nós/eles/elas/vocês
Subject Pronouns (Plural)
Portuguese uses nós (we), vocês (you all), eles (they, masc.), and elas (they, fem.) to refer to groups. These pronouns determine how the verb changes to match the subject.
How It Works
Plural subject pronouns are the foundation for talking about groups in Portuguese. Understanding them involves these main concepts:
1. Gender Distinction: Unlike English 'they', Portuguese distinguishes between masculine/mixed groups (eles) and strictly feminine groups (elas). If a group has ten women and one man, you must use eles.
2. Verb Agreement: Each pronoun 'triggers' a specific verb ending.
- nós uses the 1st person plural form (e.g., falamos).
- vocês, eles, and elas all share the same 3rd person plural verb form (e.g., falam).
3. The 'A Gente' Trap: In casual speech, especially in Brazil, a gente is used instead of nós. Crucially, it requires a 3rd person singular verb (e.g., a gente fala), even though it means 'we'.
4. Formal Plural: To be more formal than vocês, use os senhores or as senhoras. These also use the 3rd person plural verb form.
Because Portuguese verbs often have unique endings for each person, native speakers frequently drop the pronoun entirely (pro-drop) if the context is clear.
Examples (5)
- Nós moramos em Lisboa.
We live in Lisbon.
Word by Word: We live in Lisbon.
Shows 'nós' paired with the first-person plural verb ending '-amos'.
- Vocês falam português?
Do you all speak Portuguese?
Word by Word: You (plural) speak Portuguese?
'Vocês' is used to address a group directly and takes the third-person plural verb form.
- O Pedro e o Paulo são irmãos; eles são altos.
Pedro and Paulo are brothers; they are tall.
Word by Word: The Pedro and the Paulo are brothers; they are tall.
'Eles' refers to a masculine group and requires the adjective 'altos' to be plural and masculine.
- A Maria e a Ana são médicas; elas trabalham muito.
Maria and Ana are doctors; they work a lot.
Word by Word: The Maria and the Ana are doctors; they work much.
'Elas' is used because the group consists only of females.
- Onde estão os livros? Eles estão na mesa.
Where are the books? They are on the table.
Word by Word: Where are the books? They are on the table.
Pronouns also replace objects. Since 'livros' is masculine plural, we use 'eles'.
Common Mistakes
Using a plural verb with 'a gente'.
A gente vamos ao cinema.A gente vai ao cinema.Even though a gente means 'we', it is grammatically singular and must take the 3rd person singular verb form (the same as 'ele' or 'ela').
Using 'elas' for a mixed-gender group.
O João e a Maria são amigos. Elas são simpáticos.O João e a Maria são amigos. Eles são simpáticos.In Portuguese, if there is at least one male in a group, the masculine plural 'eles' must be used.
Confusing the subject pronoun 'nós' with the object pronoun 'nos'.
Nos vamos ao parque.Nós vamos ao parque.'Nós' (with an accent) is the subject 'we'. 'Nos' (without an accent) is an object pronoun meaning 'us' or 'to us'.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- eu/tu/você/ele/elaSubject Pronouns (Singular)
These are the singular counterparts to the plural subject pronouns.
Foundations - a genteA Gente (Informal We)
A common informal alternative to 'nós' used extensively in Brazil.
Level 1 - vósVós (Archaic Plural You)
The traditional second-person plural pronoun, now mostly regional or formal.
Level 2 - Adjective Agreement
Plural pronouns require adjectives to match in both gender and number.
Foundations - -sPlural Formation
The basic rule for making nouns and adjectives plural to match these pronouns.
Foundations - o senhor/a senhoraFormal Address
The formal way to address people, which also has plural forms (os senhores/as senhoras).
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- -o/-as/-a/-amos/-ais/-amPresent Tense -AR VerbsLevel 1
- comigo/contigo/consigo/conosco/convoscoPronoun-Preposition Fusions with ComLevel 1
- nosso/nossa/nossos/nossasPossessive First Person PluralLevel 1
- nosso/nossa/vosso/vossaPossessive Adjectives (Plural Owner)Level 1
- nele/nela/neles/nelasContraction NeleLevel 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice nós/eles/elas/vocês in Bubblegum
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