apagar
/apaˈɡaɾ/
To turn off in Spanish is apagar.
The verb apagar is used when you want to switch off an appliance or a light. It is also used for the act of extinguishing a fire or a flame, such as in the phrase apagar el fuego (to put out the fire).
Meaning: switch off appliance or light (verb)
Which one should you use?
The opposite of apagar is encender, which means to turn on.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle apagado can be used as an adjective to describe a device that is currently turned off.
How do you pronounce it?
/apaˈɡaɾ/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers sometimes mistakenly use desligar or desconectar when they mean to switch off a device via a switch. However, apagar is the standard term for turning off the power or function.
Did you know?
- The Latin root of apagar relates to the concept of 'peace', suggesting that to turn something off is to bring it to a state of stillness or quiet.
- The adjective apagado can be used metaphorically to describe a person's personality or an expression, meaning they seem 'dim' or lacking in life and energy.
- If you use desconectar instead of apagar, you are telling someone to actually unplug the device from the wall socket rather than just hitting a switch.
Examples in context
- ¿Puedo apagar la tele?Can I turn off the TV?This example shows how to ask permission to use the verb apagar with the TV.Tatoeba #563761 by Shishir, translation #39139 by CK
- ¿Puedes apagar la luz?Could you turn off the lights?This example shows how to ask someone to use the verb apagar for the lights.Tatoeba #638651 by Shishir, translation #279151 by CK
- ¿Podrías apagar la luz?Could you all turn off the lights?This example shows a more polite way to ask someone to use the verb apagar for the lights.Tatoeba #3150282 by leoruilova, translation #2143023 by gloeb
- Por favor, apague el televisor.Please turn off the television.
- Asegúrese de apagar la luz antes de salir.Make sure to turn off the light before leaving.
- Apaga el móvil antes de entrar al cine.Turn off your cellphone before entering the cinema.
- Apaga la radio, por favor.Turn off the radio, please.
- Corta el suministro de electricidad.Cut the power supply.
- Pará el ventilador, hace mucho frío.Turn off the fan, it's too cold.
- Apaga las luces de la sala.Turn off the lights in the living room.
- 46 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Lucía are leaving the kitchen.
- DanielNo olvides apagar la cafetera, Lucía.Don't forget to turn off the coffee maker, Lucía.
- LucíaLo siento, ya lo hice.I'm sorry, I already did it.
- DanielPerfecto, ahora vamos a apagar el horno.Perfect, now let's turn off the oven.
- LucíaEstá bien, Daniel. Vamos.All right, Daniel. Let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “turn off” translations and entries apagar, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries apagar, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
