nós / nosoutros
Nós vs. Nosoutros
Nós is the normal word for we: Nós imos ao cine. Nosoutros and vosoutros mark a group in contrast with another: Nosoutros imos en coche, e vosoutros?
How It Works
The forms
- nós: we; us after a preposition (para nós)
- nosoutros, nosoutras: we, us, this group of ours
- vós: you, plural
- vosoutros, vosoutras: you, as a group set against another
The difference. Nosoutros closes the group: it means we, and not the others. Nós does not mark that border. Compare Nós non pensamos así (we do not think that way, a general statement) with Nosoutros pensamos dunha maneira e vosoutros doutra (we think one way and you another).
In real speech. Many local varieties have lost this difference and use just one of the forms, so you will hear them mixed. In standard Galician, keep nós as the everyday word and save nosoutros and vosoutros for contrasts.
Where they go. Nosoutros and vosoutros work as the subject or after a preposition: Non é para vosoutros, senón para nosoutros. They are never object pronouns attached to a verb; for that use nos and vos.
Watch the accent. Nós (we) has an accent to separate it from nos (us, as an object pronoun), and vós from vos. See the diacritic accent.
With con. After con, the preferred forms are connosco and convosco: Queres cear connosco? You will also hear con nós and con vós. See comigo, contigo and connosco.
Examples (5)
- Nós imos ao cine esta noite.
We are going to the cinema tonight.
- Nosoutros imos en coche, e vosoutros?
We are going by car, and what about you?
Two groups are compared, so nosoutros and vosoutros fit.
- Non é para vosoutros, senón para nosoutros.
It is not for you, but for us.
- Nosoutras xa rematamos; elas aínda están traballando.
We have already finished; they are still working.
Nosoutras is the feminine form, used by a group of women.
- Queres cear connosco?
Do you want to have dinner with us?
Connosco is the preferred form of con + nós.
Common Mistakes
Writing nos without an accent for the subject we.
Nos somos de Vigo.Nós somos de Vigo.Nos without an accent is an object pronoun (us). The subject we is nós.
Using the Spanish form nosotros.
Nosotros vivimos aquí.Nós vivimos aquí.Galician has nós for we, and nosoutros only for contrasts. Nosotros is Spanish.
Using masculine nosoutros for a group of women.
Nosoutros estamos moi cansas.Nosoutras estamos moi cansas.Nosoutros has a feminine form. A group of women says nosoutras, which matches cansas.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Nosoutros and vosoutros emphasize a bounded group in contrast to others.
Related Patterns
- vós / vostedesPlural You: Vós and Vostedes
How plural you works, with vós as the everyday form.
Level 1 - Diacritic Accent
Why nós and vós carry an accent.
Level 1 - comigo / contigo / connoscoComigo, Contigo and Connosco
Explains connosco and convosco.
Level 2 - Dropping Subject Pronouns
Often no pronoun is needed at all, unless you want contrast.
Level 1 - min / ti After PrepositionsPronouns After Prepositions
The pronoun forms used after prepositions, such as para nós.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nós / nosoutros in Bubblegum
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