What to say in Portuguese when something at home stops working

Introduction

Knowing what to say in Portuguese when something at home stops working helps you solve problems faster and sound natural. This article gives practical vocabulary, useful sentences, and short dialogues in Brazilian Portuguese so you can call for help, explain the issue, or fix things yourself. Examples are suited for beginner to intermediate learners and focus on everyday household situations.

Basic vocabulary for household problems

Start with words to identify common items and verbs to describe malfunctions. Learning these core terms makes it easier to form sentences and understand repair instructions.

Common household items

geladeira — refrigerator
geladeira está fria means the fridge is cold

fogão — stove
fogão pode ter problemas no acendimento

máquina de lavar — washing machine
máquina de lavar não drena

secadora — dryer
secadora não esquenta

torneira — faucet/tap
torneira está vazando

chuveiro — shower
chuveiro não esquenta ou está fraco

luz — light
luz apagou ou está piscando

tomada — electrical outlet
tomada não funciona

Useful verbs to describe problems

parar — to stop working
parar is used for appliances that suddenly stop

quebrar — to break
quebrar implies something is physically broken

vazar — to leak
vazar is used for water, gas, or other fluids

acender — to light/turn on
acender is used for stoves, lights, and indicators

apagar — to go out/turn off
apagar for lights or screens that turn off

funcionar — to work/function
funcionar is the general verb for something that operates

How to say there’s an emergency

When something is urgent, use clear phrases to get immediate help. These are important for situations involving water or gas leaks, electrical failures, or smoke.

Emergency phrases

Socorro — help (urgent cry)
Use Socorro only in real emergencies.

Tem um vazamento — There is a leak
Example: Tem um vazamento na cozinha.
Usage note: Use if water is flooding or gas is suspected.

Cheiro de gás — Smell of gas
Example: Sinto cheiro de gás no apartamento.
Usage note: Open windows, leave the area, and call the gas company or emergency services.

Está pegando fogo — It’s on fire
Example: O fogão está pegando fogo.
Usage note: Evacuate and call emergency services immediately.

Polite requests for help

Most problems are non-urgent. Use polite phrases when asking neighbors, landlords, or maintenance staff for assistance.

Calling or knocking for help

Você pode me ajudar — Can you help me
Example: Você pode me ajudar com a geladeira?
Usage note: A polite, general request for assistance.

Consegue vir agora — Can you come now
Example: Consegue vir agora pra ver o chuveiro?
Usage note: Use when you need someone quickly but not in immediate danger.

Você sabe consertar — Do you know how to fix
Example: Você sabe consertar tomada?
Usage note: Ask if the person has the skill before expecting a solution.

When calling a repair service

Quero agendar um conserto — I want to schedule a repair
Example: Quero agendar um conserto para a máquina de lavar.
Usage note: Use this to set up an appointment.

Quanto custa — How much does it cost
Example: Quanto custa para consertar o fogão?
Usage note: Ask for an estimate before agreeing.

Vocês atendem em horário noturno — Do you offer service at night
Example: Vocês atendem em horário noturno ou de emergência?
Usage note: Useful if you need after-hours help.

Explaining the problem clearly

Describe what happened, when it started, and what you already tried. Short, clear sentences help a technician diagnose the issue faster.

Key sentence patterns

Começou ontem — It started yesterday
Example: Começou ontem à noite depois da chuva.
Usage note: Give a time reference.

Parou de funcionar — It stopped working
Example: A televisão parou de funcionar de repente.
Usage note: Standard way to report an appliance failure.

Está fazendo barulho — It’s making noise
Example: A geladeira está fazendo barulho alto.
Usage note: Tell the type of noise if possible (e.g., chiado, estalo).

Não liga — It doesn’t turn on
Example: O fogão não liga quando eu aperto o botão.
Usage note: Use for electrical devices that won’t power up.

Vaza água — Water leaks
Example: O vaso sanitário vaza água no chão.
Usage note: Mention where the leak is coming from.

Giving extra information

Já desliguei da tomada — I already unplugged it
Example: Já desliguei da tomada e liguei de novo, mas não funcionou.
Usage note: Technicians often ask this first; it shows you tried a basic fix.

Tem cheiro de queimado — It smells burned
Example: Tem cheiro de queimado vindo da TV.
Usage note: Important to mention for electrical hazards.

Está vazando do cano — It’s leaking from the pipe
Example: Está vazando do cano embaixo da pia.
Usage note: Precise location helps plumbers.

Short dialogues for common situations

Memorize short, natural dialogues to use on the phone or in person. These examples include a caller and a repair person or neighbor.

