nosso/nossa/nossos/nossas
Possessive First Person Plural
Nosso, nossa, nossos, and nossas are used to say 'our' or 'ours'. Unlike English, they change their form to match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the thing being possessed.
How It Works
In Portuguese, possessives function like adjectives and must match the noun they describe in gender and number:
- Nosso: Masculine Singular (nosso carro)
- Nossa: Feminine Singular (nossa casa)
- Nossos: Masculine Plural (nossos amigos)
- Nossas: Feminine Plural (nossas chaves)
The Definite Article Rule:
In European Portuguese, it is standard to use a definite article before the possessive (o nosso pai), though it is omitted in vocatives (Nosso Pai), some fixed phrases (em nossa opinião), and postposed indefinite possessives (e.g., um amigo nosso). In Brazilian Portuguese, the article is optional before a noun (nosso pai).
Preposition Contractions:
When a definite article is used before the possessive, preceding prepositions must contract with it. For example, de + o nosso becomes do nosso, em + a nossa becomes na nossa, and a + os nossos becomes aos nossos. Example: Eles gostam da nossa casa (They like our house).
Predicate vs. Pronoun Use:
When the possessive follows the verb 'ser' to indicate simple ownership (e.g., O livro é nosso), the article is typically omitted in all dialects. However, if the possessive replaces a noun phrase to mean 'the one that is ours' (e.g., O meu é azul, o nosso é verde), the article is mandatory.
Body Parts and Clothing:
Portuguese rarely uses possessives for body parts or clothing if the owner is clear. Instead, use a definite article. For example: Lavamos as mãos (We washed our hands).
Informal Alternative:
In Brazil, you will often hear a gente used as 'we'. The possessive form is often da gente, which must always follow the noun: a casa da gente (our house). However, speakers also frequently alternate and use nosso/nossa with a gente.
Examples (6)
- A nossa casa é amarela.
Our house is yellow.
Word by Word: The our house is yellow.
Uses 'nossa' because 'casa' is feminine singular. In European Portuguese, the article 'a' is standard here.
- Estes são os nossos livros.
These are our books.
Word by Word: These are the our books.
Uses 'nossos' because 'livros' is masculine plural.
- O carro é nosso.
The car is ours.
Word by Word: The car is our.
When following the verb 'ser' to show simple ownership, the article is usually omitted in all dialects.
- O seu carro é azul, mas o nosso é verde.
Your car is blue, but ours is green.
Word by Word: The your car is blue, but the ours is green.
Here 'o nosso' acts as a pronoun ('the one that is ours'), so the article is required.
- Nós lavamos as mãos.
We washed our hands.
Word by Word: We washed the hands.
Portuguese uses definite articles instead of possessives for body parts when the owner is obvious.
- Nossas filhas estão na escola.
Our daughters are at school.
Word by Word: Our daughters are in the school.
In Brazilian Portuguese, the article before the possessive is often omitted.
Common Mistakes
Matching the gender of the owners instead of the object.
Nossa livro.Nosso livro.Even if the speakers are all female, they must use 'nosso' because 'livro' is a masculine noun.
Confusing 'meus' (my - plural) with 'nossos' (our - plural).
Estes são meus sapatos (meaning 'our shoes').Estes são nossos sapatos.'Meus' always means 'my' (belonging to me only). Use 'nossos' when the objects belong to 'us'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn 'nosso/nossa', you first need to understand the concept of 'we' (nós) and how Portuguese possessives function as adjectives that change their endings to match the gender and number of the object being possessed.
- nós/eles/elas/vocêsSubject Pronouns (Plural)
Understanding the subject pronoun 'nós' (we) is essential to grasp the concept of first-person plural ownership.
Foundations - meu/minha/meus/minhasPossessive First Person Singular
Learning the first-person singular possessives introduces the concept of possessive adjectives agreeing in gender and number with the noun possessed rather than the owner.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Possessive adjectives in Portuguese must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, following standard agreement rules.
Foundations
Related Patterns
- Possessive Agreement Rule
This is the fundamental rule that governs how 'nosso' and other possessives change form.
Level 1 - a genteA Gente (Informal We)
The informal way to say 'we' in Brazil, which often uses 'da gente' as a possessive alternative.
Level 1 - Article with Possessive
Explains when and why to use 'o' or 'a' before words like 'nosso'.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nosso/nossa/nossos/nossas in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Portuguese lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
