Definite Articles

01

The Four Forms

There are four forms of the definite article, corresponding to the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun.

• Masculine Singular: o
• Feminine Singular: a
• Masculine Plural: os
• Feminine Plural: as

• Eu li o livro.

  I read the book.

• Nós vimos a casa.

  We saw the house.

• Onde estão os sapatos?

  Where are the shoes?

• Eu comprei as flores.

  I bought the flowers.

02

Common Uses

Definite articles are used in many contexts where they would be omitted in English.

Generalizations and Abstract Nouns

When speaking about a concept or a group in general, the definite article is used.

• O amor é complicado.

  Love is complicated.

• Os brasileiros gostam de futebol.

  Brazilians like soccer.

Before Possessive Adjectives

In Brazilian Portuguese, it is standard to place a definite article before a possessive adjective like meu (my) or seu (your).

• Você pegou o meu casaco?

  Did you take my coat?

• A nossa família é grande.

  Our family is big.

Before Names and Titles

It is very common, especially in informal speech, to use a definite article before a person's first name.

• A Fernanda não veio hoje.

  Fernanda didn't come today.

• Você falou com o Ricardo?

  Did you speak with Ricardo?

It is also used with titles.

• O Doutor Silva está ocupado.

  Doctor Silva is busy.

With Most Countries, States, and Continents

Many geographical locations require a definite article.

• O Brasil é um país tropical.

  Brazil is a tropical country.

• Eu quero viajar para a Itália.

  I want to travel to Italy.

Note that some places, like Portugal, Angola, and São Paulo, typically do not use an article.

03

Contractions with Prepositions

When a definite article follows certain prepositions, they contract into a single word. This is mandatory.

de (of/from) + article

• de + o = do
• de + a = da
• de + os = dos
• de + as = das

• Eu preciso da chave do carro.

  I need the key to the car. (literally: the key of the car)

em (in/on/at) + article

• em + o = no
• em + a = na
• em + os = nos
• em + as = nas

• As crianças estão na escola.

  The children are at school.

a (to/at) + article

The combination of the preposition a with the feminine articles a and as results in a contraction called a crase, marked by a grave accent (`).

• a + o = ao
• a + a = à
• a + os = aos
• a + as = às

• Nós vamos ao mercado.

  We are going to the market.

• Ela foi à festa ontem.

  She went to the party yesterday.

por (by/for/through) + article

• por + o = pelo
• por + a = pela
• por + os = pelos
• por + as = pelas

• Obrigado pela informação.

  Thank you for the information.

• Caminhamos pelo centro da cidade.

  We walked through the city center.