Dialogue: electrician for a power outage

Bom dia, sou do condomínio.
Temos uma queixa: a luz do apartamento 301 não acende.
O que aconteceu?
A luz apagou ontem à noite e não voltou. Já testei a lâmpada e a tomada.
Certo, vou enviar um eletricista. Você está em casa agora?

Dialogue: plumber for a leak

Alô, preciso de um encanador.
Qual é o problema?
A torneira da cozinha está vazando muito.
Tem água no chão?
Sim, está molhando todo o armário. Pode vir hoje à tarde?
Sim, chegarei às 15h.

Dialogue: landlord and tenant about broken stove

Olá, seu fogão parou de funcionar?
Sim, o acendimento não pega e o fogo não acende.
Você já verificou o registro do gás?
Sim, está aberto. Preciso que você mande alguém.
Tudo bem, vou agendar um técnico para amanhã pela manhã.

Polite phrases and tone

Cultural note: Brazilians tend to use polite forms and small talk. Start with a greeting and use por favor when asking for help. This sounds friendly and increases cooperation.

Useful polite phrases

Bom dia / Boa tarde / Boa noite — Good morning/afternoon/night
Start calls or conversations with a greeting.

Por favor — Please
Always include por favor when requesting a favor.

Obrigado / Obrigada — Thank you (male/female speaker)
Use at the end of the conversation.
Usage note: If you are female, use Obrigada; if male, use Obrigado.

Com licença — Excuse me
Use when interrupting someone or knocking on a neighbor’s door.

What to say if you want to try a quick fix

Sometimes the problem has a simple solution. Use these phrases to ask for permission or guidance before attempting a repair yourself.

Asking to try a fix

Posso tentar consertar — Can I try to fix it
Example: Posso tentar consertar a torneira ou prefiro chamar um profissional?
Usage note: Good to ask the landlord or owner first.

Como eu faço — How do I do it
Example: Como eu faço para resetar a máquina de lavar?
Usage note: Ask for simple steps rather than complex technical explanations.

Me mostra — Show me
Example: Você pode me mostrar onde fica o registro da água?
Usage note: Helpful when someone can point out a part or switch.

Safety-related phrases

Always prioritize safety. Use these phrases to warn others or to refuse risky actions.

Warning and refusal

Não mexe — Don’t touch it
Example: Não mexa no forno, pode estar com problema elétrico.
Usage note: Use when a device could be dangerous.

Vou desligar a energia — I will turn off the power
Example: Vou desligar a energia antes de abrir o painel.
Usage note: A safety-first approach for electrical work.

Chama o profissional — Call a professional
Example: Isso é perigoso, chama o profissional, por favor.
Usage note: Use if you or others lack experience.

Repair and appliance-specific vocabulary

Knowing a few technical terms helps when speaking with technicians or reading manuals. These are common parts and actions related to household repairs.

Parts and components

fusível — fuse
fusível pode queimar e cortar a energia

disjuntor — circuit breaker
disjuntor desarma quando há sobrecarga

anel — gasket or ring
anel de borracha na torneira pode vazar

motor — motor
motor da máquina de lavar pode queimar

compressor — compressor (fridge)
compressor da geladeira pode falhar e causar barulho

Common repairs and actions

trocar — to replace
Example: Preciso trocar o fusível.
Usage note: Use for parts that need replacement.

consertar — to repair
Example: Você pode consertar a máquina de lavar?
Usage note: General term for fixing.

limpar — to clean
Example: Precisa limpar o filtro do ar condicionado.
Usage note: Many problems are solved by cleaning filters or drains.

regular — to adjust
Example: Regular a pressão do chuveiro.
Usage note: Useful for settings and calibration.

Common mistakes to avoid

Beginners make predictable errors. Here are tips to be clearer and more natural.

Using the wrong verb

Use parar for something that stopped working, not quebrar if it still functions but intermittently fails.

Not giving details

Include when it started and what you tried. Saying only no funciona is vague; prefer parou de funcionar ontem after a storm.

Forgetting polite forms

Start with a greeting and say por favor and obrigado. It makes interactions smoother in Brazilian culture.

Additional tips for learners

Pronunciation and listening practice will help you be understood and to understand technicians. Record common phrases, repeat them out loud, and try role-playing with a language partner.

Listening and repetition

Listen to short videos or audio of technicians and practice shadowing. Focus on verbs like parar, vazar, and funcionar to build fluency.

Label items at home

Put labels with Portuguese words on appliances and parts. Seeing geladeira or torneira daily helps memorize vocabulary faster.

Conclusion

With the right vocabulary and simple sentence patterns, you can confidently explain household problems in Brazilian Portuguese. Use polite greetings, describe the issue clearly, and know when to call a professional. Practice the example dialogues and phrases to sound natural and get help quickly when something at home stops working.