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A1 pronoun #180 am häufigsten 8 Min. Lesezeit

Elas

Top 180

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At the A1 level, 'elas' is introduced as one of the basic personal pronouns. Students learn that it means 'they' for a group of women or girls. The focus is on simple subject-verb-object sentences. For example, 'Elas são estudantes' (They are students). Learners are taught to distinguish between 'ele' (he), 'ela' (she), 'eles' (they-masculine), and 'elas' (they-feminine). The primary goal is recognition and basic usage in identifying people and objects. At this stage, learners also begin to see how 'elas' triggers feminine plural endings in adjectives, such as 'elas são bonitas'. This is often the first encounter with gender agreement in plural forms. Exercises usually involve replacing names (e.g., 'Maria e Joana') with the pronoun 'elas'. Understanding that 'elas' can also refer to feminine objects like 'as maçãs' (the apples) is a key A1 concept.

At the A2 level, the use of 'elas' expands to include its role as an object of a preposition. Students learn phrases like 'com elas' (with them), 'para elas' (for them), and 'sem elas' (without them). The complexity of sentences increases, and learners are expected to maintain gender agreement across longer sentences with multiple adjectives. For example, 'Elas estão muito cansadas porque trabalharam o dia todo'. A2 learners also start to notice the difference between spoken and written Portuguese, particularly in Brazil, where 'elas' might be used as a direct object in casual speech ('Eu vi elas'), while being taught that this is informal. The focus shifts toward more natural communication and describing groups of people or things in more detail.

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At the B1 level, students use 'elas' in more complex grammatical structures, such as the passive voice and relative clauses. For instance, 'As propostas foram aceitas por elas' (The proposals were accepted by them). Learners become more proficient in using 'elas' to maintain cohesion in a text, avoiding the repetition of feminine nouns. They also start to encounter 'elas' in more idiomatic expressions and common collocations. The distinction between 'elas' and the direct object pronoun 'as' becomes more important, as B1 students are expected to use more formal structures in their writing. They also learn how 'elas' interacts with reflexive verbs in the plural, such as 'elas se lavam' (they wash themselves).

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At the B2 level, 'elas' is used fluently in a wide variety of contexts, including academic and professional settings. Students are expected to handle complex gender agreement without hesitation, even when the subject and the adjective are separated by several words. They explore the nuances of using 'elas' in literary texts and formal speeches. B2 learners also begin to discuss social and linguistic issues, such as the 'masculine collective' rule and the emergence of gender-neutral alternatives in modern Portuguese. They can analyze how the use of 'elas' can emphasize the female presence in a narrative. The focus is on precision, style, and the ability to use the pronoun in sophisticated argumentative structures.

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At the C1 level, the learner has a near-native grasp of 'elas'. They can identify subtle stylistic choices made by authors who use 'elas' to create specific effects. For example, an author might use 'elas' to refer to abstract concepts that are feminine in Portuguese, such as 'as verdades' (the truths) or 'as sombras' (the shadows), personifying them. C1 students are also aware of the historical evolution of the pronoun from Latin 'illae' and how this history influences modern usage. They can navigate the most formal registers of the language where 'elas' is strictly a subject or prepositional object, and 'as' or 'lhes' are used for other functions. Their use of 'elas' is seamless, contributing to a high level of discourse competence.

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At the C2 level, mastery of 'elas' is complete. The learner can use the pronoun with the same level of nuance as a highly educated native speaker. This includes using it in complex philosophical or technical discussions where the gender of nouns plays a crucial role in the logic of the argument. They can appreciate and use 'elas' in archaic or highly formal contexts, such as legal documents or classical poetry. C2 learners can also engage in high-level debates about linguistic reform and the future of gendered pronouns in Portuguese. They understand the full range of idiomatic and metaphorical uses of the word and can employ them creatively in their own writing and speech.

