DEFINITE ARTICLES:
THE =
O (masculine, singular)
THE =
A (feminine, singular)
THE =
OS (masculine, plural)
THE =
AS (feminine, plural)
O cachorro está latindo. / The dog is barking.
A televisão está quebrada. / The TV is broken.
Os contratos foram assinados. / The contracts have been signed.
As crianças estão brincando. / The children are playing.
We use the definite article when we are talking about a particular object or person. We tend to use the definite article more frequently in Portuguese than in English. In the examples above, there's a similar usage of articles in Portuguese and in English
In the examples below,
the definite article is used in Portuguese but not in English.
- Before countries/ continents/ oceans/ seas/ rivers/ group of islands/ chains of mountains/ deserts/ regions:
O Brasil é o país do futuro/
Brazil is the country of the future.
* We usually DO NOT use definite articles before cities. Exceptions: Portugal, Israel, Angola, Cabo Verde, Moçambique, São Tomé e Príncipe e Timor.
** We usually USE definite articles before most Brazilian states. Exceptions: Alagoas, Goiás, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Rondônia, Roraima, Santa Catarina, São Paulo e Sergipe
.
- Before seasons of the year:
A primavera é a estação das flores/
Spring is the flower season.
- Before days of the week (optional):
(O) domingo é um dia sagrado no catolicismo./
Sunday is a sacred day in Catholicism.
- Before possessive pronouns (optional):
(A) minha mãe mora no Brasil./
My mother lives in Brazil.
- Before titles (including before "senhor/ senhora"):
O Dr. (doutor) Paulo irá lhe atender em breve/
Dr. Paulo will see you soon.
A senhora precisa de ajuda?/ Do you need help? (feminine/ respectful)
- Before names (optional but really common in certain parts of the country, like in São Paulo):
A Patrícia está atrasada. /
Patrícia is late.
Now we DO NOT use the definite article before musical instruments when we're saying people play them:
Tom Jobim
toca piano. / Tom Jobim
plays the piano.
ADVANCED STUDENTS: See this really comprehensive guide of the definite article in the
Manual de Redação e Estilo do Estado de São Paulo.
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CONTRACTIONS
DE (OF [THE] / FROM [THE])
DE + O = DO
DE + A= DA
DE + OS = DOS
DE + AS = DAS
Amanhã elas chegam do Japão./ Tomorrow they arrive from Japan.
Qual é o nome
da empresa onde você trabalha?/ What is the name
of the company you work for?
EM (IN [THE]/ ON [THE]/ AT [THE])
EM + O = NO
EM + A = NA
EM + OS = NOS
EM + AS = NAS
Hoje em dia eu moro nos Estados Unidos./ Nowadays I live in the United States.
A (TO [THE])
A + O = AO
A + A = À
A + OS = AOS
A + AS = ÀS
Vamos ao cinema amanhã?/ Let's go to the movies tomorrow?
POR (FOR [THE]/ BY [THE])
POR + O = PELO
POR + A = PELA
POR + OS = PELOS
POR + AS = PELAS
Andei pelas ruas de Salvador. / I walked by the streets of Salvador.
Obrigada pela carona!/ Thanks for the ride.
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INDEFINITE ARTICLES:
A/ ONE =
UM (masculine)
A/ ONE =
UMA (feminine)
SOME =
UNS (masculine) - also used to show an approximation ("about/"around")
SOME =
UMAS (feminine) - also used to show an approximation ("about"/"around")
Você conhece
um bom restaurante por aqui?/ Do you know a good restaurant around here?
Eu preciso de
uma faca. / I need a knife.
O livro custa
uns 15 reais./ The book costs about 15 reais.
Me dê
umas dicas sobre o Brasil!/ Give me some tips about Brazil!
We use the indefinite article before singular nouns meaning that they represent no particular person or thing. We use thier plural form to show an approximation (as in "about"/ "around") or as an alternative to "alguns/ algumas" (some).
Concepts taken from
Portuguese Grammar by Sonia Celegatti Althoff. See summarized online version
here.
