Portuguese Phrase
Te ligo mais tarde.
Meaning
A casual way to tell someone that you will give them a phone call later on. It conveys a friendly, informal tone and assumes the listener knows you’ll be in touch.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal conversations with friends, family, or close colleagues when you need to end a chat but want to promise a follow‑up call later in the day or evening.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Teligomaistarde.
Clitic pronoun placement
In Brazilian Portuguese, unstressed object pronouns (te, me, nos, etc.) are placed before the conjugated verb: Te ligo.
Present tense for near future
The simple present (ligo) can express a future action that is already planned, similar to 'I'll call'.
Adverbial phrase 'mais tarde'
'Mais tarde' means 'later' and follows the verb phrase to indicate when the action will happen.
🗨In Conversation
Te ligo mais tarde.
I'll call you later.
Beleza, fico aguardando.
Alright, I'll be waiting.
✕Common Mistakes
Ligo te mais tarde.
Object pronouns must precede the verb in Brazilian Portuguese; 'ligo te' is ungrammatical.
Te ligo mais tarde.
When speaking to someone you address formally, replace 'te' with 'você' or use the formal construction.
Mais tarde eu te ligo.
While understandable, the natural order is 'Te ligo mais tarde.'
↔Alternatives
Vou te ligar mais tarde.
I'll call you later.
Te dou um toque mais tarde.
I'll give you a ring later.
Falo contigo mais tarde.
I'll talk to you later.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, phone calls are a common way to keep in touch, and using 'te ligo' signals intimacy and informality. In more formal settings or with people you don't know well, switch to 'Entrarei em contato mais tarde' or use the formal pronoun 'você' – e.g., 'Vou ligar para você mais tarde.'