At the A1 level, you learn 'conosco' as a single block of meaning: 'with us'. You don't need to worry about the complex history of the word. Just remember that when you want to invite someone to join you and your friends, you say 'Vem conosco' (Come with us). It is a very useful word for basic social interactions. You will see it on websites under the 'Trabalhe Conosco' (Work with us) section. At this stage, just focus on the fact that 'com' + 'nós' becomes 'conosco'. It is like a puzzle piece that fits into sentences about groups. Think of it as the plural version of 'comigo' (with me). If you can say 'Fale comigo', you can also say 'Fale conosco'. It's about making connections. Even if you use 'com a gente' more often in Brazil, knowing 'conosco' is essential for reading signs, menus, and basic emails. It is one of the first 'special' pronouns you encounter that doesn't look exactly like the words it's made from. Don't be afraid of it; it's just a shortcut for 'with us'.
At the A2 level, you start to distinguish between formal and informal situations. You learn that 'conosco' is the 'correct' way to say 'with us' in writing. You also learn the 'Big Rule': never say 'com nós' in a simple sentence. If you are describing a trip you took with your family, you might say, 'Eles viajaram conosco'. You are also introduced to other similar words like 'contigo' and 'consigo', and you begin to see the pattern of how Portuguese handles accompaniment. You should be able to use 'conosco' in short emails or when speaking to a teacher or boss. You also start to notice it in songs and TV shows. It's important to start practicing the pronunciation, making sure the 'n' is clear and the 'o' sounds are natural. You might also notice that in Brazil, people say 'com a gente' almost all the time, but they will still expect you to understand 'conosco' when they use it in a slightly more serious tone.
At the B1 level, you dive into the exceptions. This is where you learn about 'com nós todos' and 'com nós mesmos'. You understand that 'conosco' is the standard, but when you add a word like 'todos' (all) or 'mesmos' (ourselves) for emphasis, the contraction 'conosco' breaks apart back into 'com nós'. This is a key milestone in mastering Portuguese grammar. You also start to use 'conosco' more naturally in professional contexts. For example, in a job interview, you might say, 'Eu gostaria de trabalhar conosco' (Wait, that would mean you want to work with yourself! You'd say 'Eu gostaria de trabalhar com vocês'). Actually, you'd hear the interviewer say, 'Você quer trabalhar conosco?'. You also begin to appreciate the stylistic difference between 'conosco' and 'com a gente'. You can now choose which one to use based on who you are talking to. Your writing becomes more polished as you replace 'com a gente' with 'conosco' in formal essays.
At the B2 level, you use 'conosco' with total confidence. You understand its placement in complex sentences, such as those with multiple clauses or inverted word order. You are familiar with its use in various Lusophone countries and can identify that 'connosco' (with two n's) is the European Portuguese spelling style (though officially changed, it's still seen). You also start to use 'conosco' in more abstract ways, such as 'O problema está conosco' (The problem lies with us/is our responsibility). You can handle the word in the passive voice and in indirect speech. You also recognize the word in older literature or formal legal texts where it might be used in ways that feel slightly archaic but are still perfectly correct. Your ability to switch between 'conosco' and 'com a gente' is now seamless, and you use 'conosco' to add a touch of authority or formality to your speech when necessary.
At the C1 level, you explore the nuances of tone and rhetoric. You understand how 'conosco' can be used to create a sense of 'we' (the 'nós' poetic or 'nós' majestic). You might use it in a speech to inspire a group, emphasizing the collective nature of an endeavor. You are also aware of the historical evolution from the Latin 'cum nobiscum' and how this affects the word's behavior compared to other pronouns. You can analyze texts where 'conosco' is used strategically to establish a specific relationship between the author and the audience. You are also fully aware of regional dialects where 'conosco' might be used differently or where 'com nós' might appear in non-standard dialects, and you can navigate these variations without confusion. Your mastery is such that you can explain these grammatical rules to others, including the specific conditions under which 'conosco' must be replaced by 'com nós'.
At the C2 level, 'conosco' is a tool you wield with precision and stylistic flair. You are capable of using it in high-level academic writing, complex legal arguments, or sophisticated literary prose. You understand the rhythmic and phonetic implications of using 'conosco' versus 'com a gente' in poetry or song lyrics. You can identify subtle shifts in meaning that occur when 'conosco' is used in different syntactic positions. You are also familiar with the most obscure grammatical debates surrounding the word and its historical forms. For you, 'conosco' is not just a pronoun; it's a part of the deep structure of the Portuguese language that you navigate intuitively. You can mimic different registers perfectly, using 'conosco' to sound like a 19th-century novelist or a modern-day diplomat with equal ease. Your understanding is indistinguishable from that of a highly educated native speaker.

