de + o = do
Contractions of De with the Article
When de comes before o, a, os, as, the two words become one: do, da, dos, das.
How It Works
1. The four forms
- de + o = do: o coche do meu pai (my father's car)
- de + a = da: a casa da avoa (grandmother's house)
- de + os = dos: os libros dos nenos (the children's books)
- de + as = das: a casa das tías (the aunts' house)
The article agrees with the noun that follows, so check its gender and number first.
2. Place names with an article
Many Galician place names include the article: A Coruña, O Porriño, Os Ancares. The article contracts with de like any other: Son da Coruña (I am from A Coruña), Veño do Porriño (I am coming from O Porriño).
3. No accent
Do and da never take an accent. Dá with an accent is a form of the verb dar (gives), and dó means pity. See diacritic accents.
4. When there is no contraction
The standard keeps de and the article apart only when the article does not belong to what de introduces. This happens when the article starts the subject of an infinitive: antes de o sol saír (before the sun rises). You will meet this later with the personal infinitive.
5. The same pattern elsewhere
De also joins other short words: dun, dunha, deste, daquel and del, dela.
Examples (6)
- O coche do meu pai é vermello.
My father's car is red.
Word by Word: The car of-the my father is red.
- Esta é a casa da avoa.
This is grandmother's house.
Word by Word: This is the house of-the grandmother.
- Os libros dos nenos están na mesa.
The children's books are on the table.
Word by Word: The books of-the children are on-the table.
- Vivo no centro da cidade.
I live in the city centre.
Word by Word: I-live in-the centre of-the city.
- Son da Coruña.
I'm from A Coruña.
Word by Word: I-am of-the Coruña.
The city's name includes the article A, so de + A becomes da.
- Gústame a música das festas.
I like the music at the festivals.
Word by Word: Pleases-me the music of-the festivals.
Common Mistakes
Writing de and the article as two words.
O coche de o meu pai é vermello.O coche do meu pai é vermello.When de introduces a noun with o, a, os or as, the two join: do, da, dos, das.
Forgetting to contract with a place name that has an article.
Son de A Coruña.Son da Coruña.The A in A Coruña is an article, so it contracts with de like any other article.
Adding an accent to da.
Esta é a casa dá avoa.Esta é a casa da avoa.Da (de + a) has no accent. Dá with an accent is the verb "gives".
How It Connects
Learn This First
De joins the definite article in a single contracted word.
Related Patterns
- en + o = noContractions of En with the Article
The same kind of contraction with en: no, na, nos, nas.
Level 1 - a + o = aoContractions of a with the Article
The same kind of contraction with a: ao, á, aos, ás.
Level 1 - dun / nun / cunContractions with Un and Unha
De also contracts with the indefinite article: dun, dunha.
Level 2 - del / dela / nel / nelaContractions with Pronouns
De also contracts with the pronouns el and ela.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- deste / neste / daquelContractions with DemonstrativesLevel 2
- diante de / detrás de / preto deExpressions of PlaceLevel 2
- Place Names With the ArticleLevel 2
- no canto de / en vez deInstead of: No Canto DeLevel 3
- Preposition + Article + quePrepositions Before RelativesLevel 4
- uns vinte / arredor deApproximate QuantitiesLevel 4
- por mor deBecause of: Por Mor DeLevel 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice de + o = do in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Galician lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
