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A1 verb #3,000 most common 8 min read

desligar

Top 3,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips desligar in 30 Seconds

Explanation desligar in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 'desligar' in its most basic, literal sense: turning off household objects. You should learn the present tense (Eu desligo, Tu desligas, Ele/Ela desliga) and the basic imperative (Desliga!). Think of it as a command word. You will use it to tell your roommate to turn off the light or to tell a friend you are hanging up the phone. The focus here is on direct objects: a luz, a TV, o telemóvel. You don't need to worry about complex grammar or figurative meanings yet. Just remember that it is the opposite of 'ligar'. If you can say 'Desliga a luz, por favor', you have mastered the A1 usage of this verb.

As an A2 learner, you start using 'desligar' in the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito) to describe things you have already done. 'Eu desliguei o computador antes de sair' is a typical A2 sentence. You also begin to understand the reflexive use slightly, like 'desligar-se' in a very simple context. You should also be comfortable using it with pronouns, such as 'Podes desligá-lo?' (Can you turn it off?). At this level, you are expanding the range of objects you can 'desligar', including car engines (o motor) and household appliances like the oven (o forno) or the heater (o aquecedor). You are moving from simple commands to describing daily routines.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'desligar' in a variety of tenses, including the Imperfect and the Future. You also start to use the word in more figurative or professional contexts. For instance, you might talk about 'desligar-se do trabalho' (disconnecting from work) during the weekend. You understand that in a business context, 'desligar' can refer to a company letting an employee go. You also start to recognize common idioms like 'desligar a ficha'. Your grammar should now include the subjunctive: 'É importante que tu desligues o gás'. This shows a transition from purely physical actions to expressing necessity and emotion regarding those actions.

By B2, you are expected to use 'desligar' with nuance. You can distinguish between 'desligar', 'apagar', and 'desativar' without hesitation. You use the verb in complex sentence structures, including conditional statements: 'Se eu tivesse desligado o ferro, não teria havido um incêndio'. You also use the noun form 'desligamento' in more formal or technical discussions. You can participate in debates about 'digital detox' (desintoxicação digital) and use 'desligar-se' to describe psychological states of detachment or lack of focus. Your vocabulary around this word is now rich enough to handle both casual and semi-formal social situations.

At the C1 level, your use of 'desligar' is near-native. You understand subtle social cues, such as when someone uses 'desligar' sarcastically or to describe someone who is 'clueless' (ele está completamente desligado). You can use the word in formal writing, perhaps in a report about energy consumption or corporate restructuring. You are familiar with the historical evolution of the word and can use it in literary contexts to describe a character's emotional withdrawal. You also handle the most complex grammatical structures, such as the personal infinitive (para desligarmos) and the future subjunctive (quando desligares), with ease and accuracy.

At the C2 level, you have a total command of 'desligar'. You can use it in highly specialized fields, such as electrical engineering or telecommunications law, where the term might have specific technical definitions. You can interpret and produce complex metaphors involving 'desligar' in poetry or philosophy. You understand the regional variations in how the word is used across the Lusophone world (Portugal vs. Brazil vs. Angola). You can play with the word, creating puns or using it in sophisticated rhetoric. Essentially, the word is no longer a 'vocabulary item' but a flexible tool in your linguistic arsenal that you use with complete spontaneity and precision.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

desligar in 30 Seconds

Desligar is the essential Portuguese verb for 'to turn off' any electronic device, from a small smartphone to a large industrial machine.
It is also the standard way to say 'hang up' the phone, making it vital for daily communication and ending conversations properly.
The word can be used reflexively (desligar-se) to mean disconnecting mentally from work, stress, or a specific social situation for a break.
Grammatically, it is a regular -ar verb, but remember the spelling change to 'desliguei' in the past tense to keep the hard 'g' sound.

