ficar sem + Noun

Ficar Sem

Level 2

Use ficar sem + [noun] to describe the moment you lose access to something or exhaust a supply (e.g., running out of money or losing internet).

How It Works

The expression ficar sem is the most common way in Portuguese to say you have 'run out' of something or were 'left without' it.

1. Usage with Nouns:
Usually, the noun follows sem directly without an article when speaking about general resources: ficar sem tempo (to run out of time). However, if you are referring to a specific object, you use a definite article: fiquei sem o meu carro (I was left without my car).

2. Spelling Change:
The verb ficar is regular, but watch out for the Pretérito Perfeito (Past Tense). To keep the 'k' sound, the 'c' changes to 'qu' in the first person: fiquei (I was left/I ran out).

3. Ficar sem vs. Estar sem:
This is a crucial distinction. Estar sem describes a current state ('I am without'), while ficar sem describes the event of losing it ('I ran out').

Examples (4)

  1. Fiquei sem bateria no telemóvel.

    I ran out of battery on my phone.

    Word by Word: I-stayed without battery in-the mobile-phone.

    Notice the spelling 'fiquei' in the past tense to preserve the hard 'k' sound.

  2. Se não poupares, vais ficar sem dinheiro.

    If you don't save, you are going to run out of money.

    Word by Word: If not you-save, you-go to-stay without money.

    Here, 'ficar sem' indicates a future result of an action.

  3. Ficámos sem internet durante a tempestade.

    We were left without internet during the storm.

    Word by Word: We-stayed without internet during the storm.

    This describes a situational deprivation caused by an external event.

  4. Ela ficou sem palavras com a notícia.

    She was left speechless by the news.

    Word by Word: She stayed without words with the news.

    A common idiomatic use meaning 'to run out of words' or be shocked.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'ficar sem' to mean 'staying without' as a continuous choice.

    Eu quero ficar sem comer por dois dias.
    Eu vou estar sem comer por dois dias.

    While 'ficar' can mean 'to stay', in this context it implies a sudden loss. If you are choosing to be without something for a duration, 'estar' or 'passar' is often more natural.

  • Misspelling the past tense form.

    Eu ficei sem chaves.
    Eu fiquei sem chaves.

    In Portuguese, 'c' before 'e' sounds like 's'. To keep the 'k' sound of 'ficar', you must change 'c' to 'qu' before adding the '-ei' ending.

How It Connects

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ficar sem + NounLevel 2Ficar Sem

Learn This First

To use 'ficar sem + substantivo', you need to know how to conjugate the verb 'ficar' (a regular -ar verb) and understand how prepositions like 'sem' function to link the verb to a noun, indicating a state of lacking or running out of something.

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Words in This Pattern

ficar