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Elas in 30 Sekunden

The word 'elas' is the feminine plural form of 'they' in Portuguese, used exclusively for all-female groups or feminine-gendered objects.
It requires grammatical agreement, meaning adjectives and articles in the sentence must also be in the feminine plural form to match 'elas'.
If a group contains even one male, the pronoun changes to the masculine 'eles', making 'elas' a strictly feminine collective pronoun.
It is used both as a subject (before the verb) and as a prepositional object (e.g., 'com elas', 'para elas') in everyday speech.

The Portuguese word elas is a third-person plural personal pronoun that specifically refers to a group composed entirely of females or feminine-gendered entities. In English, we simply use the gender-neutral 'they', but Portuguese requires a distinction between the masculine eles and the feminine elas. This word is fundamental for anyone starting their journey into the Portuguese language because it introduces the concept of grammatical gender agreement, which extends beyond humans to inanimate objects. For instance, if you are talking about 'as mesas' (the tables), you would refer to them as elas. The usage of this pronoun is ubiquitous in daily conversation, literature, and formal writing. It is used whenever the subject of the sentence is a group of women, girls, female animals, or feminine nouns. Understanding when to use elas versus eles is a key milestone in achieving fluency. In a social context, elas is used to highlight a group of women, and in modern linguistic discussions, it plays a role in how gender is perceived in the Lusophone world. Unlike English, where 'they' can be singular (non-binary), elas is strictly plural. If a group contains even one masculine element, the pronoun typically reverts to the masculine eles, a rule known as the 'masculine collective'. Therefore, elas is reserved for pure feminine groups.

Grammatical Category: Personal Pronoun (Subject and Prepositional Object)
Gender: Feminine Plural
English Equivalent: They (feminine)

As meninas estão no parque; elas estão brincando.

Onde estão as chaves? Elas estão na mesa.

Maria e Ana são irmãs. Elas moram em Lisboa.

As gatas são fofas. Elas dormem muito.

Vi as fotos e elas são lindas.

Usage Frequency: Extremely high; it is one of the top 100 most used words in Portuguese.

Social Context: Essential for referring to groups of women respectfully and accurately.

Using elas correctly involves more than just substituting a noun; it requires ensuring that the entire sentence agrees with the feminine plural nature of the pronoun. This means that adjectives, past participles, and articles must also be in the feminine plural form. For example, 'They are happy' would be 'Elas estão felizes'. While 'felizes' is the same for both genders, an adjective like 'tired' changes: 'Elas estão cansadas' (feminine) versus 'Eles estão cansados' (masculine). This grammatical harmony is a hallmark of Portuguese syntax. Elas typically functions as the subject of a sentence, appearing before the verb. However, it also serves as a prepositional object. For instance, 'I am with them' becomes 'Eu estou com elas'. In European Portuguese, there is a strong tendency to use direct object pronouns like 'as' (e.g., 'Eu as vi'), but in Brazilian Portuguese, it is very common to hear 'Eu vi elas' in colloquial speech, although this is technically incorrect in formal grammar. When constructing complex sentences, elas can be used in relative clauses or as part of a compound subject. It is important to remember that elas can refer to people, animals, or objects. If you are discussing a group of 'cadeiras' (chairs), elas is the correct pronoun. This dual role—referring to both animate and inanimate feminine plurals—makes it a versatile tool in the language.

Subject Position: Elas estudam muito para os exames.
Prepositional Object: Este presente é para elas.

Elas mesmas fizeram o bolo para a festa.

Falei com elas ontem sobre o projeto.

As janelas estão abertas? Sim, elas estão.

Adjective Agreement: Elas são inteligentes e dedicadas.

You will hear elas in every corner of the Portuguese-speaking world, from the bustling streets of São Paulo to the historic alleys of Lisbon. It is a staple of everyday conversation. When friends talk about a group of female colleagues, they use elas. In news broadcasts, when reporting on a women's sports team, the anchor will repeatedly use elas. In Brazilian music, especially in genres like Samba and MPB, elas often appears in lyrics celebrating women or describing social scenes. For example, a song might describe 'elas dançando' (them dancing). In television soap operas (telenovelas), which are a massive part of Lusophone culture, elas is used constantly in dialogue to refer to groups of female characters. Furthermore, in commercial settings, you might hear a shopkeeper referring to 'as roupas' (the clothes) and saying 'elas são de boa qualidade' (they are of good quality). The word is also central to social movements; for instance, the phrase 'Por elas' (For them/By them) is often used in campaigns for women's rights. Because it is a high-frequency functional word, its pronunciation is usually clear, though it may vary slightly: in Portugal, the 'e' is more closed, while in Brazil, it is more open. Regardless of the accent, the word remains a pillar of the language's structure.