The Portuguese verb desligar is a foundational word for any learner, primarily functioning as the direct opposite of 'ligar' (to connect or turn on). At its core, it signifies the act of severing a connection, whether that connection is electrical, telephonic, or even metaphorical. In the modern era, you will use this word daily to describe interacting with technology. From shutting down a high-powered computer to simply flicking a light switch, desligar is the universal command for cessation of operation. It is composed of the prefix 'des-', which indicates reversal or undoing, and the root 'ligar', coming from the Latin 'ligare', meaning to bind or tie. Thus, to 'desligar' is literally to 'un-bind'.

Electrical Context: This is the most frequent usage. It applies to televisions, lamps, microwave ovens, and laptops. If it has a power button, you 'desliga' it. Interestingly, while English uses 'turn off' or 'switch off', Portuguese remains consistent with this single verb across almost all devices.

Por favor, não se esqueça de desligar o computador antes de sair do escritório.

Telephonic Context: In the realm of telecommunications, desligar means to hang up the phone. Even though we no longer physically hang a receiver on a hook, the verb has persisted through the transition to smartphones. If someone is being rude on a call, you might say 'Vou desligar!' (I'm going to hang up!).

Ele estava tão cansado que desligou o telemóvel para não ser incomodado durante as férias.

Mechanical Context: For vehicles, desligar refers to turning off the engine. 'Desligar o motor' is the standard phrase used when you reach your destination and stop the car completely.

Podes desligar o carro enquanto esperas por mim?

Preciso de desligar a ficha este fim de semana e ir para a montanha.

In summary, desligar is an essential 'utility' verb. Whether you are managing your home, your office, or your social boundaries, this verb provides the mechanism for ending a flow of power or communication. It is versatile, easy to conjugate as a regular -ar verb, and vital for daily survival in a Portuguese-speaking environment.

Using desligar correctly involves understanding its transitivity. Usually, it is a transitive verb, meaning it requires a direct object—the thing you are turning off. However, it can also be used intransitively in specific contexts like phone calls. The structure is typically [Subject] + [Conjugated Verb] + [Article] + [Object]. Because it is a regular verb ending in '-ar', its conjugation follows the standard pattern, making it relatively straightforward for beginners to master across different tenses.

Direct Objects: Common objects include 'a luz' (the light), 'o rádio' (the radio), 'a televisão' (the television), and 'o ar condicionado' (the air conditioning). Notice that the gender of the object determines the article used.

Eu desligo a luz da sala todas as noites.

The Imperative Form: When giving commands, use 'desliga' (informal/Tu) or 'desligue' (formal/Você). This is very common in household settings or instructions.

Filho, desliga a consola e vem jantar agora mesmo!

Reflexive Usage: When a person 'disconnects' themselves from a situation, we use 'desligar-se'. This is common when talking about mental health, meditation, or simply ignoring the news.

Às vezes é preciso desligar-se das redes sociais para encontrar paz.

In the past tense (Pretérito Perfeito), it is used to describe a completed action: 'Ontem, eu desliguei o aquecimento' (Yesterday, I turned off the heating). In the future, you might say 'Vou desligar o computador logo' (I will turn off the computer soon). Mastery of desligar requires paying attention to the object you are acting upon and choosing the appropriate conjugation for the subject performing the action.

You will encounter desligar in a vast array of real-world scenarios in Portuguese-speaking countries. It is not just a word for the home; it is a word of the public sphere, the workplace, and the digital world. Understanding where you will hear it helps in recognizing the word even when spoken quickly by native speakers.

Public Announcements: In airplanes, cinemas, and theaters, you will frequently hear recorded voices asking you to 'desligar os telemóveis' (turn off your cell phones). In these formal settings, the plural imperative 'desliguem' is often used.

Senhores passageiros, por favor desliguem todos os aparelhos eletrónicos.

On the Phone: At the end of a conversation, you will hear people say 'Vou desligar agora, tchau!' (I'm going to hang up now, bye!). If a call is suddenly cut off, a person might say 'A chamada desligou-se' (The call disconnected itself/dropped).

Não desligues! Ainda tenho uma coisa importante para te contar.

At Home: Parents constantly tell children to turn off lights or video games. 'Desliga essa luz!' (Turn off that light!) is a classic phrase heard in Portuguese households to save energy.

