Portuguese Phrase
Apertei o botão de parar?
Meaning
The speaker is asking whether they (or someone else) pressed the stop button. It’s a yes‑or‑no question about a specific action that may have happened just moments ago.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to confirm if the stop button on a device, remote, or software interface was pressed – for example, after a video freezes, during a live broadcast, or when operating machinery.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Aperteiobotãodeparar?
Apertei (verb)
Apertei is the 1st person singular of the verb apertar in the pretérito perfeito do indicativo, used for a completed action in the past.
o (definite article)
The masculine singular definite article that agrees with the noun botão.
botão (noun)
A masculine noun meaning “button”. In Portuguese, nouns are gender‑marked, so the article must match.
de (preposition)
Links the noun botão to the infinitive parar, indicating the button’s function.
parar (infinitive)
The infinitive form of the verb “to stop”. After de, it explains what the button does.
Question mark
In spoken Portuguese the intonation rises at the end; the written “?” signals a yes/no question.
🗨In Conversation
Apertei o botão de parar?
Did I press the stop button?
Não, ainda está tocando. O botão de parar está ao lado da tela.
No, it’s still playing. The stop button is next to the screen.
✕Common Mistakes
Apertou o botão de parar?
Use apertei for first‑person; apertou would refer to “he/she/you (formal) pressed”.
Apertei o botão de parado?
Parado is the past participle; the infinitive parar is required after de.
Apertei o botão parar?
The noun needs the preposition de to indicate purpose.
↔Alternatives
Eu apertei o botão de parar?
Did I press the stop button?
Eu pressionei o botão de parar?
Did I press the stop button?
Cliquei no botão de parar?
Did I click the stop button?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, both apertar and pressionar are used for “to press” a button, but apertar is more informal and common in everyday speech. In Portugal, pressionar is slightly more frequent. Remember that the verb changes with the subject – if you’re asking about someone else, use “apertou”.