conosco in 30 Sekunden

  • Means 'with us' in English.
  • A contraction of 'com' + 'nós'.
  • Used in formal and standard Portuguese.
  • Replaced by 'com a gente' in casual Brazilian speech.

The Portuguese word conosco is a first-person plural prepositional pronoun. In its simplest essence, it translates to 'with us' in English. It is a synthetic form, a linguistic contraction that merges the preposition com (with) and the pronoun nós (us/we). In the landscape of Portuguese grammar, conosco serves as a vital tool for expressing accompaniment, association, or shared action involving the speaker and at least one other person. It is one of those words that defines the communal spirit of the language, placing the 'us' at the center of the interaction. Whether you are inviting someone to join your group or describing a shared experience, this word is your primary vehicle for inclusivity. It functions as an oblique tonic pronoun, meaning it always follows a preposition (in this case, the preposition is built right into the word itself). This unique structure is a remnant of Latin evolution, specifically the phrase cum nobiscum, which eventually smoothed out into the modern Portuguese form we use today.

Grammatical Category
Prepositional Pronoun (Oblique Tonic)
Morphology
Contraction of 'com' + 'nós'
Syntactic Function
Adverbial adjunct of accompaniment

"Você gostaria de jantar conosco amanhã à noite?"

— Would you like to have dinner with us tomorrow night?

Understanding conosco requires recognizing its role in both formal and semi-formal contexts. While everyday spoken Brazilian Portuguese often favors the periphrastic 'com a gente', conosco remains the standard in written communication, formal speeches, and European Portuguese. It carries a certain weight of correctness and elegance. When you use it, you are signaling a clear grasp of standard Portuguese syntax. It is not merely a functional word; it is a bridge between the speaker's group and the listener. It implies a circle of belonging. If someone says, "O sucesso está conosco," they are claiming a collective victory. It is inherently plural and inherently social.

"Eles sempre trazem alegria quando estão conosco."

— They always bring joy when they are with us.
Semantic Range
Accompaniment, Collaboration, Possession (metaphorical)
Frequency
High in formal writing; Moderate in speech

"A responsabilidade do projeto permanece conosco."

— The responsibility for the project remains with us.

"Fique conosco por mais alguns minutos."

— Stay with us for a few more minutes.

"O segredo morrerá conosco."

— The secret will die with us.

Using conosco correctly is a hallmark of intermediate to advanced Portuguese proficiency, though its basic meaning is learned at the A1 level. The primary rule is simple: use it whenever you want to say 'with us' in a general sense. However, the nuances of when not to use it are just as important. In Portuguese, we have a specific set of contracted pronouns for accompaniment: comigo (with me), contigo (with you - informal), conosco (with us), and convosco (with you all - formal/archaic). Because conosco already contains the preposition 'com', you should never say 'com conosco'. That would be saying 'with with us'.

Rule 1: General Accompaniment
Use 'conosco' for physical presence or shared activity. (e.g., 'Venha conosco')
Rule 2: The 'Com Nós' Exception
Only use 'com nós' if followed by 'mesmos', 'todos', 'outros', or a specific number. (e.g., 'com nós dois')

In Brazilian Portuguese, there is a strong tendency to use 'com a gente' in nearly all spoken contexts. While 'com a gente' is grammatically singular but semantically plural, conosco is the formal plural counterpart. If you are writing an email to a client, a formal letter, or an academic paper, conosco is mandatory. In Portugal, conosco is used more frequently in daily speech than in Brazil, though regional variations exist. When using conosco, ensure that the verb preceding it agrees with the subject, not the pronoun. For example, in "Eles falaram conosco," the verb 'falaram' agrees with 'Eles'.