Já é tarde, desliga a televisão e vai dormir.

Finally, in the context of gas and water, while 'fechar' (to close) is common for taps, desligar is frequently used for the 'esquentador' (water heater) or the 'fogão' (stove) especially if it is electric. Hearing the word in these diverse contexts reinforces its status as a high-frequency, indispensable verb in the Portuguese lexicon.

Even though desligar seems simple, English speakers often fall into traps by translating literally from English idioms or by confusing it with other Portuguese verbs that have overlapping meanings. Avoiding these common errors will make your Portuguese sound much more natural and precise.

Confusing with 'Fechar': English speakers often say 'close the light' (influenced by some regional dialects or other languages). In Portuguese, you never 'fechar' a light or a TV. 'Fechar' is for doors, windows, and books. For electronics, it must be desligar.

Errado: Vou fechar o rádio.
Correto: Vou desligar o rádio.

Confusing with 'Apagar': 'Apagar' means to extinguish (like a fire) or to delete (like a file). While 'apagar a luz' is a very common alternative to 'desligar a luz', you cannot 'apagar o computador' if you mean to shut it down properly. 'Apagar o computador' might sound like you are erasing the entire hard drive!

Cuidado: Se disseres 'apagar o ficheiro', estás a eliminar o documento, não a desligar o programa.

Preposition Errors: Learners sometimes try to add a preposition like 'desligar de' for electronics. Remember: it is 'desligar o telemóvel' (direct object), not 'desligar do telemóvel'. The preposition 'de' is only used in the reflexive 'desligar-se de algo' (to disconnect oneself from something).

Eu desliguei o rádio (Correct) vs. Eu desliguei do rádio (Incorrect, unless you mean you stopped paying attention to it).

By keeping these distinctions in mind—especially the 'fechar' vs. 'desligar' rule—you will avoid the most glaring 'gringo' mistakes. Always visualize the flow of electricity: if you are stopping that flow, desligar is your best friend.

While desligar is the most common verb for turning things off, Portuguese offers several synonyms and alternatives that carry specific nuances. Choosing the right one can elevate your speaking from basic to sophisticated.

Apagar: Used primarily for lights, fires, and candles. While you can 'desligar a luz', 'apagar a luz' is perhaps even more frequent in casual conversation. It carries the sense of making something dark or extinguishing it.

Podes apagar a vela antes de saíres?

Desativar: More technical than 'desligar'. You 'desativar' an alarm, a bomb, or a specific feature in a software program. It implies a more complex process than just hitting a switch.

Como é que eu desativo as notificações deste grupo?

Interromper: To interrupt. This is used when a process is stopped midway. For example, 'interromper o fornecimento de energia' (interrupt the power supply). It is more formal and usually describes an external action stopping a flow.

A tempestade interrompeu a transmissão do jogo.

Cessar: A very formal verb meaning 'to cease'. Used in legal or highly academic contexts, like 'cessar funções' (to cease functions/stop working in a role).

In summary, while desligar is your 'all-purpose' tool, keep 'apagar' for lights and 'desativar' for settings. This variety allows you to describe the 'off' state with much more precision depending on whether you are at home, in an office, or writing a technical manual.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

Before electricity, 'desligar' was used primarily for untying animals or disconnecting parts of a carriage.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /dɨʒ.li.ˈɡaɾ/

US /dez.li.ˈɡaχ/

The stress is on the last syllable: des-li-GAR.

Rhymes With

chegar falar olhar andar brincar pensar amar jogar

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 's' as a hard 's' instead of 'sh' or 'z'.
Stress on the second syllable (des-LI-gar) instead of the third.
Forgetting the 'u' sound in the past tense 'desliguei'.
Making the 'e' in 'de' too long in European Portuguese.
Failing to tap the final 'r' in Portugal.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text due to the 'des-' prefix.

Writing 2/5

Requires remembering the 'u' in 'desliguei'.

Speaking 2/5

The 'sh' sound in European Portuguese can be tricky for beginners.

