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How to Say ‘I already turned the water heater off and on.’ in Portuguese

Já desliguei e liguei o esquentador.

zhah dezh-lee-GAY ee lee-GAY oo shken-tah-DOR

[zhah dezh-lee-GAY ee lee-GAY oo shken-tah-DOR]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Many Portuguese flats heat water with an esquentador, a gas heater that fires up only when you open a hot tap. That's why turning it off and on is the first thing anyone tries.

Phrase Breakdown

Já desliguei e liguei

zhah dezh-lee-GAY ee lee-GAY

I already switched off and on

The two verbs are opposites: 'desligar' (switch off) and 'ligar' (switch on).

Example

Já desliguei e liguei o router.

I already switched the router off and on.

Words in this phrase

Já

[zhah]

already

Prior to a specified or implied time.

Example

Já comi meu almoço.

I have already eaten my lunch.

desliguei

[dezh-lee-GAY]

I turned off

Past tense of 'desligar' (to switch off), first person.

Example

Desliguei a luz.

I turned off the light.

[ee]

and

A simple connector joining two qualities or ideas.

Example

Procuro um ambiente aberto e humano.

I am looking for an open and human environment.

liguei

[lee-GAY]

I turned on

Past tense of 'ligar' (to switch on; also to call), first person.

Example

Liguei a televisão.

I turned on the TV.

o esquentador.

oo shken-tah-DOR

the water heater.

'O' sounds like 'u'. In 'esquentador', the first 'e' is almost silent: 'shken-ta-DOR'.

Example

O esquentador é novo.

The water heater is new.

Words in this phrase

[oo]

the

A masculine singular definite article used before nouns.

Example

O prazer de participar foi grande.

The pleasure of taking part was great.

esquentador

[shken-tah-DOR]

gas water heater

Device in Portuguese homes that heats water using gas, usually in the kitchen.

Example

O esquentador está na cozinha.

The water heater is in the kitchen.

Guides for Portuguese learners

The Portuguese You Actually Need in Your First Month in PortugalThe European Portuguese phrases for your first weeks in Portugal: paperwork, renting a flat, the bank, the health centre, cafés, trains and your new neighbours.

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