em + o = no
Contraction No
em (in/on/at) + o (the) = no
How It Works
The word no is one of the most frequent words in Portuguese. It performs three main roles:
- Location: Indicating where something is (e.g., no carro - in the car).
- Time: Indicating when something happens (e.g., no sábado - on Saturday).
- State: Indicating a condition or abstract environment (e.g., no escuro - in the dark).
Unlike English, where contractions like 'don't' are optional, Portuguese contractions are grammatically mandatory. Writing em o is considered incorrect in almost all contexts.
It is important to remember that no only occurs before masculine singular nouns. If the noun is feminine or plural, the contraction changes to match it (see na or nos).
Formal Exception: In formal writing, the contraction is avoided if the article is part of a proper title, such as Li a notícia em O Globo (I read the news in O Globo).
Note for English speakers: Do not confuse this with the English word 'no'. In Portuguese, the word for negation is não.
Examples (4)
- O livro está no armário.
The book is in the cupboard.
Word by Word: The book is in-the cupboard.
Here, 'no' indicates a physical location inside a masculine noun (armário).
- Nós vamos ao cinema no sábado.
We are going to the cinema on Saturday.
Word by Word: We go to-the cinema in-the Saturday.
In Portuguese, days of the week usually take the definite article, so 'on Saturday' becomes 'no sábado'.
- Ele prefere ficar no anonimato.
He prefers to stay in anonymity.
Word by Word: He prefers to-stay in-the anonymity.
In this case, 'no' describes a state or condition (being anonymous) rather than a physical location.
- O gato dorme no sofá.
The cat sleeps on the sofa.
Word by Word: The cat sleeps in-the sofa.
In this context, 'no' translates to 'on the'.
Common Mistakes
Separating the preposition and the article.
O café está em o copo.O café está no copo.Native speakers never say 'em o'. The contraction 'no' is mandatory.
Using 'no' for negation (answering 'no' to a question).
No, eu não quero.Não, eu não quero.The Portuguese word for 'no' (negation) is 'não'. 'No' only means 'in the'.
Using 'no' with feminine nouns.
Eu estou no casa.Eu estou na casa.Because 'casa' is feminine, you must use the feminine contraction 'na' (em + a).
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand the contraction 'no', you must first be familiar with its constituent parts: the preposition 'em' (in/on/at) and the masculine definite article 'o' (the).
Related Patterns
- em + a = naContraction Na
The feminine singular version of this contraction.
Level 1 - em + os/as = nos/nasContraction Nos/Nas
The plural versions of these contractions.
Level 2 - de + o = doContraction Do
Another mandatory contraction involving the masculine article 'o', but using the preposition 'de'.
Level 1 - em + um = numContraction Num
The contraction used for 'in a' (indefinite) rather than 'in the' (definite).
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice em + o = no in Bubblegum
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