Desligar vs. Apagar in Portuguese: Turn Off a Device or a Light — Practice

Use desligar for switching off a device or connection

Desligar commonly means to switch off or disconnect something: desligar o computador, desligar o ar-condicionado, or desligar o Wi-Fi. It also means to hang up a call in everyday expressions such as desligar o telefone.

The same verb can describe disconnecting a person from a conversation or turning away from a topic in figurative contexts. The object helps you identify the intended meaning.

Use apagar for a light, a flame, or information

Apagar commonly means to put out or turn out a light or flame: apagar a luz, apagar a vela. It also means to erase or delete information: apagar uma mensagem or apagar um arquivo. For a lamp, both apagar and desligar may be used, so pay attention to the object and local phrasing.

To turn a light back on, say acender a luz. For a device, ligar is a common opposite of desligar. Learning the pairs together helps you describe a simple household task clearly.

Remember: Desligar is a common choice for devices and connections; apagar is common for lights, flames, and deleting information. Lights can overlap, so learn the usual phrase with its object.

Check your understanding

Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.

Recall the Portuguese, then say it

Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.

1. Turn off the computer before you leave.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Desligue o computador antes de sair.

2. I need to turn off the Wi-Fi to restart the router.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Preciso desligar o Wi-Fi para reiniciar o roteador.

3. She hung up the phone after the call.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Ela desligou o telefone depois da chamada.

4. Can you turn off the hallway light?

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Pode apagar a luz do corredor?

5. I deleted the message by mistake.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Apaguei a mensagem por engano.

6. I’m going to turn on the fan and switch on the light.

   Show a Portuguese answer

   Vou ligar o ventilador e acender a luz.

Make the phrase useful to you

Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.

Desligar is a common choice for devices and connections; apagar is common for lights, flames, and deleting information. Lights can overlap, so learn the usual phrase with its object.

Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.

Sources and your next lesson

This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Desligar vs. Apagar in Portuguese: Turn Off a Device or a Light lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.

To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.