Quick answer
Fechar closes an opening or access. Desligar stops something from operating.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
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What each word does
fechar
to close
Use fechar for doors, windows, containers, files, accounts, and businesses.
desligar
to switch off
Use desligar for devices, lights, machines, and systems that stop operating.
How to choose
- fechar: Choose fechar if the sentence points to doors, windows, containers, files, accounts, and businesses.
- desligar: Choose desligar if the sentence points to devices, lights, machines, and systems that stop operating.
Examples
Feche a porta, por favor.
Close the door, please.
Desligue a televisão.
Turn off the television.
Common trap
Closing an app or file is fechar. Turning off the phone itself is desligar.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with fechar, then once with desligar. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Learn Brazilian Portuguese step by step
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