Listening 2/5

Can be swallowed in fast speech: 'D'shligar'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

ligar luz telefone computador não

Learn Next

acender apagar ficha tomada carregar

Advanced

desativar interromper cessar desconectar

Grammar to Know

Spelling change in Pretérito Perfeito

Eu desliguei (not desligei) to keep the 'g' sound.

Object Pronoun Attachment

Vou desligá-lo (I will turn it off).

Reflexive Pronoun Placement

Eu desligo-me ou Eu me desligo (depending on dialect).

Imperative Mood

Desliga (tu) vs Desligue (você).

Future Subjunctive after 'Quando'

Quando tu desligares a luz, eu vou dormir.

Examples by Level

Eu desligo a luz.

I turn off the light.

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Desliga o rádio, por favor.

Turn off the radio, please.

Imperative (informal).

Ela desliga o telemóvel na aula.

She turns off the cell phone in class.

Present tense, 3rd person singular.

Nós desligamos a televisão.

We turn off the television.

Present tense, 1st person plural.

Vou desligar agora. Tchau!

I'm going to hang up now. Bye!

Irregular future (Ir + infinitive).

Tu desligas o computador à noite?

Do you turn off the computer at night?

Interrogative, 2nd person singular.

Eles desligam as luzes às dez.

They turn off the lights at ten.

Present tense, 3rd person plural.

Não desligues o som!

Don't turn off the sound!

Negative imperative (informal).

Eu desliguei o forno há dez minutos.

I turned off the oven ten minutes ago.

Pretérito Perfeito (Past Simple).

Podes desligá-lo para mim?

Can you turn it off for me?

Infinitive with direct object pronoun '-lo'.

Ontem, nós desligámos o aquecimento.

Yesterday, we turned off the heating.

Past tense, 1st person plural (European Portuguese spelling).

Ela desligava sempre a música cedo.

She used to always turn off the music early.

Pretérito Imperfeito (Used to).

Vocês desligaram a torradeira?

Did you guys turn off the toaster?

Past tense question.

O telemóvel desligou-se sozinho.

The phone turned itself off.

Reflexive use for automatic actions.

Preciso de desligar o motor do carro.

I need to turn off the car engine.

Infinitive after 'preciso de'.

Ele nunca desliga a ventoinha.

He never turns off the fan.

Present tense with frequency adverb.

É melhor que desligues o computador agora.

It's better that you turn off the computer now.

Present Subjunctive.

Se eu fosse a ti, desligava o telemóvel.

If I were you, I would turn off the cell phone.

Conditional structure (using Imperfect for conditional).

A empresa desligou vários funcionários este mês.

The company let go of several employees this month.

Euphemism for dismissing staff.

Quero desligar-me de tudo durante as férias.

I want to disconnect from everything during vacation.

Reflexive infinitive for mental state.

Quando desligares o gás, avisa-me.

When you turn off the gas, let me know.

Future Subjunctive.

Eles tinham desligado a luz antes de eu chegar.

They had turned off the light before I arrived.

Past Perfect (Mais-que-perfeito composto).

Não consigo desligar a ficha do trabalho.

I can't disconnect from work.

Idiomatic expression 'desligar a ficha'.

O sistema desligar-se-á automaticamente.

The system will turn off automatically.

Future tense with mesoclisis (formal).

Embora tenha desligado o alarme, ele não tocou.

Although I turned off the alarm, it didn't go off.

Concessive clause with Present Perfect Subjunctive.

É fundamental desligarmo-nos da rotina diária.

It's fundamental for us to disconnect from the daily routine.

Personal Infinitive.

O técnico desligou os cabos por engano.

The technician disconnected the cables by mistake.

Desligar meaning 'to disconnect' physically.

Ela desligou a chamada na cara dele.

She hung up the phone in his face.

Idiom for hanging up abruptly/rudely.

O desligamento da central elétrica foi planeado.

The shutdown of the power plant was planned.

Noun form 'desligamento'.

Não te desligues do que estou a dizer!

Don't tune out what I'm saying!

Negative imperative reflexive (figurative).

O autor desliga-se da realidade na sua obra.

