estar sem dinheiro
without money
Littéralement: to be without money
Use this phrase to politely decline expensive plans or explain why you can't pay for something right now.
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say you are broke or lack cash.
- Uses the temporary verb 'estar' because money comes and goes.
- Safe for friends, family, and most professional social situations.
Signification
This is the most common way to say you're broke or simply don't have cash on you at the moment. It can mean your bank account is empty or just that you forgot your wallet.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Declining a dinner invitation
Eu adoraria ir, mas estou sem dinheiro este mês.
I would love to go, but I'm without money this month.
At a street market
Desculpe, estou sem dinheiro vivo agora.
Sorry, I am without cash right now.
Explaining a situation to a boss
O departamento está sem dinheiro para novas contratações.
The department is without money for new hires.
Contexte culturel
In many Portuguese-speaking cultures, discussing a lack of money is a common social bonding mechanism. It reflects a history of economic fluctuations where being 'sem dinheiro' was a temporary state many people navigated together with humor. It is often paired with the concept of 'dar um jeito' (finding a way) to have fun despite the empty pockets.
The 'Tô' Shortcut
In 90% of spoken conversations, Brazilians drop the 'es' and just say 'Tô sem dinheiro'. It sounds much more natural!
Don't use 'Ser'
Never say 'Sou sem dinheiro'. Using 'ser' implies that being broke is a permanent personality trait. Use 'estar' because it's a temporary state!
En 15 secondes
- The standard way to say you are broke or lack cash.
- Uses the temporary verb 'estar' because money comes and goes.
- Safe for friends, family, and most professional social situations.
What It Means
Estar sem dinheiro is your bread-and-butter phrase for financial shortages. It literally means "to be without money." It is direct and clear. You use it when you cannot pay for something. It covers everything from a temporary lack of cash to a long-term empty bank account. It is the polite way to say you are broke.
How To Use It
You use the verb estar (to be) because being broke is usually temporary. At least, we hope so! You can add no momento (at the moment) to sound less desperate. If you want to emphasize it, say estar totalmente sem dinheiro. It works just like the English "I am without money." Just conjugate estar to match who is broke. Eu estou, você está, or nós estamos.
When To Use It
Use it when a friend asks you to go to an expensive dinner. Use it at a market if they don't accept cards and you have no cash. It is perfect for declining invitations politely. You can also use it in a professional setting. For example, if a project budget is empty. It is safe for almost any conversation. It sounds honest and relatable.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it if you want to sound like a millionaire. If you are actually wealthy but just forgot your card, use esqueci minha carteira. Avoid it in very formal bank loan applications. There, you might use falta de liquidez. Also, if you are with very close friends, it might sound a bit too "proper." They might use slang like estar duro instead.
Cultural Background
Brazilians and Portuguese people are generally open about money struggles. It is not a huge taboo to say you are short on cash. There is a famous culture of the perrengue, which means struggling or facing hardships. Being sem dinheiro is a common part of the perrengue lifestyle. People often bond over being broke together. It is a very human, shared experience in Lusophone cultures.
Common Variations
You will hear estou liso in Brazil, which means "I am smooth" (money slips right off). In Portugal, you might hear estou teso. If you want to be funny, say estou mais quebrado que arroz de terceira. That means you are "more broken than third-grade rice." But estar sem dinheiro remains the king of clarity. It is the version everyone understands immediately without any confusion.
Notes d'usage
This is a neutral phrase suitable for almost all social registers. In casual speech, 'estou' is almost always shortened to 'tô'.
The 'Tô' Shortcut
In 90% of spoken conversations, Brazilians drop the 'es' and just say 'Tô sem dinheiro'. It sounds much more natural!
Don't use 'Ser'
Never say 'Sou sem dinheiro'. Using 'ser' implies that being broke is a permanent personality trait. Use 'estar' because it's a temporary state!
The 'Vintão' Secret
If you are 'sem dinheiro', you might ask a friend for a 'vintão' (a twenty-real bill). It's the universal 'bro, help me out' amount.
Exemples
6Eu adoraria ir, mas estou sem dinheiro este mês.
I would love to go, but I'm without money this month.
A polite and common way to turn down a plan.
Desculpe, estou sem dinheiro vivo agora.
Sorry, I am without cash right now.
'Dinheiro vivo' specifically means physical cash.
O departamento está sem dinheiro para novas contratações.
The department is without money for new hires.
Used here in a professional, factual sense.
Queria muito ir no show, mas tô sem dinheiro nenhum!
I really wanted to go to the show, but I'm totally broke!
'Tô' is the short, spoken version of 'estou'.
Minha conta bancária está sempre sem dinheiro.
My bank account is always without money.
Self-deprecating humor is common in Brazil and Portugal.
Estamos sem dinheiro, mas temos um ao outro.
We are without money, but we have each other.
A classic romantic (if slightly cliché) sentiment.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct form of the verb 'estar' to say 'We are without money'.
Nós ___ sem dinheiro hoje.
'Nós' (we) requires the first-person plural form 'estamos'.
Complete the phrase to say you are 'completely' without money.
Eu estou ___ sem dinheiro.
'Totalmente' is the most natural way to emphasize being completely broke.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Ways to say you have no money
Very informal, used with best friends.
Tô duro / Tô liso
The phrase 'estar sem dinheiro'. Perfect for most situations.
Estou sem dinheiro.
Used in business or official documents.
Falta de recursos financeiros
Where to use 'Estar sem dinheiro'
Declining a trip
Não posso ir, estou sem dinheiro.
At the checkout
Ih, estou sem dinheiro na carteira.
Talking to family
Mãe, estou sem dinheiro nenhum!
Work budget
O projeto está sem dinheiro.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNot at all! It is a neutral, factual way to state your situation. You can use it with friends or even your boss if discussing a budget.
Yes, it works for both 'I am poor' and 'I literally don't have paper money on me right now'. Context makes the difference.
In Brazil, the most common slang is estar duro. In Portugal, people often say estar teso.
You can add totalmente or completamente. For example: Estou completamente sem dinheiro.
Yes, you can say A empresa está sem dinheiro to mean the company has no funds.
The phrase estar sem dinheiro is used and understood perfectly in both countries. Only the slang variations change.
Yes, if you want to be specific about physical bills, say estou sem dinheiro vivo or estou sem espécie.
In a formal setting, you might say não disponho de recursos no momento (I don't have resources available at the moment).
Only if there is a problem with your payment. For example: Meu cartão não passou e estou sem dinheiro vivo.
The biggest mistake is using ser instead of estar. Saying sou sem dinheiro sounds very strange to a native speaker.
Expressions liées
estar duro
to be broke (slang)
estar liso
to be broke/slippery (slang)
ficar sem um tostão
to be left without a penny
dinheiro vivo
physical cash
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