"Trabalhe conosco e descubra novas oportunidades."

— Work with us and discover new opportunities.

Another advanced usage involves the placement of the word in complex sentences. It usually appears at the end of a clause or immediately after the verb it modifies. Unlike clitic pronouns (me, te, se, nos), conosco is a tonic pronoun and does not attach to the verb with a hyphen. It stands alone as a distinct word. If you are emphasizing the 'us', you might place it earlier in the sentence for rhetorical effect, though this is rare. Mastery of conosco also involves knowing its 'com nós' counterparts. If you want to say 'with us all', you must say 'com nós todos', not 'conosco todos'. This distinction is a common trap for learners and even native speakers in casual settings.

The auditory landscape of conosco varies significantly across the Lusophone world. In Brazil, you will most frequently hear it in formal environments: news broadcasts, corporate meetings, religious services, and political speeches. If you are watching Jornal Nacional, the anchor might say, "Fique conosco," before a commercial break. In a business setting, a manager might say, "O cliente está satisfeito conosco." However, on the streets of Rio or São Paulo, you are much more likely to hear 'com a gente'. This creates a linguistic duality where conosco represents the 'official' language and 'com a gente' represents the 'emotional' or 'everyday' language.

Media & TV
'Fique conosco' (Stay with us) is a standard catchphrase for TV shows.
Business
'Trabalhe conosco' (Work with us) is the standard heading for careers pages.
Religious Contexts
Used frequently in prayers and liturgy to denote divine presence.

In Portugal, Angola, and Mozambique, conosco (often spelled connosco with a double 'n' in European Portuguese prior to the Orthographic Agreement, though now standardized) enjoys a more robust presence in daily speech. While 'com a gente' is also used in Portugal, it is often perceived as more informal or even grammatically suspect by traditionalists. Therefore, in Lisbon, you are quite likely to hear a friend say, "Vens conosco ao cinema?" (Are you coming with us to the cinema?). The word sounds slightly different too; in Brazil, the 'o' sounds are often more open or nasalized depending on the region, while in Portugal, the unstressed vowels are more closed.

"O Diretor quer falar conosco agora."

— The Director wants to speak with us now.

Literature and music also provide a rich source for conosco. In Fado or MPB (Música Popular Brasileira), the word is used to evoke a sense of collective longing or shared destiny. Because it is a three-syllable word (co-nos-co), it has a rhythmic quality that poets often exploit. In classic literature, such as the works of Machado de Assis or Eça de Queirós, conosco is the standard, reflecting the formal syntax of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Hearing it today often carries a slight echo of that literary tradition, making the speaker sound educated and precise.

The most frequent error involving conosco is the incorrect use of 'com nós'. For many learners (and even native speakers influenced by colloquialism), it seems logical to combine the preposition 'com' with the pronoun 'nós' directly. However, Portuguese grammar strictly dictates that when 'nós' is an object of 'com', it must transform into the synthetic form conosco. The only exception is when 'nós' is modified. If you say 'Ele veio com nós', it is a glaring grammatical error. It must be 'Ele veio conosco'.

Mistake: 'Com nós'
Incorrect: 'Eles estão com nós'. Correct: 'Eles estão conosco'.
Mistake: 'Com conosco'
Incorrect: 'Venha com conosco'. (Redundant preposition).
Mistake: 'Conosco todos'
Incorrect: 'Ele falou conosco todos'. Correct: 'Ele falou com nós todos'.

Another common pitfall is the confusion between conosco and convosco. While conosco means 'with us' (1st person plural), convosco means 'with you' (2nd person plural). In Brazil, convosco is almost entirely obsolete, replaced by 'com vocês'. However, learners sometimes mix them up because they sound similar. Using convosco when you mean 'with us' will completely change the meaning of your sentence and likely confuse your listener. Additionally, some learners try to pluralize it further as 'conoscos', which does not exist.

