Ligar vs. telefonar
When expressing the action "to call" on the phone in Portuguese, you will encounter both ligar and telefonar. While they can often be used interchangeably, ligar has become the dominant, everyday term, whereas telefonar is more specific to the device and slightly more formal.
Ligar
A1Literally meaning "to connect", "to link", or "to turn on", ligar is the most popular and versatile verb used for calling in modern Portuguese. It implies making a connection with someone, whether through a traditional line, a mobile phone, or apps like WhatsApp.
Eu preciso ligar para a minha mãe agora.
(I need to call my mom now.)
Ela ligou-me ontem à noite para dar as novidades.
(She called me last night to give the news.)
Não esqueças de ligar para reservar a mesa.
(Do not forget to call to reserve the table.)
Vamos ligar por vídeo ou por voz?
(Are we going to call by video or by voice?)
Se precisares de ajuda, podes ligar a qualquer hora.
(If you need help, you can call at any time.)
Telefonar
A2Derived specifically from the noun "telefone", telefonar strictly means "to phone". It is slightly more formal and traditional than ligar. It focuses on the specific act of using a telephone device to make the call.
O diretor vai telefonar para o cliente amanhã.
(The director will phone the client tomorrow.)
Antigamente, as pessoas costumavam telefonar mais.
(In the past, people used to phone more.)
Vou telefonar para o escritório para avisar que estou doente.
(I will phone the office to let them know I am sick.)
A minha avó prefere telefonar do que enviar mensagens.
(My grandmother prefers to phone rather than send messages.)
É indelicado telefonar tão tarde da noite.
(It is impolite to phone so late at night.)
Summary
In summary, use ligar for daily conversations, mobile calls, and internet calls, as it is the most natural and common term. Use telefonar if you want to be more specific about the act of phoning or if you are speaking in a slightly more formal context.