Portuguese Phrase
Tenta primeiro desligar e ligar de novo.
Meaning
Literally, ‘First try turning it off and on again.’ It is the go‑to advice when something electronic stops working, suggesting a simple power‑cycle before more complex troubleshooting.
When to use
Use this informal suggestion when a friend, family member, or colleague is struggling with a computer, phone, TV, or any electronic device that can be rebooted. It’s common in casual conversation, tech‑support chats, and even in jokes about stubborn gadgets.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Tentaprimeirodesligareligardenovo
Imperative (tu)
‘Tenta’ is the informal second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘tentar’, used to give a suggestion or command to a friend or peer.
Adverb of order
‘Primeiro’ functions as an adverb meaning ‘first’, placed before the infinitive to indicate the initial step in a sequence.
Infinitive verb
‘Desligar’ is the infinitive of ‘desligar’ (to turn off). After ‘tenta’, the infinitive expresses the action the listener should try.
Coordinating conjunction
‘E’ simply links two infinitives, showing that both actions belong to the same instruction.
Infinitive verb
‘Ligar’ is the infinitive of ‘ligar’ (to turn on). It pairs with ‘desligar’ to describe the classic ‘off‑and‑on‑again’ fix.
Fixed expression
‘De novo’ means ‘again’ or ‘once more’; it is a set phrase that follows the second infinitive.
🗨In Conversation
Meu computador travou, o que faço?
My computer froze, what should I do?
Tenta primeiro desligar e ligar de novo.
First try turning it off and on again.
✕Common Mistakes
Tente primeiro desligar e ligar de novo.
‘Tente’ is the formal imperative; using it with ‘primeiro’ in a casual conversation sounds stiff.
Primeiro tenta desligar e ligar de novo.
The adverb ‘primeiro’ should precede the infinitive, not the verb in the imperative.
Desligar e ligar de novo primeiro.
Placing ‘primeiro’ at the end changes the meaning; it no longer signals the first step.
↔Alternatives
Desliga e liga de novo.
Turn it off and on again.
Primeiro, tenta reiniciar o aparelho.
First, try restarting the device.
Antes de tudo, desliga e volta a ligar.
Before anything else, turn it off and turn it back on.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil and Portugal, the informal imperative ‘tenta’ is perfectly natural among friends, but in a formal setting you’d switch to ‘tente’. The phrase ‘desligar e ligar de novo’ is a classic tech‑support line that even appears in jokes and memes, so native speakers will instantly recognize the humor behind it.