carregar
/ka.xeˈɡaʁ/
Definition
To carry or transport something, or to load/charge a device (like a phone battery).
Example
Preciso carregar o celular antes de sair.
Show translation
I need to charge my phone before leaving.
Etymology
From Portuguese *carro* ("cart, car") + the verbal suffix *-egar*, tracing back to Latin *carricare* ("to load a cart"), from *carrus* ("wheeled vehicle"), itself of Gaulish origin. The sense expanded over centuries from loading a cart to carrying anything — and in modern Brazilian usage, to charging electronic devices.
Cultural note
In Brazilian everyday speech, *carregar o celular* ("charge the phone") is extremely common and is the standard way to talk about charging any device. Watch out for the false friend with English "carry" — while *carregar* does mean to carry physically (*carregar uma mala* = carry a suitcase), the technology sense is equally important in modern Brazil, where smartphone use is among the highest in the world.