.
Put it into practice
Describe the service, location, and start time; then ask how the report will be tracked. Do not guess the cause or promise a repair time.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “Can you confirm the address you wrote down”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.