The author detaches himself from reality in his work.

Literary/abstract use.

Pode ser que eles desliguem o fornecimento de água.

It might be that they turn off the water supply.

Present Subjunctive expressing possibility.

A medida visa o desligamento progressivo da rede.

The measure aims for the progressive disconnection from the network.

Formal/Technical usage.

Ele desligou-se emocionalmente após a tragédia.

He detached himself emotionally after the tragedy.

Psychological/Reflexive use.

Caso desliguemos o servidor, perderemos os dados.

In case we turn off the server, we will lose the data.

Conditional Subjunctive.

A sua apatia era tal que parecia estar desligado da vida.

His apathy was such that he seemed disconnected from life.

Participial adjective 'desligado'.

Instruí-o a que desligasse todos os disjuntores.

I instructed him to turn off all the circuit breakers.

Past Subjunctive in a command sequence.

A call desligou-se subitamente devido à má ligação.

The call dropped suddenly due to the poor connection.

Intransitive/Reflexive for technical failure.

O filósofo propõe que nos desliguemos do ego.

The philosopher proposes that we disconnect from the ego.

Abstract philosophical usage.

Houve um desligamento intempestivo das máquinas.

There was an untimely shutdown of the machines.

Formal noun phrase.

A obsolescência programada força o desligamento precoce.

Planned obsolescence forces early decommissioning.

High-level socio-economic context.

O réu desligou-se de quaisquer responsabilidades éticas.

The defendant detached himself from any ethical responsibilities.

Legal/Moral context.

Oxalá desliguem a retórica incendiária da política.

I hope they turn off the inflammatory rhetoric of politics.

Metaphorical/Political use with 'Oxalá'.

O poema evoca o desligar da alma perante a morte.

The poem evokes the soul's disconnection in the face of death.

Nominalized infinitive in literature.

A empresa procedeu ao desligamento contratual do CEO.

The company proceeded with the contractual termination of the CEO.

Highly formal business jargon.

A síncope causou um desligamento momentâneo da consciência.

The syncope caused a momentary shutdown of consciousness.

Medical/Scientific usage.

É imperativo que se desliguem as amarras do passado.

It is imperative that the bonds of the past be disconnected.

Metaphorical use of 'amarras'.

O desligamento da rede elétrica nacional causou o caos.

The shutdown of the national power grid caused chaos.

Large-scale technical event.

Common Collocations

desligar a luz

desligar o telemóvel

desligar o computador

desligar o motor

desligar a chamada

desligar o rádio

desligar o aquecimento

desligar a ficha

desligar o ar condicionado

desligar o som

Common Phrases

Vou desligar.

— I am going to hang up the phone now.

O jantar está pronto, vou desligar.

Desliga isso!

— Turn that off! (usually said with annoyance).

Esse barulho é horrível, desliga isso!

Não desligues!

— Don't hang up! / Don't turn it off!

Espera, não desligues o telefone ainda!

Podes desligar?

— Can you turn it off? (polite request).

A televisão está alta, podes desligar?

Esqueci-me de desligar.

— I forgot to turn it off.

Esqueci-me de desligar o ferro de engomar.

Já desligaste?

— Have you already turned it off?

Já desligaste as luzes todas?

Desliga a televisão.

— Turn off the TV.

Desliga a televisão e vai estudar.

Desligar o motor.

— To turn off the engine.

É proibido parar sem desligar o motor.

Desligar da tomada.

— To unplug from the socket.

Tens de desligar a torradeira da tomada.

Desligar o alarme.

— To turn off the alarm.

Ele desligou o alarme e voltou a dormir.

Often Confused With

desligar vs fechar

Learners use 'fechar' for lights/TVs, but 'fechar' is only for physical objects like doors or books.

desligar vs apagar

Used for lights and fire, but 'desligar' is safer for complex electronics like computers.

desligar vs parar

Means 'to stop'. You 'parar' a car (motion), but you 'desligar' the engine (power).

Idioms & Expressions

"Desligar a ficha"

— To take a complete break from work or daily stress.

