vós
Vós (Archaic Plural You)
Vós is the traditional plural 'you' in Portuguese. While vocês is more common today, vós is still used in the Bible, formal literature, and daily life in Northern Portugal.
How It Works
The pronoun vós represents the 'true' second-person plural in the Portuguese language. Understanding it is essential for reading classical literature, attending religious services, or visiting Northern Portugal.
1. Verb Conjugation
Vós requires specific endings that differ from all other pronouns:
- -AR verbs: -ais (e.g., vós falais)
- -ER verbs: -eis (e.g., vós comeis)
- -IR verbs: -is (e.g., vós partis)
- Preterite: -astes, -estes, -istes (e.g., vós falastes, vós comestes, vós partistes)
2. Regional vs. Literary Use
In most of Brazil and Southern Portugal, vós is considered archaic or strictly religious (found in the 'Pai Nosso' prayer). However, in Northern Portugal (Minho, Trás-os-Montes), it is a living, informal pronoun used among friends and family, functioning as the plural of tu.
3. Related Forms
Even when speakers don't use vós as a subject, they often use its related forms in European Portuguese:
- Object Pronoun: vos (e.g., 'Eu vi-vos ontem' - I saw you all yesterday).
- Possessive: vosso/vossa (e.g., 'O vosso carro' - Your car).
- Prepositional: convosco (with you all).
Examples (5)
- Pai Nosso, que estais no céu...
Our Father, who art in heaven...
Word by Word: Father Our, who are in heaven...
A classic religious example using the 2nd-person plural form of 'estar' (estais) to address God.
- Vós falastes com o diretor ontem?
Did you all speak with the director yesterday?
Word by Word: You (plural) spoke with the director yesterday?
Uses the preterite ending '-astes' specific to vós.
- Eu dou-vos o meu apoio total.
I give you (all) my total support.
Word by Word: I give-you the my support total.
Demonstrates the clitic pronoun 'vos', which is common in European Portuguese even when 'vós' isn't the subject.
- Ganhastes o jogo, mas não jogastes nada!
You (all) won the game, but you didn't play well at all!
Word by Word: Won (you all) the game, but not played (you all) nothing!
A typical informal usage from Northern Portugal, where vós is used colloquially.
- Onde está o vosso carro?
Where is your (all's) car?
Word by Word: Where is the your car?
Uses the possessive 'vosso', which agrees with the noun 'carro'.
Common Mistakes
Using 3rd-person plural verb endings with vós.
Vós falam muito.Vós falais muito.Vós must use its specific 2nd-person plural endings (-ais, -eis, -is), not the 3rd-person endings used for 'vocês' or 'eles'.
Using vós in casual Brazilian conversation.
Vós quereis ir à praia?Vocês querem ir à praia?In Brazil, vós is virtually extinct in speech. Using it in a casual setting will make you sound like a historical figure or a priest.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- nós/eles/elas/vocêsSubject Pronouns (Plural)
Vocês is the modern alternative to vós in most regions, but it uses different verb conjugations.
Foundations - tu / vocêTu vs. Você
In Northern Portugal, vós is the plural equivalent of the informal 'tu'.
Level 1 - vosso/vossa/vossos/vossasPossessive Second Person Plural
These are the possessive adjectives specifically tied to the pronoun vós.
Level 2 - me/te/o/a/nos/vos/os/asDirect Object Pronouns
The clitic 'vos' is the object form of vós and is widely used in European Portuguese.
Level 1 - comigo/contigo/consigo/conosco/convoscoPronoun-Preposition Fusions with Com
'Convosco' is the specific form used to say 'with you all' when referring to vós.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice vós in Bubblegum
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