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Portuguese Phrase

Você pode me ligar para me acordar?

/voˈse ˈpɔ.dʒi mi liˈgaʁ ˈpa.ɾa mi a.koɾˈdaʁ/
Meaning"Can you call me to wake me up?"
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Meaning

A polite request asking someone to give you a phone call that will serve as a wake‑up alarm. The speaker is asking for a favor, using the verb poder to soften the request.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you need a personal wake‑up call – for example, before an early flight, a job interview, or when you don’t trust your alarm clock. It works best with friends, family, or a colleague you already have a casual relationship with.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Vocêpodemeligarparameacordar?

1

Você

Second‑person singular pronoun used for polite or familiar address.

2

pode

Present indicative of poder; expresses ability or permission.

3

me

Clitic pronoun for the first‑person singular object; placed before the infinitive.

4

ligar

Infinitive meaning ‘to call (by phone)’. When combined with a pronoun it forms a verbal periphrasis.

5

para + infinitive

Prepositional phrase that indicates purpose: ‘in order to …’.

6

acordar

Infinitive ‘to wake up’. With the preceding ‘me’ it becomes ‘to wake me up’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Você pode me ligar para me acordar?

Can you call me to wake me up?

Claro! Que horas você quer que eu ligue?

Sure! What time would you like me to call?

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Você pode me ligar para eu acordar?

    After ‘para’, the infinitive normally takes the object pronoun (me) rather than a subject pronoun; ‘para me acordar’ sounds more natural.

  • Você pode ligar‑me para me acordar?

    The clitic pronoun should precede the infinitive (me ligar), not be attached with a hyphen.

  • Você pode me ligar para me acordar?

    When the request is very polite, use the conditional ‘poderia’ instead of ‘pode’. ‘Você poderia me ligar…’ sounds less demanding.

↔Alternatives

  • Você pode me dar um toque para eu acordar?

    Can you give me a buzz so I can wake up?

  • Pode me chamar quando for hora de acordar?

    Could you call me when it’s time to wake up?

  • Me liga para me acordar, por favor.

    Call me to wake me up, please.

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil it’s common to ask a friend or a family member for a ‘ligação de despertador’. The phrase is informal; in a more formal setting you might say “Poderia me ligar para me acordar?”. Also note that Brazilians often use “dar um toque” (give a buzz) as a slangy alternative to “ligar”.