Nas férias, desligo a ficha totalmente.

Informal

"Estar desligado"

— To be distracted, out of touch, or clueless about a situation.

Ele anda muito desligado da realidade.

Informal

"Desligar na cara"

— To hang up the phone rudely while the other person is still talking.

Não acredito que ela me desligou na cara!

Informal

"Desligar os motores"

— To slow down or stop working hard after a long period.

Depois do projeto, vou desligar os motores.

Neutral

"Desligar-se do mundo"

— To isolate oneself or go into deep meditation/rest.

Ele desliga-se do mundo quando lê um livro.

Informal/Literary

"Desligar o chip"

— To stop thinking about a specific topic (like work).

Ao chegar a casa, desligo o chip do escritório.

Slang

"Dar um desligue"

— To have a momentary lapse in memory or focus (Brazilian usage common).

Dei um desligue e esqueci a chave.

Slang

"Desligar a corrente"

— To break a cycle or a sequence of events.

Precisamos de desligar a corrente de negatividade.

Metaphorical

"Ficar desligado"

— To remain disconnected or unaware.

Fiquei desligado das notícias esta semana.

Neutral

"Desligar por completo"

— To shut down or disconnect entirely.

O computador desligou por completo.

Neutral

Easily Confused

desligar vs apagar

Both can mean 'turn off'.

Apagar is for light/fire/deletion; desligar is for power/connection.

Apaga a vela; desliga o computador.

desligar vs desativar

Both stop a function.

Desativar is for specific settings or technical systems; desligar is for the whole device.

Desativa o GPS; desliga o carro.

desligar vs desconectar

Literal translation of 'disconnect'.

Desconectar is usually for physical cables or internet sessions; desligar is for power.

Desconecta o cabo; desliga a máquina.

desligar vs fechar

Direct translation from some languages.

Fechar is for physical closure; desligar is for electrical termination.

Fecha a janela; desliga a luz.

desligar vs interromper

Both stop something.

Interromper implies a temporary break or external stop; desligar is a deliberate shutdown.

A queda de energia interrompeu o filme.

Sentence Patterns

Eu desligo o/a [objeto].

Eu desligo o rádio.

Desliga o/a [objeto]!

Desliga a TV!

Eu desliguei o/a [objeto].

Eu desliguei o forno.

Podes desligar o/a [objeto]?

Podes desligar a luz?

É preciso desligar o/a [objeto].

É preciso desligar o gás.

Vou desligar-me de [algo].

Vou desligar-me do trabalho.

Se eu [verbo], eu desligava.

Se eu tivesse sono, desligava a TV.

O desligamento de [algo] causou [efeito].

O desligamento do servidor causou problemas.

Word Family

Nouns

desligamento (shutdown/disconnection)

ligação (connection)

Verbs

ligar (to connect)

religar (to reconnect)

Adjectives

desligado (disconnected/distracted)

ligado (connected/attentive)

ficha

tomada

interruptor

corrente

aparelho

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily life.

Common Mistakes

Eu desligei o rádio. → Eu desliguei o rádio.
You must add a 'u' to keep the hard 'g' sound before 'e'.
Fecha a luz. → Desliga a luz.
You turn off (desligar) lights; you don't close (fechar) them.
Vou desligar de o telefone. → Vou desligar o telefone.
Desligar takes a direct object, no preposition 'de' is needed.
O rádio desligou. → O rádio desligou-se.
If it happened by itself or automatically, use the reflexive form.
Desligar a vela. → Apagar a vela.
Use 'apagar' for fire/candles, not 'desligar'.

Tips

The 'GUE' Rule

Whenever a verb ends in -gar, the 'g' becomes 'gu' before an 'e'. This happens in the past tense: desligar -> desliguei.

Opposites Attract

Always learn 'ligar' and 'desligar' together. They are the 'on' and 'off' of the Portuguese world.

The Phone Etiquette

Saying 'Vou desligar' is polite. Hanging up without saying it is considered 'desligar na cara' (hanging up in their face).

