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How to Say ‘The water heater won't light.’ in Portuguese

O esquentador não acende.

oo shken-tah-DOR NOWN ah-SEN-deh

[oo shken-tah-DOR NOWN ah-SEN-deh]

🇵🇹 In Portugal: Many Portuguese flats heat water with a gas esquentador that lights on demand, not a hot-water tank. Saying it "won't light" is the standard way to report the problem.

Phrase Breakdown

O esquentador

oo shken-tah-DOR

The water heater

'O' sounds like 'oo' and links to 'esquentador': 'ooshken-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

A wall-mounted gas boiler that heats water, common in Portuguese homes.

Example

O esquentador está na cozinha.

The water heater is in the kitchen.

não acende.

NOWN ah-SEN-deh

won't light / doesn't turn on

'Não' is a nasal 'now'. 'Acende' comes from 'acender' (to light), pronounced 'a-SEND'.

Example

A luz não acende.

The light doesn't turn on.

Words in this phrase

não

[NOWN]

not

Used to negate the meaning of a word or group of words.

Example

Não quero comer agora.

I don't want to eat now.

acende

[ah-SEN-deh]

lights / ignites

From 'acender': to switch on or ignite a flame or light.

Example

A luz não acende.

The light doesn't turn on.

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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