ligados

Ligados is the plural form of the Portuguese adjective ligado, derived from the verb ligar (to connect, to switch on). In standard use, ligado describes something that is connected, linked, or turned on. For objects, est ar ligado means the device is powered on; os cabos estão ligados means the cables are connected. In electronic and technical contexts, it is common to describe circuits, devices, or components as ligados or desligados (off).

Beyond the literal sense, ligado can denote a person who has ties, influence, or close connections to a group or institution. The plural os ligados refers to such people. This sense is informal and can carry a nuance of having insider access or favoritism depending on context. Examples: Ele é ligado à prefeitura; Os ligados do setor se reuniram.

Grammatically, ligado is a regular past participle: masculine singular ligado, feminine singular ligada, masculine plural ligados, feminine plural ligadas. Related forms include desligado (not connected, off), ligação (a connection), and ligar (to connect or to turn on).

Common expressions include estar ligado em algo, meaning to be aware of or invested in something, and não estar ligado a alguém, meaning not to be connected to or involved with someone. The term is widely used in everyday Portuguese across Lusophone communities.