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- Topic: Portuguese >
- "Onde ficam as tomadas?"
36 Comments This discussion is locked.
211
Not exactly, you can't use "onde é" for object fixed in a place. For example "onde é a chave do carro?" or "onde é o sofá?" are wrong, the correct will be "onde fica a chave do carro?" and "onde fica o sofá?". For places you can use both.
Saida is exit, and loja is store.
If we put "electrical outlet" into google translate we get tomada as well as these other suggestions in English:
outlet, wall socket, wall plug, electric outlet
I have heard English speakers say, "plug-in" too (as in making a noun out of the shortened sentence of, "where can I plug-in my phone?" now = "where is the plug-in?").
As for "take" as a translation, tomada is the past participle of the verb, tomar (to take):
http://www.conjuga-me.net/en/verbo-tomar
.
Anyway, "outlet" – as in the place people shop for supposedly cheaper versions of brand-names (such as factory seconds) – is a shortened version of, "factory outlet store" that has become part of the vernacular since about the 1990s so not that long but highly illustrative of how language flows (adding such everyday words now as "google" for instance).
251
I have no idea if the word is etymologically related to "fix," but that's helped me to remember its meaning and it works in this case too: an outlet is fixed in place, it can't be placed anywhere other than where it is in the wall.
Almost as if they might be called, fixtures! :) :)
http://www.diyadvice.com/diy/electrical/fixtures/
Interestingly the above page calls tomado a receptacle which I do not believe I have seen in any of the discussions with tomado in them.
I agree though on how the associations helps to remember the words. :)
However, fixtures can be moved (with some effort as shown in the link above), added, or replaced; and often are in renovations and remodels.
20
Is "where do they keep the outlets?" totally wrong? I gave that for an answer but I got it wrong
45
I'm now a bit confused by the hints. It says 'capture', 'plughole' or 'outlets' for 'tomadas'. Is the hole in the bath also a tomada? and why did it accept my effort of 'plugs', which is totally different from 'outlets' (sockets in UK English, the former being factory shops to us!). Obrigado!
45
I think that's the problem Alysson, the 'plug' is the bit you put, the 'socket' is the bit in the wall you put it in.
So 'tomada' generally is "socket" not "plug" i have made a mistake with the words. (I am sorry about my english, i am a native portuguese speaker, but the english, i am learning yet.) However, the other cases that i said are correct.
Correcting: *No, the hole in the bath isn't a "tomada". "Tomada" in this case is "socket"(where you put a cable with eletric energy). Will be "capture", when is filming a movie a scene(take) is a "tomada" in portuguese too.
Plug is on the end of the cable, socket is in the wall. In everyday UK EN plug is often used for socket, e.g. "where's the plug?"