Spanish Phrase
Desenchufa los aparatos.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to unplug the devices. It is used when you want the listener to remove the plug from any electrical appliance for safety, energy saving, or to stop its operation.
When to use
Use this phrase in a household or office setting when you need someone to disconnect appliances—e.g., before a thunderstorm, when leaving the house, or when you want to stop a device from running.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Desenchufalosaparatos
Imperative (tú) form
‘Desenchufa’ is the affirmative imperative for the verb ‘desenchufar’ used with the informal ‘tú’ subject.
Direct object agreement
The article ‘los’ and noun ‘aparatos’ are masculine plural, matching the objects being unplugged.
Regular -ar verb conjugation
‘Desenchufar’ follows the regular -ar pattern: tú → desenchufa, usted → desenchufe, nosotros → desenchufemos, vosotros → desenchufad, ustedes → desenchufen.
🗨In Conversation
¿Puedes ayudarme con la cena?
Can you help me with dinner?
Claro, primero desenchufa los aparatos que no vas a usar.
Sure, first unplug the devices you won’t be using.
✕Common Mistakes
Apaga los aparatos.
‘Apagar’ means to turn off, not to unplug; use ‘desenchufa’ when you need the plug removed.
Desenchufa los aparato.
The article and noun must agree in gender and number; ‘los aparatos’ is plural.
Desenchufes los aparatos.
‘Desenchufes’ is the formal ‘usted’ imperative; with a familiar ‘tú’ you need ‘desenchufa’.
↔Alternatives
Apaga los aparatos.
Turn off the devices.
Desconecta los aparatos.
Disconnect the devices.
Saca los enchufes de los aparatos.
Pull the plugs out of the devices.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries, ‘desenchufa’ is the go‑to word for safety during storms or power cuts. It can also be used figuratively, e.g., ‘Necesito desenchufarme del trabajo’ (I need to unplug from work), encouraging learners to notice the metaphorical extension of the phrase.