Portuguese Phrase
Troca as pilhas uma vez por ano.
Meaning
The sentence is a piece of advice or instruction telling someone to replace the batteries of a device once every year. It is a straightforward, practical statement often heard when caring for electronics, remote controls, or toys.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are giving maintenance tips, writing a user‑manual, or reminding a friend how often a device’s batteries should be changed. It works best in informal conversation (you‑singular).
✦Grammar Breakdown
Trocaaspilhasumavezporano
Troca (imperative)
‘Troca’ is the informal second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘trocar’ (to change/replace).
as (definite article)
‘as’ is the feminine plural definite article, agreeing with ‘pilhas’.
pilhas (noun)
‘pilhas’ means ‘batteries’; in Brazil it usually refers to disposable batteries.
uma vez (frequency expression)
Literally ‘one time’; together with ‘por’ it expresses how often something occurs.
por (preposition for frequency)
When talking about frequency, Portuguese uses ‘por’ (e.g., ‘por semana’, ‘por ano’).
ano (noun)
‘ano’ means ‘year’; it is masculine singular.
🗨In Conversation
Troca as pilhas uma vez por ano.
Change the batteries once a year.
Certo, assim o controle vai durar mais tempo.
Okay, that way the remote will last longer.
✕Common Mistakes
Troca as pilhas uma vez ao ano.
When expressing frequency, Portuguese uses ‘por’ (e.g., ‘por ano’), not ‘ao’.
Troque as pilhas uma vez por ano.
‘Troque’ is the formal imperative; using it in a casual conversation can sound overly stiff.
↔Alternatives
Substitua as baterias anualmente.
Replace the batteries annually.
Mude as pilhas a cada ano.
Swap the batteries each year.
Troque as pilhas uma vez por ano.
Swap the batteries once per year.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘pilhas’ usually refers to alkaline or zinc‑carbon disposable batteries, while ‘baterias’ is used for rechargeable ones. The informal imperative ‘troca’ is common among friends or family; in a formal setting you would say ‘Troque as pilhas…’. Also, the frequency expression ‘por ano’ is preferred over ‘ao ano’ in most regions.