In 15 Sekunden
- A friendly way to say 'I'll call you later'.
- Used to end conversations politely when you are busy.
- Very common in both spoken Portuguese and text messages.
Bedeutung
This is the standard way to say 'I'll call you later' or 'I'll talk to you later.' It is used to politely end a conversation or signal that you are currently busy.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Running to catch a bus
O ônibus chegou, te ligo depois!
The bus is here, I'll call you later!
In a work meeting
Estou em reunião agora, te ligo depois.
I'm in a meeting now, I'll call you later.
Texting a friend
Oi! Tô ocupada agora, te ligo depois, tá?
Hi! I'm busy now, I'll call you later, okay?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The 'Brazilian Te Ligo' is often a polite way to say goodbye without a real commitment. Don't be offended if someone says it and doesn't call; it's just social etiquette. Portuguese people are generally more literal. If they say 'Ligo-te depois', they usually mean they will actually call you back soon. In Luanda, you might hear 'Te ligo mais logo', which is very common and follows similar informal patterns to Brazil. In a professional setting, 'Te ligo depois' should be followed by a specific time to be taken seriously, e.g., 'Te ligo às 15h'.
The WhatsApp Rule
If you can't talk, send 'Te ligo dps' (abbreviated) on WhatsApp. It's the standard modern etiquette.
Don't say it to your boss
It can sound too casual. Use 'Retorno a ligação em instantes' instead.
In 15 Sekunden
- A friendly way to say 'I'll call you later'.
- Used to end conversations politely when you are busy.
- Very common in both spoken Portuguese and text messages.
What It Means
Te ligo depois is your go-to phrase for hitting the pause button. It literally means "I will call you later." In Brazil, it functions like a verbal handshake. It signals that you value the person but your time is up. It is the ultimate social lubricant for busy people.
How To Use It
You can drop this phrase at the end of a phone call. You can also say it in person when you are rushing. It is very flexible. Just place te (you) before the verb ligo (I call). It sounds natural and effortless. You do not need a complex future tense here. The present tense ligo does all the heavy lifting for you.
When To Use It
Use it when your Uber arrives and you are still talking. Use it when a friend calls while you are at the gym. It is perfect for those "I see you, but I can't talk" moments. In a text, it is a polite way to acknowledge a message. It shows you are not ignoring them. You are just temporarily occupied with life.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this with your boss in a very formal email. It is a bit too casual for a CEO. Avoid using it if you actually never intend to call. Brazilians are famous for being polite, but overusing this can feel dismissive. If you are in a high-stakes negotiation, be more specific. Do not use it if you are breaking up with someone. That is just cold.
Cultural Background
Brazilians are deeply social but also very spontaneous. Schedules are often more like suggestions than rules. Te ligo depois reflects this fluid nature of time. It is part of the 'jeitinho'—finding a smooth way to navigate social expectations. Sometimes, it is a genuine promise. Other times, it is just a polite way to say goodbye. It is the cousin of the American "let's do lunch sometime."
Common Variations
You might hear Eu te ligo mais tarde for "later today." If you want to be more formal, use Ligo para você depois. In the south of Brazil, you might hear Tu ligo (though grammatically incorrect, it's common). If you are texting, just write te ligo dps. The shorter, the better for digital vibes. It keeps the connection alive without the pressure.
Nutzungshinweise
This phrase is quintessentially informal/neutral. While grammatically 'incorrect' in strict European Portuguese standards (placing the pronoun before the verb), it is the standard way of speaking in 99% of Brazilian contexts.
The WhatsApp Rule
If you can't talk, send 'Te ligo dps' (abbreviated) on WhatsApp. It's the standard modern etiquette.
Don't say it to your boss
It can sound too casual. Use 'Retorno a ligação em instantes' instead.
The 'Maybe' Call
If a Brazilian says this at a party, don't wait by the phone. It's just a way of saying 'See ya!'
Pronoun placement
If you are in Portugal, remember to flip it: 'Ligo-te depois'.
Beispiele
6O ônibus chegou, te ligo depois!
The bus is here, I'll call you later!
A classic 'hurry' scenario.
Estou em reunião agora, te ligo depois.
I'm in a meeting now, I'll call you later.
Professional but still friendly.
Oi! Tô ocupada agora, te ligo depois, tá?
Hi! I'm busy now, I'll call you later, okay?
The 'tá' adds a touch of sweetness.
Tia, a comida está queimando! Te ligo depois!
Auntie, the food is burning! I'll call you later!
A common 'polite' excuse to hang up.
Não posso falar muito, mas te ligo depois para contar tudo.
I can't talk much, but I'll call you later to tell you everything.
Shows intent to share details later.
Foi ótimo falar com você, te ligo depois.
It was great talking to you, I'll call you later.
A standard way to wrap up a call.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the blank to say 'I'll call you later'.
Agora estou ocupado, ___ ligo depois.
In informal Portuguese, 'te' is the pronoun used to refer to 'you'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to end a casual phone call in Brazil?
Ending a call:
'Te ligo depois' is the most common and natural informal sign-off.
Match the situation to the best response.
You are in a movie theater and your friend calls.
This allows you to acknowledge the call without disturbing others.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Você pode me ajudar com o dever? B: Agora não dá, estou saindo. ______.
The speaker is leaving and promises to contact the other person later.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
BP vs EP Clitics
When to use 'Depois'
Time
- • Amanhã
- • Mais tarde
- • Semana que vem
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenAgora estou ocupado, ___ ligo depois.
In informal Portuguese, 'te' is the pronoun used to refer to 'you'.
Ending a call:
'Te ligo depois' is the most common and natural informal sign-off.
You are in a movie theater and your friend calls.
This allows you to acknowledge the call without disturbing others.
A: Você pode me ajudar com o dever? B: Agora não dá, estou saindo. ______.
The speaker is leaving and promises to contact the other person later.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIn colloquial Brazilian Portuguese, yes. In formal grammar, 'Ligo-te' or 'Vou te ligar' is preferred, but everyone uses 'Te ligo'.
Yes, 'ligar' is used for any type of call, including FaceTime or Zoom.
'Depois' is 'later/afterwards' (vague). 'Mais tarde' is 'later today'. They are often interchangeable.
No, 'Eu' is optional and usually dropped because 'ligo' already means 'I call'.
In Brazil, it's socially acceptable as a sign-off. In Portugal, it's considered a bit more of a real promise.
You can say 'Te ligo de volta' or simply 'Te ligo depois'.
Yes! Just replace 'depois' with any time expression like 'amanhã' or 'segunda'.
The phrase stays the same. 'Te' is gender-neutral.
Yes! 'Ligar a luz' means to turn on the light. It's the same verb for 'connecting' power.
Use 'Ligo para o senhor/a senhora mais tarde'.
Verwandte Redewendungen
A gente se fala
similarWe'll talk later
Me dá um toque
informalGive me a ring/beep
Retorno em breve
formalI'll return [the call] shortly
Passo lá depois
similarI'll stop by later
Manda um Whats
specialized formSend a WhatsApp message