"Errado: Eles querem sair com nós. Correto: Eles querem sair conosco."

Finally, there is the issue of register. While not a 'mistake' in the sense of being ungrammatical, using conosco in an extremely casual setting in Brazil might make you sound overly stiff or 'bookish'. Conversely, using 'com a gente' in a formal legal document is a stylistic error. Understanding the social context is key. A common mistake for students is to learn conosco and use it everywhere, failing to adapt to the more natural 'com a gente' in daily conversation. Balance is essential for sounding like a native speaker.

To fully grasp conosco, it is helpful to look at its linguistic siblings and cousins. The most direct relatives are the other prepositional pronouns of accompaniment. Comigo (with me) is the 1st person singular, contigo (with you) is the 2nd person singular, and consigo (with himself/herself/yourself) is the 3rd person reflexive. All of these follow the same logic: a fusion of 'com' and an old form of the pronoun. Understanding this pattern helps you see conosco as part of a coherent system rather than an isolated irregular word.

Comigo
With me. (e.g., 'Fale comigo')
Contigo
With you (informal 'tu'). Common in Portugal/Southern Brazil.
Consigo
With himself/herself/themselves (reflexive) or with you (formal in Portugal).

Beyond the direct family, we have the informal equivalent: 'com a gente'. This phrase is functionally identical to conosco but is treated as a singular feminine noun phrase grammatically. While conosco is linked to nós, 'com a gente' is linked to a gente. In modern Brazilian Portuguese, 'com a gente' has almost entirely displaced conosco in speech. Another similar concept is expressed by the preposition entre (between/among). While conosco implies accompaniment, 'entre nós' implies a shared state or a secret within the group.

"Isso deve ficar apenas entre nós."

— This should stay only between us.

Lastly, consider the word juntamente (together). While conosco is a pronoun, juntamente is an adverb. You might say, "Ele trabalha conosco," or "Ele trabalha juntamente com a nossa equipe." The former is more direct and personal, while the latter is more professional and descriptive. There is also acompanhado (accompanied). "Ele veio acompanhado por nós" is a passive construction that conveys a similar meaning but with a different focus. Learning these variations allows you to express the idea of 'us' with precision and variety.

How Formal Is It?

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Wichtige Grammatik

Prepositional pronouns

Contractions with 'com'

Subject-verb agreement with 'nós'

The use of 'a gente' as a collective noun

Reflexive pronouns

Beispiele nach Niveau

1

Você quer vir conosco?

Do you want to come with us?

Basic use of 'conosco' for accompaniment.

2

Eles moram conosco.

They live with us.

Indicates shared living space.

3

Fale conosco agora.

Speak with us now.

Common imperative phrase.

4

Ela está conosco.

She is with us.

Simple state of being with a group.

5

Trabalhe conosco.

Work with us.

Standard professional invitation.

6

O cachorro vem conosco?

Is the dog coming with us?

Question form.

7

Eles jogam conosco.

They play with us.

Shared activity.

8

Fique conosco.

Stay with us.

Imperative for staying.

1

Eles viajaram conosco no verão passado.

They traveled with us last summer.

Past tense usage.

2

Você pode deixar as chaves conosco.

You can leave the keys with us.

Use with modal verb 'poder'.

3

Ninguém quis vir conosco ao museu.

Nobody wanted to come with us to the museum.

Used with negative pronoun 'ninguém'.

4

Eles sempre jantam conosco aos domingos.

They always have dinner with us on Sundays.

Expressing frequency.

5

O professor vai falar conosco amanhã.

The teacher is going to speak with us tomorrow.

Future with 'ir'.

6

Traga os documentos conosco.

Bring the documents with us (to our location).

Imperative with 'trazer'.

7

Eles não estão bravos conosco.

They are not angry with us.

Negative construction with adjective.

8

Queremos que você esteja conosco.

