1Module 2

Personal Pronouns

Pronomes Pessoais

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Key Concept

Before you can conjugate any verb, you must know who is acting. Portuguese distinguishes between formal and informal 'you' and has gendered pronouns for 'they'.
粵

Cantonese Speaker Tip

廣東話 vs Portuguese: 廣東話將「佢」用於男女均可。 但葡萄牙文分 ele（佢—男）和 ela（佢—女）。

正式與非正式：廣東話有「你」和「您」， 葡萄牙文有 tu（你）和 você（您）。 但葡文仲有 o senhor / a senhora（先生/女士），更加正式！

European Portuguese uses tu (informal) and você / o senhor / a senhora (formal). Você and vocês take 3rd person verb conjugation. Subject pronouns are often omitted because verb endings already indicate the subject.

Key Phrase — Try saying it!

Eu falo português.

Subject Pronouns (Pronomes Pessoais)

PronounMeaningUsageExample
I1st person singular I speak Portuguese.
You (Informal)For friends, family, children Do you speak English? (informal)
/ / You (Formal)For strangers, elders, superiors — uses 3rd person verb forms Are you the teacher? (formal)
/ He / She3rd person singular He is from Lisbon.
We1st person plural We live in Porto.
/ / They / You all3rd person plural — Eles (masc./mixed), Elas (fem.), Vocês (you plural) They are Portuguese.

Formal vs. Informal

ScenarioFormal (você)Informal (tu)
Greeting someone
Asking someone's name chama? chamas?
Asking where someone lives

Key Notes

  • •In European Portuguese, tu is used much more commonly than in Brazilian Portuguese.
  • •Você uses 3rd person singular verb forms (the same as ele/ela).
  • •Subject pronouns are frequently dropped because verb conjugation indicates the subject: 'Falo português' instead of 'Eu falo português.'

Examples

I live in Lisbon.
Do you have a dog? (informal)
He works in a hospital.
She studies Portuguese.
Are you from Portugal? (formal)
We speak English and Portuguese.
They live in Porto. (masculine/mixed)
They are teachers. (feminine)
Do you all want coffee?
I speak three languages. (pronoun omitted)
You are very nice. (informal, to a male)
She is twenty years old.
Do you work here? (informal, pronoun omitted)
He always eats at the restaurant.
We have two children.
Do you speak French? (formal)
They study at the university.
They work together. (feminine)
Do you all live in Coimbra?
We are friends. (pronoun omitted)
Do you live far from here? (informal)
I like music.
He is my brother.
Her name is Ana.
Are you hungry? (informal, pronoun omitted)
Do you live in Lisbon? (formal)
They speak very fast.
We have lunch at noon.
Are you all Portuguese?
Are you a student? (formal, pronoun omitted)
Pronomes Pessoais — Summary of Subject PronounsPronounMeaningUsageEuI1st person singularTuYou (informal)Friends, family, childrenVocê / O senhor / A senhoraYou (formal)Strangers, elders — uses 3rd person verbEle / ElaHe / She3rd person singularNósWe1st person pluralEles / Elas / VocêsThey / You all3rd person pluralTu = informal (friends) | Você = formal (strangers) | O senhor/A senhora = very formal
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