en + o = no
Contractions of En with the Article
When en comes before o, a, os, as, the two words become one: no, na, nos, nas.
How It Works
1. The four forms
- en + o = no: no parque (in the park)
- en + a = na: na casa (at home, in the house)
- en + os = nos: nos petos (in the pockets)
- en + as = nas: nas illas (on the islands)
The contraction follows the gender and number of the noun, just like the article does on its own.
2. Place names with an article
Names such as A Coruña or O Grove contract too: Traballo na Coruña (I work in A Coruña), Estamos no Grove (We are in O Grove).
3. Look-alike words
- no means "in the". The word for "not" is non, with a final n.
- nos can be "in the" (nos petos) or the pronoun "us". The sentence makes the meaning clear.
4. Other contractions with en
En also joins un and unha (nun bar), demonstratives (neste libro) and the pronouns el and ela (nela). To learn what en itself means, see the preposition en.
Examples (6)
- Os nenos xogan no parque.
The children are playing in the park.
Word by Word: The children play in-the park.
- Marta está na casa.
Marta is at home.
Word by Word: Marta is in-the house.
- Hai moitas aves nas illas.
There are many birds on the islands.
Word by Word: There-are many birds in-the islands.
- As chaves están nos petos do abrigo.
The keys are in the coat pockets.
Word by Word: The keys are in-the pockets of-the coat.
- Traballo na Coruña.
I work in A Coruña.
Word by Word: I-work in-the Coruña.
The A in A Coruña is an article, so en + A becomes na.
- O leite está na neveira.
The milk is in the fridge.
Word by Word: The milk is in-the fridge.
Common Mistakes
Writing en and the article as two words.
Os nenos xogan en o parque.Os nenos xogan no parque.When en introduces a noun with o, a, os or as, the two join: no, na, nos, nas.
Leaving the article of a place name uncontracted.
Traballo en A Coruña.Traballo na Coruña.The A in A Coruña is an article, so it contracts with en.
Using no to mean "not".
Eu no teño coche.Eu non teño coche.No means "in the". To say "not", Galician uses non.
How It Connects
Learn This First
En joins the definite article in a single contracted word.
Related Patterns
- de + o = doContractions of De with the Article
The same kind of contraction with de: do, da, dos, das.
Level 1 - nonNegation with Non
Non (not) is easy to confuse with no (in the).
Level 1 - dun / nun / cunContractions with Un and Unha
En also contracts with the indefinite article: nun, nunha.
Level 2 - del / dela / nel / nelaContractions with Pronouns
En also contracts with the pronouns el and ela.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice en + o = no in Bubblegum
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