ligar

Senses

1. 1.

   to turn on, to switch on

   to activate or start a device or system

2. 2.

   to call, to telephone

   to make a phone call to someone

3. 3.

   to connect, to link, to tie

   to join or fasten two or more things together

4. 4.

   to matter, to care (often with 'não')

   to be important or of concern to someone

Examples

• "Pode ligar a televisão? A novela está começando."

  Can you turn on the TV? The soap opera is starting.

• "Vou ligar para minha mãe depois do trabalho."

  I'm going to call my mom after work.

• "Não ligo para o que os outros pensam."

  I don't care what other people think.

Usage

Extremely common verb in Brazilian Portuguese with multiple meanings depending on context. "Ligar para" (to call someone) is very frequently used in everyday speech. "Não ligar" (not to care) is an idiomatic expression, though "ligar para" in this sense can be replaced with "importar-se" in formal writing.