Portuguese Phrase
Meu computador não liga.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that their computer will not power up. It can refer to a desktop, laptop, or any device that should start when the power button is pressed, but for some reason it stays off.
When to use
Use this sentence when you need to explain a technical problem with a computer, whether you’re asking for help from a friend, a tech‑support line, or describing the issue to a colleague.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Meucomputadornãoliga
Possessive adjective (Meu)
‘Meu’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here it is masculine singular to match ‘computador’.
Negation (não)
‘Não’ is placed directly before the verb to negate the action.
Verb ‘ligar’ (liga)
‘Liga’ is the third‑person singular present indicative of ‘ligar’, meaning ‘to turn on’ or ‘to connect’.
Subject‑verb agreement
Even though the subject ‘computador’ is omitted, the verb form ‘liga’ shows that the subject is third‑person singular.
🗨In Conversation
Meu computador não liga.
My computer won't turn on.
Já verificou se o cabo de energia está bem conectado?
Have you checked if the power cable is properly plugged in?
✕Common Mistakes
Meu computador não acende.
‘Acender’ is used for lights or screens, not for the whole computer.
Meu computador não está ligar.
The infinitive ‘ligar’ cannot follow ‘está’; you need the gerund ‘ligando’ or the present form ‘liga’.
↔Alternatives
Meu PC não está ligando.
My PC isn’t turning on.
Meu computador está com problema para ligar.
My computer is having trouble turning on.
Não consigo ligar o meu computador.
I can’t turn on my computer.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘ligar’ is the most common verb for turning electronic devices on. People often shorten the sentence to ‘Não liga’ when the context is clear. Avoid using ‘acender’ for computers; it’s usually reserved for lights or screens.