Portuguese Phrase
Puxo o cordão?
Meaning
Literally, “Do I pull the cord?” It is a yes‑or‑no question asking whether the speaker should pull a specific cord, such as the cord of a washing‑machine, a curtain, or a safety latch.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are unsure whether pulling a cord is the correct action, for example while operating a device, helping someone set up a stage, or checking a safety mechanism.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Puxoocordão?
Verb Conjugation (Puxar)
‘Puxo’ is the first‑person singular present indicative of the regular -ar verb ‘puxar’ (to pull).
Definite Article
‘o’ is the masculine singular definite article, used here because ‘cordão’ is a specific rope/cord.
Noun Gender & Accent
‘cordão’ is masculine; the tilde on the ‘ã’ indicates a nasal vowel /ɐ̃/.
Interrogative Intonation
The question mark signals a yes/no question; in spoken Portuguese the pitch rises at the end.
🗨In Conversation
Puxo o cordão?
Do I pull the cord?
Sim, puxe‑o para abrir a porta.
Yes, pull it to open the door.
✕Common Mistakes
Puxo o cordão.
Missing the question mark changes it to a statement: “I pull the cord.”
Puxo a cordão?
‘Cordão’ is masculine, so the article must be ‘o’, not ‘a’.
Puxar o cordão?
Using the infinitive ‘puxar’ makes it a command or suggestion, not a question about the speaker’s action.
↔Alternatives
Devo puxar o cordão?
Should I pull the cord?
É preciso puxar o cordão?
Is it necessary to pull the cord?
Puxa o cordão?
Pull the cord?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, many household appliances (e.g., older washing machines) still use a cord to start the cycle. Asking “Puxo o cordão?” is common in informal settings, but in more formal contexts you might phrase it as “Devo puxar o cordão?” to sound polite.