Na reunião, elas apresentaram as melhores ideias.

As crianças? Elas já foram para a escola.

Pop Culture: Commonly used in song titles and movie names referring to groups of women.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make is using the masculine eles to refer to a group of women. While English uses 'they' for everyone, Portuguese is strict about this. If you are looking at a group of ten women and you say 'Eles são simpáticos', it sounds jarring and incorrect to a native speaker; you must say Elas são simpáticas. Another common error is failing to maintain gender agreement in the rest of the sentence. If the subject is elas, the adjectives must end in '-as' (e.g., 'elas são bonitas', not 'bonitos'). A third mistake involves groups of mixed gender. Beginners often think that if there are more women than men, they should use elas. However, the traditional rule in Portuguese is that if there is even one male in a group of a thousand females, the pronoun used is eles. This can be frustrating for learners, but it is the standard grammatical rule. Additionally, learners often struggle with using elas for inanimate objects. They might try to use 'isso' or 'eles' for feminine objects like 'as cadeiras', but the correct pronoun is elas. Finally, in formal writing, using elas as a direct object (e.g., 'Eu amo elas') is considered a 'solecismo' (grammatical error) in many contexts, especially in Portugal and formal Brazilian Portuguese, where 'Eu as amo' is preferred.

The Mixed Group Trap: Never use 'elas' if there is a male in the group. Use 'eles'.
Agreement Failure: Always match adjectives: 'Elas estão cansadas' (Correct) vs 'Elas estão cansados' (Incorrect).

Incorrect: Eles são minhas irmãs. (They are my sisters.)

Correct: Elas são minhas irmãs.

While elas is the standard feminine plural pronoun, there are several alternatives depending on the context and the level of formality. For instance, if you want to be more specific, you might use as mesmas (the same ones/the aforementioned) in legal or formal writing to avoid repetition. If you are addressing a group of women directly, you would use vocês (you all) rather than elas. In very formal or literary contexts, vós might appear, though it is virtually extinct in spoken Brazilian Portuguese and rare in Portugal. Another alternative is to use the specific noun again, such as as mulheres (the women) or as jovens (the young women), to provide more clarity. In the context of objects, you might use demonstrative pronouns like estas (these) or aquelas (those) instead of elas. It is also worth noting the direct object pronoun as and the indirect object pronoun lhes, which are related to elas but function differently in the sentence structure. Understanding the relationship between elas and these other terms is crucial for developing a nuanced command of Portuguese.

Elas vs. Eles: 'Elas' is for females/feminine nouns; 'Eles' is for males/masculine nouns or mixed groups.
Elas vs. Vocês: 'Elas' is 'they' (talking about them); 'Vocês' is 'you all' (talking to them).

Não use 'elas' para falar COM as pessoas; use vocês.

How Formal Is It?

Wusstest du?

The transition from Latin to Portuguese involved the loss of the initial 'i' and the stabilization of the 'e' as the primary vowel for the pronoun.

Aussprachehilfe

UK /ˈɛ.lɐʃ/

US /ˈɛ.las/

The stress is on the first syllable: E-las.

Reimt sich auf

belas telas velas janelas estrelas fivelas sequelas parcelas

Häufige Fehler

Pronouncing the 'e' as a closed sound like 'ay' in 'say'. It should be open.
In Brazil, sometimes pronouncing the final 's' as 'sh' (this is regional, common in Rio).
Failing to pronounce the final 's' at all.
Stressing the second syllable.
Pronouncing it like the English name 'Ella'.

Schwierigkeitsgrad

Lesen 1/5

Very easy to recognize in text.

