What Does the Verb Ligar Mean in Portuguese?

If you have been learning Brazilian Portuguese, you have probably run into the verb ligar in Portuguese, and it can be confusing at first. It looks a lot like the English words link or ligature, but that is not how we use it in Brazil at all.

For us in Brazil, ligar mostly means two things: to call someone on the phone and to turn something on. So when a student tells me they want to learn how to ligar in Portuguese, I always smile and explain that here it means to phone someone or to switch on the light, nothing to do with linking anything.

In this lesson you are going to learn exactly what ligar means in Portuguese, with every common use of the verb ligar and real phrases so you sound natural. Let's go through it step by step.

Video: How to use the verb LIGAR in Portuguese

Before we get into the phrases, watch this video where I quickly explain what ligar means in Portuguese and its most common uses. It is the easiest way to hear the real pronunciation and see how we use it in Brazil in everyday life.

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Phrases with the verb LIGAR in Portuguese

The verb ligar in Portuguese changes meaning depending on the context: it can mean to call on the phone, to turn on a device, to pay attention, or even to connect ideas. Here are practical phrases for each use so you can see the difference and use it with confidence.

Ligar para algo

Ligar para algo means to care about something or to pay attention to it. When someone says "não ligo", they are saying they do not care, that it makes no difference to them. It is one of the uses that surprises learners the most, because it has nothing to do with turning anything on.

• Ela me disse que não ligava se você terminasse o namoro.
• Na verdade acho que você nem liga pra essas coisas né?

Several ways to say "I don't care" in Portuguese.

Ligar para alguém

Ligar para alguém means to call someone on the phone, and it is the most common use of the verb ligar in Brazil. When you want to reach a friend or book a hotel, in Portuguese we use ligar for making that phone call.

• Você já ligou pro hotel pra fazer a reserva da nossa viagem?

Learn how to avoid speaking Portunhol (mixing Portuguese and Spanish).

Ligar o computador

Ligar o computador means to turn on the computer. With devices, machines, or any gadget, ligar is the same as "to switch on", and its opposite is desligar (to turn off). This is how we say it in Brazil when we turn on the TV, the phone, or the car engine.

• Tenho que levar o computador pro conserto, hoje de manhã tentei ligá-lo mas não deu sinal de vida.

Several ways to say something is broken or not working in Portuguese.

Ligar, Apagar / Desligar a luz

With lights, ligar means to switch the light on, and desligar or apagar means to switch it off. It is the same verb we use for appliances: a light can be "ligada" (on) or "desligada" (off). It is a small detail, but it trips up a lot of beginners.

• Você acha melhor estudar com a luz ligada ou desligada?

The difference between 'achar' and 'pensar' in Portuguese.

Estar ligado / Se ligar

Estar ligado or se ligar means to be alert, sharp, or on the ball. When I tell you "se liga!", I am asking you to pay attention or be careful. Here ligar is no longer about switching anything on, but about being tuned in to what is going on around you.

• Você tem que se ligar com esses investimentos, caso contrário você vai ir a falência.

Ligar as ideias

Ligar as ideias means to connect or organize your ideas so they make sense. We use it when someone is having trouble putting their thoughts in order or linking one point to another. This is the use of ligar that is closest to the English "to connect".

• Ele me disse que quer começar um negócio mas tá com dificuldades pra ligar as ideias.

Phrases and thoughts with the verb LIGAR in Portuguese

On the Pensador website you can find more examples with the verb ligar.

Write down your favorite phrases in a notebook so you can review them often.