We want you to be with us.

Present subjunctive.

1

Se você vier conosco, será mais divertido.

If you come with us, it will be more fun.

Conditional sentence with future subjunctive.

2

Eles preferiram não se envolver conosco.

They preferred not to get involved with us.

Infinitive after 'preferir'.

3

O sucesso do projeto depende de você estar conosco.

The success of the project depends on you being with us.

Gerund/Infinitive construction.

4

Eles discutiram o plano conosco durante horas.

They discussed the plan with us for hours.

Preterite with duration.

5

Não se preocupe, a responsabilidade é conosco.

Don't worry, the responsibility is with us.

Idiomatic use for responsibility.

6

Eles dividiram o prêmio conosco.

They shared the prize with us.

Verb 'dividir' + 'conosco'.

7

Seria um prazer se você almoçasse conosco.

It would be a pleasure if you had lunch with us.

Imperfect subjunctive.

8

Eles mantêm contato conosco por e-mail.

They keep in touch with us by email.

Verb 'manter' + 'conosco'.

1

A decisão final repousa conosco, não com eles.

The final decision rests with us, not with them.

Formal verb 'repousar'.

2

Eles têm colaborado conosco em diversas frentes.

They have been collaborating with us on several fronts.

Present perfect continuous equivalent.

3

É fundamental que a equipe permaneça conosco até o fim.

It is fundamental that the team remains with us until the end.

Subjunctive after impersonal expression.

4

Eles agiram conosco de forma muito honesta.

They acted with us in a very honest way.

Adverbial phrase modification.

5

O destino deles está entrelaçado conosco.

Their destiny is intertwined with us.

Metaphorical usage.

6

Eles compartilharam segredos conosco que ninguém mais sabe.

They shared secrets with us that no one else knows.

Relative clause.

7

Contanto que você colabore conosco, tudo ficará bem.

As long as you collaborate with us, everything will be fine.

Conjunction 'contanto que'.

8

Eles se sentem seguros quando estão conosco.

They feel safe when they are with us.

Reflexive verb 'sentir-se'.

1

A herança cultural que eles deixaram conosco é imensurável.

The cultural heritage they left with us is immeasurable.

Abstract noun 'herança'.

2

Resta saber se eles pretendem aliar-se conosco nesta empreitada.

It remains to be seen if they intend to ally themselves with us in this endeavor.

Pronominal verb 'aliar-se'.

3

Sua presença conosco tem sido um bálsamo para nossas dores.

Your presence with us has been a balm for our pains.

Poetic/Literary tone.

4

Eles não apenas trabalham conosco, mas partilham de nossos ideais.

They not only work with us, but share our ideals.

Correlative conjunction 'não apenas... mas'.

5

A verdade, embora dolorosa, deve permanecer conosco.

The truth, though painful, must remain with us.

Concessive clause 'embora'.

6

Eles têm se mostrado bastante solícitos conosco ultimamente.

They have shown themselves to be quite helpful to us lately.

Compound tense with reflexive.

7

Não obstante as críticas, eles continuam conosco.

Notwithstanding the criticisms, they continue with us.

Formal preposition 'não obstante'.

8

Eles buscaram refúgio conosco durante a tempestade política.

They sought refuge with us during the political storm.

Metaphorical 'tempestade'.

1

A incumbência de zelar pelo patrimônio recai conosco por força de lei.

The duty to watch over the heritage falls upon us by force of law.

Legal/Formal register.

2

Eles, em sua infinita bondade, dignaram-se a caminhar conosco.

They, in their infinite goodness, deigned to walk with us.

High literary style.

3

O ônus da prova, neste caso, não reside conosco.

The burden of proof, in this case, does not reside with us.

Latinate vocabulary 'ônus'.

4

Eles têm envidado esforços para que o acordo conosco seja frutífero.

They have been making efforts so that the agreement with us is fruitful.

Sophisticated verb 'envidar'.

5

A simbiose que eles estabeleceram conosco transcende o mero profissionalismo.

The symbiosis they established with us transcends mere professionalism.