Schreiben 2/5

Requires remembering gender agreement for adjectives.

Sprechen 2/5

Need to distinguish from 'eles' quickly in conversation.

Hören 1/5

Distinct sound, easy to pick up.

Was du als Nächstes lernen solltest

Voraussetzungen

ela ele eles ser estar

Als Nächstes lernen

nós vocês seu/sua meu/minha nosso/nossa

Fortgeschritten

as (clitic) lhes consigo mesmas

Wichtige Grammatik

Gender Agreement

Elas são altas.

Masculine Collective

Maria e João -> Eles (not elas).

Prepositional Contraction

De + elas = delas.

Direct Object (Formal)

Eu as vi (not Eu vi elas).

Subject-Verb Agreement

Elas comem (3rd person plural).

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Beispiele nach Niveau

Elas são amigas.

They are friends.

Subject pronoun + verb 'ser' in 3rd person plural.

Elas moram em Braga.

They live in Braga.

Subject pronoun + verb 'morar'.

Onde estão elas?

Where are they?

Interrogative sentence with 'elas' at the end.

Elas têm dois gatos.

They have two cats.

Verb 'ter' in 3rd person plural.

Elas são brasileiras.

They are Brazilian.

Adjective agreement (feminine plural).

As chaves? Elas estão aqui.

The keys? They are here.

'Elas' replacing the feminine plural noun 'chaves'.

Elas gostam de chocolate.

They like chocolate.

Verb 'gostar' + preposition 'de'.

Elas falam português.

They speak Portuguese.

Present tense of 'falar'.

Eu vou ao cinema com elas.

I am going to the cinema with them.

'Elas' as an object of the preposition 'com'.

Elas estão muito cansadas hoje.

They are very tired today.

Adjective 'cansadas' agreeing with 'elas'.

Este livro é para elas.

This book is for them.

'Elas' as an object of the preposition 'para'.

Elas chegaram tarde ontem.

They arrived late yesterday.

Preterite tense of 'chegar'.

As janelas estão sujas; elas precisam de limpeza.

The windows are dirty; they need cleaning.

'Elas' referring to 'janelas'.

Elas não querem comer agora.

They don't want to eat now.

Negative sentence with 'querer'.

Eu vi as fotos e elas são lindas.

I saw the photos and they are beautiful.

Agreement with 'fotos' (feminine plural).

Elas viajam todas as semanas.

They travel every week.

Present tense indicating habit.

Elas disseram que viriam à festa.

They said they would come to the party.

Reported speech with conditional 'viriam'.

Embora estivessem doentes, elas foram trabalhar.

Although they were sick, they went to work.

Concessive clause with imperfect subjunctive.

Elas se conhecem desde a infância.

They have known each other since childhood.

Reflexive/Reciprocal pronoun 'se'.

As decisões foram tomadas por elas.

The decisions were made by them.

Passive voice with 'por elas'.

Elas esperam que tudo corra bem.

They hope that everything goes well.

Subjunctive mood after 'esperar que'.

Se elas tivessem tempo, ajudariam.

If they had time, they would help.

Conditional sentence (Type 2).

Elas costumam ler antes de dormir.

They usually read before sleeping.

Verb 'costumar' + infinitive.

Vi as meninas e falei com elas.

I saw the girls and spoke with them.

Prepositional object 'com elas'.

Elas, cujas ideias foram inovadoras, ganharam o prêmio.

They, whose ideas were innovative, won the prize.

Relative pronoun 'cujas' referring to 'elas'.

É fundamental que elas participem do debate.

It is fundamental that they participate in the debate.

Impersonal expression + subjunctive.

Elas se viram obrigadas a cancelar o evento.

They found themselves forced to cancel the event.

Reflexive construction with past participle agreement.

Apesar das dificuldades, elas mantiveram a calma.

Despite the difficulties, they remained calm.

Prepositional phrase + preterite of 'manter'.

Elas mesmas resolveram o problema técnico.

They themselves solved the technical problem.

Emphatic pronoun 'mesmas'.

Não creio que elas tenham chegado ainda.

