os dous / ambos
Both: Os Dous and Ambos
Os dous (feminine as dúas) and ambos (ambas) mean both: Viñeron os dous (both of them came), ambas as irmás (both sisters).
How It Works
Os dous, as dúas
The usual way to say both. It agrees with the noun: os dous irmáns, as dúas irmás. Alone, it means both of them: Viñeron os dous. It combines with prepositions like any article: Falei cos dous (con + os), a casa das dúas (de + as). See contractions with con.
Ambos, ambas
Same meaning, slightly more formal. Before a noun it takes the article: ambos os pais, ambas as partes. The article can also join ambos as ámbolos and ámbalas: Ámbalas partes estaban de acordo. Alone, it works as a pronoun: Ambos merecían gañar.
Extra emphasis
Ambos os dous and ambos a dous mean both of them, stressing that there are two: Ambos os dous merecían gañar.
With pronouns
Put os dous after the pronoun: nós os dous (the two of us), vós as dúas (the two of you, women).
Watch the feminine. Among the numbers one to ten, only one and two change for gender (see numbers one to ten): as dúas, never as dous.
Examples (6)
- Viñeron os dous á festa.
Both of them came to the party.
Word by Word: Came the two to-the party.
- As dúas irmás viven en Lugo.
Both sisters live in Lugo.
- Ambas as partes asinaron o acordo.
Both parties signed the agreement.
Before a noun, ambas takes the article as.
- Falei cos dous esta mañá.
I spoke to both of them this morning.
Cos is con + os.
- Ambos os dous merecían gañar.
Both of them deserved to win.
Ambos os dous is an emphatic form.
- Nós os dous imos xuntos.
The two of us are going together.
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the article after ambos.
Ambas irmás viven en Lugo.Ambas as irmás viven en Lugo.Before a noun, ambos and ambas take the article: ambas as irmás, or ámbalas irmás.
Using dous with a feminine noun.
Viñeron as dous.Viñeron as dúas.Two has a feminine form: dúas.
Not contracting con with the article.
Falei con os dous.Falei cos dous.Con and os always join as cos.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Os dous and ambos identify both members of a pair.
Related Patterns
- todo o / todos osAll and Every: Todo
Another word that comes before the article.
Level 2 - con + o = coContractions of Con with the Article
Explains cos dous and coas dúas.
Level 1 - The Second Form of the Article
Explains the contracted forms ámbolos and ámbalas.
Level 5 - este meu amigoCombining Determiners
Other ways of stacking words before a noun, as in os meus dous fillos.
Level 4
Words in This Pattern
Practice os dous / ambos in Bubblegum
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