Introduction
This article explains how to tell someone where an electrical outlet is in Brazilian Portuguese. You will learn natural phrases, pronunciation tips, variations for formal and informal situations, and short dialogues you can use in real life. Perfect for beginner to intermediate learners who want clear, practical language for everyday contexts.
- Basic phrase: The outlet is over there
- Common variations and when to use them
- Useful verbs for location
- Polite and casual ways to offer help
- Short dialogues for practice
- Useful modifiers and prepositions
- Pronunciation tips
- Common mistakes and usage notes
- Contextual examples for travel and daily life
- Regional variations and colloquial phrases
- Quick cheat sheet
- Conclusion
Basic phrase: The outlet is over there
The simplest way to say the sentence is with a direct location phrase. Start with the noun for outlet and a location expression.
Tomada está ali
Literal translation: outlet is there
Use this when pointing or indicating a general area. It is neutral and very common.
Key vocabulary
Before we expand, learn these essential words.
Tomada — outlet, socket
Tomada can also mean power plug or socket in Brazil. Use it for wall outlets where you plug in chargers and appliances.
Ali — there (near the person you are talking to)
Ali is for locations relatively close to both speaker and listener.
Lá — there (farther away)
Lá is used when the object is farther from the speaker or listener.
Aqui — here
Aqui refers to the speaker’s immediate vicinity.
Common variations and when to use them
Portuguese has small differences in phrasing depending on formality, emphasis, and distance. Here are useful alternatives.
Neutral, simple statement
A tomada está ali
This is the basic neutral sentence. Use it in homes, cafés, airports, and hotels.
Pointing out a distant outlet
A tomada está lá
Use when the outlet is farther away or across the room. The difference between ali and lá is subtle but natural to Brazilians.
Indicating an outlet very close to you
A tomada está aqui
Use this when the outlet is in your immediate area or right beside you.
Adding emphasis: right over there
A tomada está bem ali
The word bem adds emphasis, similar to right or just there in English. It helps guide someone more precisely.
Formal option or full sentence
A tomada fica ali
The verb ficar is often used to indicate location in a slightly more formal or descriptive way. It is common in instructions and signs.
Useful verbs for location
Different verbs change tone and meaning. Understanding them helps you sound natural.
Estar vs. Ficar
Estar — to be (temporary state/location)
Estar is used for current location. Example: A tomada está ali.
Ficar — to be located, to stay
Ficar emphasizes where something is situated: A tomada fica ali.
Apontar and mostrar
Apontar — to point
Mostrar — to show
Use these verbs when guiding someone physically: Vou mostrar onde a tomada fica — I will show where the outlet is.
Polite and casual ways to offer help
In many real-life situations, you might want to offer help rather than just state the location. Here are natural phrases.
Casual and friendly
Quer que eu mostre onde a tomada está?
Do you want me to show you where the outlet is? Use this with friends or peers.
Polite and formal
Posso mostrar onde a tomada fica?
May I show where the outlet is? Use this in stores, hotels, or when speaking with someone you want to be polite to.
Offering to plug something in
Quer que eu conecte seu carregador na tomada?
Do you want me to plug your charger into the outlet? Helpful in cafés or when assisting someone with luggage or devices.
Short dialogues for practice
Below are small conversations that you might encounter. They show different levels of politeness and settings.
Scenario: In a café
Cliente: Onde fica a tomada?
Barista: A tomada está ali, no canto, perto da janela
Scenario: At a hotel front desk
Hóspede: Há alguma tomada no quarto para meu laptop?
Recepcionista: Sim. A tomada fica ao lado da escrivaninha
Scenario: Helping a friend
Amigo: Preciso carregar meu celular
Você: Quer que eu mostre onde a tomada está?
Amigo: Sim, por favor
Useful modifiers and prepositions
Adding prepositions and descriptive words helps direct someone more precisely.
Prepositions of place
Ao lado de — next to
Example: A tomada está ao lado da mesa
Perto de — near
Example: A tomada está perto da janela
Em cima de — on top of
Example: A tomada está em cima da mesa
Debaixo de — under
Example: A tomada está debaixo da escrivaninha
Directional words
À direita — to the right
À esquerda — to the left
Examples: A tomada está à direita da porta
A tomada está à esquerda do sofá
Pronunciation tips
Pay attention to nasal sounds and stress patterns common in Brazilian Portuguese.
Tomada — toh-MAH-dah. The stress is on the second syllable. The o is pronounced like the o in go, and the a vowels are open as in father.
Ali — ah-LEE. Keep the i clear and short.
Lá — lah. The accent on the a indicates stress.
Aqui — ah-KEE. The stressed syllable is qui, pronounced like key.
Common mistakes and usage notes
Be aware of a few common errors that learners make, so you can avoid them.
Using tomada vs. tomada elétrica
Tomada by itself is almost always enough. Adding elétrica is redundant in casual contexts. Use tomada elétrica only if you need to emphasize the outlet is for electricity, for example when distinguishing from a data port.
Confusing ali and lá
Both mean there, but ali suggests nearer proximity. Native speakers use them intuitively, so listen for context and mimic natural usage.
Verb agreement and articles
Use the definite article to talk about a specific outlet: A tomada. If speaking generally, you can say Uma tomada (an outlet) as in Tem uma tomada ali — There is an outlet there.
Contextual examples for travel and daily life
Examples that fit common travel or home situations.
At the airport
Tem uma tomada perto do portão 12?
Funcionário: Sim. A tomada está lá, perto das poltronas
In a coworking space
Você: Onde fica a tomada mais próxima?
Recepção: A mais próxima está ao lado da mesa central
At home
Visitante: Onde eu posso ligar o aspirador?
Anfitrião: Tem uma tomada debaixo da bancada
Regional variations and colloquial phrases
Brazil is large, and people may use different casual expressions, but the core phrases remain the same.
In some regions, you may hear people say ponto de energia in a technical or formal context, but for everyday speech stick with tomada.
Casual alternatives like pegue na tomada lá are understandable but less standard. When learning, focus on the neutral phrases provided above.
Quick cheat sheet
Short list for quick reference when you need to say it fast.
A tomada está ali — The outlet is over there (near)
A tomada está lá — The outlet is over there (far)
A tomada está aqui — The outlet is here
A tomada fica ali — The outlet is located there
A tomada está bem ali — The outlet is right over there
Conclusion
With these phrases, vocabulary, and notes you can confidently tell someone where an electrical outlet is in Brazilian Portuguese. Practice the short dialogues, pay attention to the subtle differences between ali and lá, and use polite offers when helping others. These small, practical sentences will be useful in cafes, hotels, airports, and homes across Brazil.