I don't believe they have arrived yet.

Present perfect subjunctive.

Elas dedicam-se inteiramente à pesquisa científica.

They dedicate themselves entirely to scientific research.

Pronominal verb with 'se' and 'à' (crase).

As propostas, elas as analisaram com cuidado.

The proposals, they analyzed them with care.

Pleonastic use of 'elas' and 'as' for emphasis.

Elas, em sua infinita paciência, aguardaram o momento certo.

They, in their infinite patience, waited for the right moment.

Appositive phrase with possessive 'sua'.

Dificilmente elas aceitariam tais condições impostas.

They would hardly accept such imposed conditions.

Adverbial placement and conditional mood.

Elas representam a vanguarda do pensamento contemporâneo.

They represent the vanguard of contemporary thought.

High-level vocabulary and abstract subject.

Por mais que tentassem, elas não conseguiram convencê-lo.

No matter how much they tried, they couldn't convince him.

Concessive structure 'Por mais que' + subjunctive.

Elas insurgiram-se contra as injustiças sociais.

They rose up against social injustices.

Pronominal verb 'insurgir-se'.

As sombras alongavam-se enquanto elas caminhavam pelo vale.

The shadows lengthened as they walked through the valley.

Literary description with imperfect tense.

Elas primam pela excelência em tudo o que fazem.

They strive for excellence in everything they do.

Verb 'primar' + preposition 'pela'.

Caso elas venham, avise-me imediatamente.

In case they come, let me know immediately.

Conditional conjunction 'Caso' + subjunctive.

Elas, as parcas, tecem o destino dos mortais.

They, the Fates, weave the destiny of mortals.

Mythological reference and apposition.

Oxalá elas encontrem a paz que tanto almejam.

May they find the peace they so desire.

Archaic 'Oxalá' + subjunctive.

Elas são a personificação da resiliência humana.

They are the personification of human resilience.

Metaphorical usage.

Não obstante sua relutância, elas acabaram por ceder.

Notwithstanding their reluctance, they eventually gave in.

Formal conjunction 'Não obstante'.

Elas imbuíram-se de um espírito de renovação.

They imbued themselves with a spirit of renewal.

Reflexive verb 'imbuir-se' with preposition 'de'.

Haja o que houver, elas permanecerão unidas.

Whatever happens, they will remain united.

Idiomatic 'Haja o que houver'.

Elas, cujas vozes ecoam através dos séculos, não serão esquecidas.

They, whose voices echo through the centuries, will not be forgotten.

Poetic relative clause.

Elas desdobraram-se em esforços para mitigar a crise.

They went to great lengths to mitigate the crisis.

Idiomatic 'desdobrar-se em esforços'.

Häufige Kollokationen

entre elas

todas elas

só elas

com elas

para elas

elas mesmas

cada uma delas

algumas delas

muitas delas

sem elas

Häufige Phrasen

Elas por elas

— An idiomatic expression meaning things are even or it's a wash.

Eu te devia dez, você me devia dez; ficou elas por elas.

São elas

— Used to identify a group of women or things.

Quem são aquelas mulheres? São elas.

É com elas

— It's up to them (referring to women).

A decisão final é com elas.

Tudo por elas

— Everything for them (often used in a romantic or dedicated context).

Ele faz tudo por elas (suas filhas).

Por causa delas

— Because of them.

Chegamos tarde por causa delas.

Longe delas

— Far from them.

Mantenha-se longe delas.

Perto delas

— Near them.

Eu me sinto bem perto delas.

Atrás delas

— Behind them.

O cachorro correu atrás delas.

Além delas

— Besides them / Beyond them.

Além delas, ninguém mais veio.

Antes delas

— Before them.

Nós chegamos antes delas.

Wird oft verwechselt mit

Elas vs eles

Eles is for males or mixed groups; Elas is strictly for females.

Elas vs ela

Ela is singular (she); Elas is plural (they).

Elas vs elas por elas

This is an idiom, not just the pronoun.

Redewendungen & Ausdrücke

"Ficar elas por elas"

— To be even; to result in a draw where no one owes anything.

