spotty connection

[ˈspɑːti kəˈnɛkʃən]
nounpl: spotty connections
conexão intermitente
1. An internet or network connection that is unreliable, frequently dropping or experiencing interruptions
I've been having a spotty connection all morning, so my video calls keep freezing.
Tenho tido uma conexão intermitente a manhã toda, então minhas videochamadas continuam travando.
2. A wireless or cellular signal that is inconsistent, with areas of good and poor reception
The Wi-Fi in this café has a spotty connection near the back room.
O Wi-Fi neste café tem uma conexão intermitente perto da sala de trás.
This term became increasingly common in both English and Portuguese during the COVID-19 pandemic when remote work and online learning became prevalent. In Brazil, people often use it colloquially when discussing Wi-Fi problems, and it's frequently heard in tech support contexts. The frustration with spotty connections is a universal experience in digital culture, transcending regional boundaries.
NYC Slang
janky connection
Synonyms / Sinônimos
unstable connectionunreliable connectionpoor connectionflaky connectionpatchy connectionintermittent connection
Antonyms / Antônimos
stable connectionreliable connectionstrong connectionconsistent connectionsolid connection

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
conexão intermitente
Most common and understood across all regions
Rio de Janeiro
conexão fraca
Common informal usage, literally 'weak connection'
São Paulo
conexão instável
Technical/formal usage, more common in business contexts
Portugal
ligação instável
Portuguese European prefers 'ligação' instead of 'conexão'

Related Words

bandwidthlatencysignal strengthnetwork stabilitydisconnectionbufferinglag

Related Idioms & Phrases

losing connection
connection is dropping
can't hold a connection
connection is on the fritz
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