Scientific metaphor.

6

Eles se mantiveram incólumes enquanto estiveram conosco.

They remained unharmed while they were with us.

Advanced adjective 'incólume'.

7

A efemeridade da vida parece menos cruel quando eles estão conosco.

The ephemerality of life seems less cruel when they are with us.

Philosophical context.

8

Eles coadunam conosco na percepção de que mudanças são necessárias.

They agree with us in the perception that changes are necessary.

Formal verb 'coadunar'.

Häufige Kollokationen

Falar conosco
Vir conosco
Trabalhar conosco
Estar conosco
Ficar conosco
Viajar conosco
Contar conosco
Sair conosco
Jantar conosco
Colaborar conosco

Wird oft verwechselt mit

conosco vs convosco (with you all)

conosco vs com nós (incorrect form)

conosco vs connosco (old/PT spelling)

Leicht verwechselbar

conosco vs

conosco vs

conosco vs

conosco vs

conosco vs

Satzmuster

Wortfamilie

Verwandt

nos
nosso
nossa
nossos
nossas

So verwendest du es

Formal Writing

'Conosco' is mandatory.

European Portuguese

Strong preference for 'conosco' (connosco).

Brazilian Portuguese

Strong preference for 'com a gente' in speech.

Häufige Fehler
  • Using 'com nós' instead of 'conosco' in simple accompaniment.
  • Saying 'com conosco'.
  • Confusing 'conosco' (us) with 'convosco' (you all).
  • Using 'conosco' in a very informal Brazilian setting where 'com a gente' is expected.
  • Forgetting to use 'com nós' when a modifier like 'todos' is present.

Tipps

The Modifier Rule

If you add 'todos', use 'com nós'. 'Ele falou com nós todos'.

Business Emails

Always use 'conosco' when representing a company in writing.

Sound Natural

Use 'com a gente' in a Brazilian bar, 'conosco' in a Brazilian boardroom.

TV Catchphrases

Listen for 'Fique conosco' to identify the start of a break.

No Hyphens

Unlike 'vê-lo', 'conosco' never uses a hyphen with a verb.

Word Family

Relate it to 'nosso' (our) to remember it's about 'us'.

Regionality

Expect to hear 'conosco' more in Lisbon than in Rio.

Latin Roots

Remember 'cum nobiscum' to understand why it's a single word.

Redundancy

Never say 'com conosco'. It's a double 'with'.

Reflexive Use

For reflexive 'with ourselves', use 'com nós mesmos', not 'conosco'.

Einprägen

Wortherkunft

Latin

Kultureller Kontext

Often replaced by 'com a gente' in speech.

Standard for 'Careers' pages ('Trabalhe Conosco').

Used frequently in speech and writing; formerly spelled 'connosco'.

Highly prevalent in liturgical language.

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você quer almoçar conosco hoje?"

"Eles vão viajar conosco no feriado?"

"Você pode ficar conosco por mais um tempo?"

"O que você achou de trabalhar conosco?"

"Você gostaria de vir conosco ao cinema?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva um dia em que seus amigos estiveram conosco.

O que significa para você quando alguém diz 'fique conosco'?

Escreva sobre um projeto em que você trabalhou conosco.

Como você se sente quando novas pessoas saem conosco?

Imagine um futuro onde todos vivem conosco.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, it is correct if followed by words like 'todos', 'mesmos', or 'outros'. Otherwise, use 'conosco'.

'Conosco' is formal and standard. 'Com a gente' is informal and very common in Brazil.

It was 'connosco', but after the 1990 agreement, both forms are recognized, though 'connosco' remains common.

No, that is redundant because 'conosco' already includes the word 'with'.

No, 'conosco' only means 'with us'. 'With you' is 'contigo' or 'com você/vocês'.

It is always plural, referring to 'us'.

Yes, but it might seem a bit formal depending on who you are texting.

No, 'conosco' is invariable for gender.

It is a pronoun that contains a preposition.

It comes from the Latin 'cum', which was added to the end of pronouns.

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