No final, as contas ficaram elas por elas.

informal

"Elas que lutem"

— A modern Brazilian slang meaning 'let them deal with it' or 'it's their problem'.

Eu já fiz a minha parte, agora elas que lutem.

slang

"São elas!"

— An exclamation used to praise a group of women for doing something great.

Viram o show? São elas!

informal

"Contar com elas"

— To rely on them.

Pode contar com elas para o projeto.

neutral

"Dar por elas"

— To notice them (common in Portugal).

Nem dei por elas entrarem na sala.

neutral

"Falar por elas"

— To speak on their behalf.

Eu não posso falar por elas.

neutral

"Vê-las e desejá-las"

— To see something and want it immediately (often used for objects).

Aquelas joias são de vê-las e desejá-las.

literary

"Saber delas"

— To have news about them.

Você tem sabido delas ultimamente?

informal

"Passar por elas"

— To go through difficult situations (figurative).

Elas já passaram por muitas.

informal

"Estar por elas"

— To be in favor of them.

Eu estou sempre por elas.

informal

Leicht verwechselbar

Elas vs eles

Both mean 'they'.

Eles is masculine/mixed; Elas is feminine.

Eles (boys) vs Elas (girls).

Elas vs ela

Singular vs Plural.

Ela is one person; Elas is two or more.

Ela (she) vs Elas (they).

Elas vs as

Both refer to feminine plural.

'As' is an article or object pronoun; 'Elas' is a subject pronoun.

As meninas (The girls) vs Elas (They).

Elas vs vocês

Both are plural pronouns.

'Vocês' is 'you all'; 'Elas' is 'they'.

Vocês são (You all are) vs Elas são (They are).

Elas vs estas

Both refer to feminine plural.

'Estas' means 'these' (demonstrative); 'Elas' means 'they'.

Estas chaves (These keys) vs Elas (They).

Satzmuster

Elas são [adjective].

Elas são felizes.

Elas têm [noun].

Elas têm livros.

Eu vou com elas para [place].

Eu vou com elas para a praia.

Elas disseram que [verb].

Elas disseram que vêm.

Elas mesmas [verb].

Elas mesmas decidiram.

Por mais que elas [subjunctive]...

Por mais que elas tentem...

Elas, cujas [noun]...

Elas, cujas obras são famosas...

Oxalá elas [subjunctive]...

Oxalá elas consigam.

Wortfamilie

Verwandt

ela (singular)

eles (masculine plural)

ele (masculine singular)

as (direct object pronoun)

lhes (indirect object pronoun)

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So verwendest du es

frequency

Extremely frequent, essential for basic communication.

Häufige Fehler

Using 'eles' for a group of women. → Elas são médicas.
In Portuguese, you must use the feminine pronoun for feminine subjects.
Elas são bonito. → Elas são bonitas.
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the pronoun.
Using 'elas' for a mixed group. → Eles (Maria e José) foram.
A mixed group always takes the masculine plural pronoun.
Eu vi elas (in a formal essay). → Eu as vi.
In formal writing, 'elas' cannot be a direct object; use the clitic 'as'.
Elas estão cansado. → Elas estão cansadas.
Even in compound tenses or with 'estar', agreement is mandatory.

Tipps

Agreement is Key

Whenever you use 'elas', scan your sentence for adjectives. They must all end in '-as' to match the pronoun.

Respect the Group

Using 'elas' correctly shows you are paying attention to the gender of the people you are talking about.

The Open E

Train your ear to hear the open 'E' (/ɛ/). If it sounds closed (/e/), it's likely 'eles' or 'ele'.

Avoid Repetition

Use 'elas' to replace long lists of female names to make your writing flow better.

Object Pronouns

If you want to sound more native in Portugal, try using 'as' instead of 'elas' after a verb.

Object Gender

Remember that 'elas' isn't just for people. If it's a 'feminine' thing in Portuguese, it's an 'elas' in the plural.

Regional Accents

Don't be surprised if the 's' in 'elas' sounds like 'sh' in Lisbon or Rio; it's perfectly normal.