Computer Shutdown

In Windows or Mac in Portuguese, the button for 'Shut Down' is usually 'Desligar'.

Destroy the Ligament

Imagine cutting a ligament (connection). Des-ligar is cutting that bond.

The Soft R

In Portugal, the final 'r' in 'desligar' is a very soft tap, almost like the 'd' in 'ladder'.

Shortening

In very casual Brazilian speech, you might hear 'desliga aí' as a quick command.

Don't 'Close' the Light

Avoid saying 'fechar a luz'. It’s a common mistake for English and French speakers.

Reflexive Meaning

Use 'desligar-se' when you are overwhelmed. 'Preciso de me desligar' (I need to disconnect).

Save Energy

'Desliga a luz' is the number one phrase for saving energy in a Portuguese home.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'DES-LINK-ar'. You are 'DES-linking' (disconnecting) the device from the power source.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant plug being pulled out of a wall socket with the word 'DESLIGAR' written on the cord.

Word Web

Luz Televisão Computador Telemóvel Motor Ficha Tomada Interruptor

Challenge

Try to say 'desligar' every time you turn something off today in your house. Say it out loud: 'Vou desligar a luz'.

Word Origin

From the Portuguese prefix 'des-' (indicating reversal) + 'ligar' (to connect).

Original meaning: The root 'ligar' comes from the Latin 'ligare', which means to tie, bind, or fasten.

Romance (Latin root).

Cultural Context

Be careful using 'desligar' for people (firing them); it is a corporate euphemism that can sound cold.

English speakers use 'turn off', 'switch off', 'shut down', and 'hang up'. Portuguese uses 'desligar' for all of these.

The phrase 'Desliga a televisão e vai ler um livro' is a common parental trope in Lusophone media. The song 'Desliga o Telefone' by various artists in the Pimba and Sertanejo genres. Public service announcements in the Metro de Lisboa: 'Por favor, desligue o som dos aparelhos'.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Office

Desligar o computador
Desligar a impressora
Desligar as luzes
Desligar o ar condicionado

On a Call

Vou desligar
Não desligues
Ela desligou na cara
A chamada desligou-se

Driving

Desligar o motor
Desligar o rádio
Desligar os faróis
Desligar o GPS

Kitchen

Desligar o fogão
Desligar o forno
Desligar o micro-ondas
Desligar a batedeira

Mental Health

Desligar do trabalho
Desligar-se das redes sociais
Desligar a ficha
Estar desligado

Conversation Starters

"Costumas desligar o telemóvel antes de dormir?"

"A que horas desligas o computador no trabalho?"

"Já alguma vez te desligaram o telefone na cara?"

"É difícil para ti desligar a ficha no fim de semana?"

"Quem é que nunca desliga as luzes em tua casa?"

Journal Prompts

Escreve sobre a última vez que decidiste desligar-te das redes sociais por um dia.

Descreve a tua rotina antes de desligar as luzes para dormir.

O que sentes quando alguém desliga a chamada sem dizer adeus?

É importante desligar o computador totalmente ou deixá-lo em modo de suspensão?

Como é que te consegues desligar do stress depois de um dia longo?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, for a candle you should use 'apagar' or 'soprar' (to blow out). 'Desligar' implies an electrical or mechanical connection.

Simply say 'desligar' or 'desligar o telefone'. In a sentence: 'Vou desligar agora'.

Usually, we use 'fechar a torneira' (close the tap). However, for an electric water heater, you use 'desligar o esquentador'.

'Desliguei' is a one-time past action (I turned it off). 'Desligava' is a habitual past action (I used to turn it off).

Yes, in a corporate context, 'desligar um colaborador' is a polite/euphemistic way to say someone was let go.

You can say 'desligar da tomada' or 'tirar da ficha'.

It is 'desligar o computador'. The verb is transitive and takes a direct object.

Yes, 'desligar o carro' or 'desligar o motor' means to turn off the engine.

It means the person is distracted, not paying attention, or out of the loop.

Yes, it is a regular -ar verb, but it has a spelling change in the 'eu' form of the past tense (desliguei).