When are definite articles used in Brazilian Portuguese?
In general, definite articles are used before nouns that are specific and familiar. This usually means that you’ll use them before a specific noun that has already been mentioned in a conversation.
O cachorro do vizinho chama-se Sansão.
The neighbor’s dog is called Sansão.
lit. The dog of the neighbor is called Sansão.
→ A specific dog and a specific neighbor.
Eu assisti a um filme ontem. O filme era de terror.
I watched a movie yesterday. The film was a horror movie.
→ A specific film that has already been mentioned.
The coffee is from Colombia.
→ This specific coffee was already mentioned, and Colombia is a specific place.
Did you notice the contractionNo definition set for contractionLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. that we formed between the prepositionNo definition set for prepositionLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. de(of/from) and the articles o and a?
do vizinho(of the neighbor)
da Colômbia(from (the) Colombia)
When certain prepositions are placed before the definite articles, a contraction will occur. Would you like to know more about this? Check out this list of contractions in Brazilian Portuguese!
As you can see, in most cases, the use of the definite article lined up with where you would use “the” in English. But did you notice that there was a definite article before “Colombia” in Brazilian Portuguese? In English, we don’t have an article there!
In the next few sections we’ll go through some specific places where you’ll need to use definite articles in Brazilian Portuguese, and some of them may come as a surprise! Let’s have a look.
When to use definite articles with countries, oceans, rivers, and mountains
In Brazilian Portuguese, we use definite articles before the names of most countries and before the names of oceans, rivers, and mountains. Notice that this can lead to some differences with English!
Countries | a Itália(Italy) |
|---|
Oceans | o Atlântico(the Atlantic) |
|---|
Rivers | o rio Missouri(the Missouri River) |
|---|
Mountains | o monte Quilimanjaro(Mount Kilimanjaro) |
|---|
Here are some examples in sentences:
O Brasil é 206 vezes maior que a Suíça.
Brazil is 206 times bigger than Switzerland.
O monte Everest é a montanha mais alta do mundo.
Mount Everest is the highest mountain in the world.
The definite article is used here because these are the names of specific locations.
When to use definite articles before a title?
The definite article is used before titles that indicate a person’s qualifications or that indicate simple respect, whenever you are talking about someone in the third personNo definition set for third personLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum..
O presidente Arnaldo deu uma entrevista para um canal de TV brasileiro.
President Arnaldo gave an interview to a Brazilian TV channel.
Ontem, vi o senhor Douglas na padaria.
Yesterday, I saw Mr. Douglas in the bakery.
However, the definite article is not used when directly addressing a doctor, a professor, the president, etc.
Professor, quando temos que entregar o trabalho?
Teacher, when do we have to deliver the paper?
Using definite articles with dates, directions, and times of year
Definite articles are when giving dates, describing cardinal directions, or describing the time of year more often in Brazilian Portuguese than they are in English.
We use definite articles before days of the week:
Começo a trabalhar na segunda.
I start working on Monday.
→ Date; em(in) + a(the) = na
Vou ao cinema com meus amigos às sextas.
I go to the cinema with my friends on Fridays.
→ Date; a(on) + as(the) = às
Pay extra attention here!When you are referring to days of the week, place an article before them. And remember to pluralize both the article and the noun when the meaning is “every…,” as in the example above: às sextas(on Fridays, every Friday).
We use definite articles before seasons, holidays, and other times of year:
Minha estação preferida é a primavera.
My favorite season is spring.
→ time of year
Carolina loves Christmas.
→ holiday
We use them when giving the exact date:
No Brasil, o verão começa no dia 21 de dezembro.
In Brazil, summer starts on the 21st of December.
→ em(on) + o(the) = no
Check out our post on saying the date in Brazilian Portuguese to learn more!
We use them before cardinal directions:
A minha cidade fica no sul do Brasil.
My city is located in the south of Brazil.
→ em(in) + o(the) = no
Like in English, we don't use an article before the words hoje(today), ontem(yesterday), and amanhã(tomorrow) when referring to the date in Brazilian Portuguese:
Hoje, começo um novo emprego.
Today, I start a new job.
Using definite articles before the time of day
The definite article in Brazilian Portuguese is also used to tell the time in Brazilian Portuguese or to indicate a specific time of day.
Estarei aqui das oito às dez.
I will be here from eight to ten.
lit. I will be here of the eight to the ten.
→ de(of) + as(the) = das(of the)
→ a(to) + as(the) = às(to the)
When we refer to the expression of time uma hora(one o’clock), the use of the definite article is optional.
✅ O filme começa a uma hora da tarde.
✅ O filme começa uma hora da tarde.
The movie starts at one o’clock pm.
When to use definite articles before the names of languages?
In Brazilian Portuguese, we generally use definite articles before the names of languages.
É muito gostoso ouvir o português brasileiro,
It is very nice to listen to Brazilian Portuguese.
However, we don’t use a definite article with languages if we’re using the verbs falar(to speak), saber(to know), entender(understand), ensinar(to teach), or estudar(to study):
When to use the definite article after ‘todo/toda/todos/todas’ and ‘ambos/ambas’?
Use the definite article after todo/toda/todos/todas(all/entire) when it comes before a noun:
Procurei a chave por toda a casa.
I looked for the key in the entire house.
However, when todo/toda/todos/todas does not come before a noun, the article is not needed.
The word ambos/ambas(both) is always used before a noun that has a definite article:
Ambas as regras estão corretas.
Both the rules are correct.
Using definite articles with nouns formed from another part of speech
Use a definite article in Brazilian Portuguese when a different part of speech, such as an adjective, is transformed into a noun.
Há algo especial no azul do mar.
There is something special about the blue (color) of the sea.
→ em(about) + o(the) = no(about the)
In the example above, the adjective azul(blue) is transformed into a noun, and for this reason a definite article must be placed before it.
Using definite articles with the superlative relative
Like in English, the definite article is part of the structure of the superlative relative in Brazilian Portuguese.
O Pico da Neblina é a montanha mais alta do Brasil.
The Pico da Neblina is the tallest mountain in Brazil.
Using a definite article before the word ‘outro/outra’
Use the definite article before the word outro/outra(other) when you are making it clear who or what you are talking about.
Um era meu pai, o outro meu irmão.
One of them was my father, the other, my brother.
In this example, I am using the definite article before the word outro(other) to identify the other person I am referring to: meu irmão(my brother).
How to use definite articles in possessive constructions?
In Brazilian Portuguese, we often just use definite articles before the names of body parts, personal belongings, or words that determine family relationships as a way to indicate possession.
Fiquei com os pés molhados.
I got my feet wet.
lit. I got the feet wet.
Maria sempre carregava o celular na bolsa.
Maria always had her cell phone in her purse.
lit. Maria always had the cell phone in the purse.
→ em(in) + a(the) = na(in the)
Enquanto ela falava, o amigo ficava calado.
While she was speaking, her friend was silent.
lit. While she was speaking, the friend was silent.
Notice that in English we say, “her cell phone/her purse/her friend,” whereas, in Brazilian Portuguese, definite articles are used to indicate something owned.
When to use definite articles with possessive pronouns?
Definite articles are always used before possessive pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese, as in:
A minha bicicleta é mais velha que a sua.
My bicycle is older than yours.
However, when the words that we use as possessive pronouns are used before a noun, as possessive adjectivesNo definition set for possessive adjectivesLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum., the definite article becomes optional.
Now, you have seen many of the cases where you will need to use a definite article. But what about when the definite article is not required? Or where it must be omitted altogether? Keep reading!
