On and Off

On and Off
 

If I power off my phone, I can say "Mi teléfono está apagado." Correct?

If I power ON my phone, I can say "Mi teléfono está encendido." This is according to the Tomísimo dictionary. Correct?

My students (one in particular who is from Mexico, but several others who are from different Latin American countries) say that "on" should be "prendido". As in: "Mi teléfono está prendido."

Which is correct? These native Spanish-speaking students insist that "encendido" is not really a good way to say it.

Thoughts from various national backgrounds? Thanks!

I say "encendido". "Prender" means take (coger) or "prender el fuego", encender el fuego. But I think I've heard "prendido" in Spanish from Latin America (culebrones :D ). Anyway, I can't find this meaning in the RAE.
:)

Correcto. En Chile prender es sinónimo de encender, y puede que en toda latino america.

¿Encender un fuego o un teléfono? :thinking:

Si dices: está encendido tu teléfono o prendido tu teléfono, nadie se va a asustar ni mucho menos...

Enciende la luz, o prende la luz, tampoco...

Estoy prendido, ya eso es otra cosa. :whistling: :wicked: :lol::lol::lol:

Si estás prendido, estarás "a la sombra" y no podrás "prender" la luz :thinking: :D

Estoy esperando por alguien más que sepa a que me refiero...;)

Lou Ann? :thinking:

Angéelica, porque ya veo que allende el Atlántico no se usa así. :-)

In Mexico we use "prender" and "encender" as synonyms.

Prende/enciende la luz.
Turn the light on.

Si su televisión no prende/no enciende, asegúrese de haberla conectado primero.
If your TV set does not turn on, make sure you have plugged it in first.

Encendió/prendió el coche y se fue.
He/she started the car and left.

Encendió/prendió la chimenea y se sentó frente a ella.
He/she started the chimney fire and sat in front of it.

Y cuando uno,a está prendido,a ¿se usa así en Mexico?

"Estar prendido" es estar contento, disfrutando algo, entretenido. :)

El concierto estuvo bien prendido.
The concert was just great.

Estábamos todos prendidos en la fiesta y se fue la luz.
We were all having lots of fun at the party and then there was a blackout.

Haha!! This is what I get for posting to Tomisimo while I'm at work. :) I finished teaching my class, and then I had some computer things to work on with some colleagues, and I return to two pages of comments (HELPFUL comments!) on my post.

My basic question was answered: encendido and prendido are synonymous.

Now, when I type "prendido" into the Tomisimo dictionary, there is no indication of "power on" as a definition. It seems to be referring to the verb "prender"/"to arrest". If "power on" is a valid definition, can we have that added to the dictionary? (David?)

Secondly, I know you're saying they're synonymous. But (for Latin Americans), what would be the thing you'd be most likely to say?
- My phone is on. You can call me.
- Mi teléfono está ??????????. Puedes llamarme.
Which word would you be most likely to use here?


By the way - Malila, your examples are always SO helpful!!!!!

Please remember the use as synonyms is a Mexicanism. Hernán and Irma found it funny... So maybe it wouldn't be so suitable for Tomisimo dictionary. :)


Mexicans would say "prendido" most of the times, but "encendido" might be much better in other places. :)


Thank you, I'm glad you find them useful. :)

Hmmm I don't think we have a favorite, but maybe this will help.

- Mi teléfono está encendido. Puedes llamarme.

- Tengo el teléfono prendido. Puedes llamarme.

:wicked: :kiss::love::rose::cake::present: :)

Te llamaría en cualquier momento. :kiss:

Thanks - that definitely helps! :)

You can say I power off my cellphone.

Apague mi celular, this way is more simple and common.:)

Errr.... upon reading this thread again (now that I'm actually HOME from work), I think I don't really understand this particular series of comments.... Help?

Malila - just a quick note. In the US (not sure about other English-speaking places), we say that we "start the car". To "switch on a car" sounds a little strange, as if there were an on/off switch. Well, maybe in some computerized hybrid cars like the Prius ... but for most cars, we "start" them, not "switch them on".....

En el contexto de "las luces", en el caribe creo que son iguales
las palabras.

@Lou Ann: Thank you, it's been corrected.

As for the word games, I think I'll let Hernán get entangled in his own explanation. :whistling: