In 15 Seconds
- To finish a specific job or duty completely.
- Used in professional, academic, and household contexts.
- A standard, reliable way to report progress.
Meaning
It means you have finished a specific job or duty you were supposed to do. It is the satisfying feeling of crossing something off your to-do list.
Key Examples
3 of 6In a project meeting
Eu preciso completar a tarefa antes do prazo final.
I need to complete the task before the deadline.
Texting a roommate about chores
Já completei a tarefa de limpar a cozinha!
I already completed the task of cleaning the kitchen!
A teacher talking to a student
Parabéns por completar a tarefa tão rápido.
Congratulations on completing the task so quickly.
Cultural Background
While Portuguese culture is often seen as relaxed, the professional environment is quite structured. This phrase gained massive traction with the digitalization of workplaces and the adoption of 'To-Do' list culture in Brazil and Portugal. It represents the modern shift toward efficiency and clear communication in the Lusophone corporate world.
The 'Checkmark' Feeling
Use this phrase when you want to sound organized. It implies the task had a clear beginning and end.
Don't overdo it
If you use this for every tiny thing (like picking up a pen), you'll sound like a robot. Save it for actual 'tasks'.
In 15 Seconds
- To finish a specific job or duty completely.
- Used in professional, academic, and household contexts.
- A standard, reliable way to report progress.
What It Means
Completar tarefa is your bread and butter for getting things done. It literally means to complete a task. It is straightforward and clear. You use it when a job is 100% finished. No loose ends left. It feels like that big green checkmark in your mind.
How To Use It
You can use it as a standard verb-noun combo. Just conjugate completar to fit who is doing the work. Use it for work projects or simple chores. It is very flexible. You can say eu completei a tarefa (I finished the task). Or ask você completou a tarefa? (Did you finish the task?). It sounds organized and reliable.
When To Use It
Use it in the office during meetings. It sounds professional and direct. Use it at home when talking about chores. It works well for school assignments too. If you are using a productivity app in Portuguese, you will see this everywhere. It is the go-to phrase for progress reports. Use it when you want to sound productive and focused.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for finishing a meal. That would sound like eating is a chore! Avoid it for finishing a movie or a book. For those, use terminar. It is too robotic for romantic contexts. Do not tell your partner you "completed the task" of buying flowers. That might get you a cold shoulder. It implies a duty, not necessarily a passion.
Cultural Background
Brazilians and Portuguese people value productivity, but they also love a chat. In a workplace, saying you completou a tarefa shows you are serious. It is a very "standard" Portuguese expression. It has become more common with the rise of digital project management. It reflects a modern, organized lifestyle. It is less about the "hustle" and more about the "result."
Common Variations
You will often hear finalizar a tarefa for a more polished finish. Terminar o trabalho is a very common, slightly more casual alternative. If you are in a rush, you might just say tá pronto (it's ready). In slang, some might say matar a tarefa (to kill the task). That one is very informal and high-energy. Use it with friends!
Usage Notes
The phrase is highly versatile and sits right in the middle of the formality scale. It is safe to use in 90% of situations involving work or obligations.
The 'Checkmark' Feeling
Use this phrase when you want to sound organized. It implies the task had a clear beginning and end.
Don't overdo it
If you use this for every tiny thing (like picking up a pen), you'll sound like a robot. Save it for actual 'tasks'.
The 'Matar' Alternative
Brazilians often say 'matar a tarefa' (kill the task) when they are excited to get a difficult job out of the way!
Examples
6Eu preciso completar a tarefa antes do prazo final.
I need to complete the task before the deadline.
Standard professional usage for deadlines.
Já completei a tarefa de limpar a cozinha!
I already completed the task of cleaning the kitchen!
A bit formal for home, but clear and satisfying.
Parabéns por completar a tarefa tão rápido.
Congratulations on completing the task so quickly.
Used to give positive feedback on schoolwork.
Minha única tarefa hoje era sobreviver, e eu completei!
My only task today was to survive, and I completed it!
Using formal structure for a humorous effect.
É impossível completar essa tarefa sozinho.
It is impossible to complete this task alone.
Expressing a need for help or frustration.
Clique aqui para completar a tarefa.
Click here to complete the task.
Common UI/UX language in software.
Test Yourself
Choose the correct form of the verb to say 'We completed the task'.
Nós ___ a tarefa ontem.
In Portuguese, 'nós' (we) requires the verb 'completar' to end in '-amos' in the past tense.
Complete the sentence with the missing noun.
Você já terminou de completar a ___?
Since 'a' is a feminine article, it must be followed by the feminine noun 'tarefa'.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality of 'Completar Tarefa'
Using 'Terminar' or 'Tá pronto'
Terminei!
The standard phrase 'Completar tarefa'
Completei a tarefa.
Using 'Finalizar a incumbência'
Finalizei a incumbência.
Where to use 'Completar Tarefa'
Office
Reporting to a boss
School
Finishing homework
Home
Doing the dishes
Software
Productivity apps
Practice Bank
2 exercisesNós ___ a tarefa ontem.
In Portuguese, 'nós' (we) requires the verb 'completar' to end in '-amos' in the past tense.
Você já terminou de completar a ___?
Since 'a' is a feminine article, it must be followed by the feminine noun 'tarefa'.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is very common, especially in work and school environments. You will see it in every productivity app like Trello or Asana.
Not really. It is better to use terminar de ler. Completar tarefa sounds like the book was a boring assignment.
Completar implies finishing all parts of something, while terminar is just the act of ending. They are often interchangeable.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your mom without any issues.
You can say Eu completei minhas tarefas domésticas. It sounds very clear and responsible.
Yes! If you finish a quest or mission, you can say you completou a tarefa or completou a missão.
Usually, yes. In school, tarefa specifically means 'homework'. So completar a tarefa often means finishing homework.
You can say dar um check (to give a check) or matar a pendência (to kill the pending item).
You would usually say completar a prova or terminar a corrida. Tarefa sounds a bit too much like office work for a race.
Using fazer (to do) instead of completar when you want to emphasize that it is 100% done. Fazer just means you are working on it.
Related Phrases
terminar o trabalho
to finish the work
dar conta do recado
to handle the job / to deliver
mãos à obra
let's get to work / hands to the task
fazer o dever de casa
to do one's homework
