Direct object pronouns (me, te, o, a, nos, os, as)

Direct object pronouns

Direct object pronouns replace nouns to help us avoid repeating ourselves. Instead of saying "I see the car, I drive the car", we say "I see the car, I drive it".

Here are the direct object pronouns in Portuguese:

Where to put the pronoun

In European Portuguese, the default rule for affirmative sentences is that object pronouns attach directly to the end of the verb, separated by a hyphen.

Here are examples using me and te:

(Notice that when there are two verbs, you can attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive!)

Matching gender and number

When replacing a third-person noun (him, her, it, or them), you must choose the pronoun that matches the noun's gender and number.

For a masculine noun like o sumo, use o. For a feminine noun like a professora, use a:

This rule applies exactly the same way in the plural. You will use os or as depending on what is being replaced, and nos to say "us":

Attaching these pronouns to the end of the verb is one of the most distinctive and common rhythms of Portuguese spoken in Portugal. Keep an eye out for that hyphen!