The One Man Rule

It might seem unfair, but 100 women + 1 man = 'eles'. Keep this rule in mind for exams!

Contractions

Learn 'delas' (of them) and 'nelas' (in them) early on, as they are very common.

Daily Replacement

Look at groups of female friends or items like 'as chaves' and say 'elas' to yourself to build the habit.

Einprägen

Eselsbrücke

Think of 'Ella' (the name) and add an 's' for plural. Ella + s = Elas (They).

Visuelle Assoziation

Imagine a group of girls wearing shirts with a giant letter 'E' on them, standing together.

Word Web

ela elas elas mesmas com elas para elas delas aquelas estas

Herausforderung

Try to describe three feminine objects in your room using only the word 'elas' and an adjective.

Wortherkunft

The word 'elas' originates from the Latin 'illae', which is the nominative feminine plural of 'ille' (that one). Over centuries, the Latin 'illae' evolved through Vulgar Latin into the Old Portuguese 'elas'.

Ursprüngliche Bedeutung: In Latin, it meant 'those women' or 'those things'.

Indo-European > Italic > Romance > Western Romance > Galician-Portuguese.

Kultureller Kontext

Be mindful of the 'masculine collective' rule; while traditional, some modern audiences prefer more inclusive language.

English speakers often struggle with 'elas' because 'they' is gender-neutral. It requires a mental shift to always categorize 'they' by gender.

Elas por Elas (A famous Brazilian soap opera) Música: 'Elas gostam de gasolina' (A popular funk song) Livro: 'As Meninas' by Lygia Fagundes Telles (where 'elas' is the constant subject)

Im Alltag üben

Kontexte aus dem Alltag

Family

Minhas irmãs? Elas estão bem.
Elas vêm jantar.
Falei com elas.
Elas são legais.

Work

Elas terminaram o relatório.
A reunião é com elas.
Elas são as chefas.
Elas trabalham muito.

Objects

As chaves? Elas sumiram.
As cadeiras? Elas são novas.
Elas estão quebradas.
Onde elas estão?

Friends

Elas vão à festa.
Sempre saio com elas.
Elas são engraçadas.
Gosto muito delas.

School

Elas estudam na minha sala.
Elas tiraram notas boas.
Elas são inteligentes.
Fiz o trabalho com elas.

Gesprächseinstiege

"Você sabe onde elas foram?"

"O que você acha que elas vão dizer sobre isso?"

"Você já falou com elas hoje?"

"Elas são de onde?"

"Você gosta de trabalhar com elas?"

Tagebuch-Impulse

Descreva suas melhores amigas e o que elas gostam de fazer.

Pense em três coisas femininas no seu quarto e descreva como elas são.

Escreva sobre uma viagem que você fez com um grupo de mulheres e o que elas acharam.

Como seria o mundo se elas (as mulheres) governassem tudo?

Descreva as flores do seu jardim e como elas mudam com as estações.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

10 Fragen

No, according to traditional Portuguese grammar, you must use 'eles' if there is at least one male in the group.

Yes, if the objects are feminine nouns (e.g., 'as cadeiras', 'as mesas'), you use 'elas' to refer to them.

The 'e' is open like in 'egg', and the 's' is usually a standard 's' sound, unless you are in Rio where it sounds like 'sh'.

'Delas' is a contraction of 'de' (of/from) + 'elas', meaning 'of them' or 'theirs'.

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, yes ('Eu vi elas'). In formal Portuguese and in Portugal, you should use 'as' ('Eu as vi').

No, 'elas' remains the same, but you might use 'as senhoras' to be more formal and respectful.

Some people use 'elu' or 'elxs' in modern, inclusive contexts, but 'elas' remains the standard feminine plural.

It's an idiom meaning 'it's a wash' or 'we are even'. It doesn't literally mean 'they for they'.

Yes, adjectives must agree in gender and number. 'Elas são bonitas' is correct.

Yes, it is used exactly the same way as in Brazil, though the pronunciation of the final 's' is always 'sh'.

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