A2 Pronouns 10 min read Easy

Portuguese Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her (me, te, o, a)

Direct object pronouns (me, te, o, a) replace the 'receiver' of an action to make speech natural.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Direct object pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition, usually placed directly before the conjugated verb.

  • Use 'me' for 'me' and 'te' for 'you' (informal). Example: 'Ele me ama' (He loves me).
  • Use 'o/a' for 'him/her/it'. Example: 'Eu a vejo' (I see her).
  • In Brazil, pronouns often come before the verb; in Portugal, they often follow with a hyphen.
Subject + (Pronoun) + Verb

Overview

Portuguese direct object pronouns—me, te, o, a, nos, vos, os, as—serve a crucial role in grammatical efficiency and clarity. They replace nouns or noun phrases that directly receive the action of a verb, preventing repetition and streamlining communication. In English, these correspond to words like 'me,' 'you,' 'him,' 'her,' 'it,' 'us,' 'them.' Understanding their function is fundamental to sounding natural in Portuguese, as their consistent use is a hallmark of native speech.

For instance, instead of repeating o livro (the book) in Eu li o livro, e achei o livro interessante (I read the book, and found the book interesting), you would say Eu o li, e o achei interessante (I read it, and found it interesting). This substitution is not merely stylistic; it is a core grammatical expectation.

These pronouns are also essential for distinguishing between formal and informal address. While me and nos are invariable, te (you, informal singular), vos (you, informal plural, primarily European Portuguese), and o/a/os/as (him/her/it/them, and formal you) vary by gender and number. The gender and number of the direct object pronoun must always agree with the noun it replaces.

For example, if you are referring to o carro (the car, masculine singular), you use o. If it's a casa (the house, feminine singular), you use a. This agreement is a foundational principle of Portuguese grammar that extends beyond pronouns.

How This Grammar Works

Direct object pronouns directly receive the action performed by the verb. To identify a direct object, ask 'What?' or 'Whom?' after the verb. For example, in Eu vi Maria (I saw Maria), you ask Vi quem? (Saw whom?), and the answer is Maria, which is the direct object.
If Maria is replaced by a pronoun, it becomes Eu a vi (I saw her). The placement of these pronouns relative to the verb is one of the most distinctive features differentiating Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP).
In Brazilian Portuguese, the preferred and most common placement for object pronouns is proclisis, meaning before the verb. This is often influenced by factors such as negation, adverbs, or conjunctions that attract the pronoun to the pre-verbal position. For instance, Eu te amo (I love you) is standard.
Even when there are no explicit 'attractors,' proclisis is the default in BP, making sentences flow more colloquially and intuitively for speakers. This simplifies the rhythm of spoken language, minimizing the complex phonetic adjustments sometimes required by enclisis.
Conversely, in European Portuguese, the default placement is enclisis, where the pronoun is placed after the verb and connected by a hyphen. For example, Amo-te (I love you). While proclisis can occur in EP under certain grammatical conditions (e.g., with negation like Não te amo), enclisis is the unmarked choice for affirmative sentences.
This reflects a more conservative grammatical structure compared to BP. The use of a hyphen is mandatory to visually and phonetically link the pronoun to the verb, often resulting in specific sound changes or spelling modifications to the verb ending.
Consider the sentence Ele comprou o livro (He bought the book). To replace o livro: Ele o comprou (BP) or Ele comprou-o (EP). The core function remains identical—the pronoun o refers to o livro and directly receives the action of comprar (to buy).
The choice of placement is primarily a regional and stylistic convention, rather than a functional distinction, though it significantly impacts perceived formality and authenticity within each dialect.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming sentences with direct object pronouns involves a clear sequence of steps, prioritizing identification of the object and agreement with its characteristics. This process ensures grammatical correctness and natural flow within the sentence structure. The pronouns are chosen based on the gender and number of the noun they replace, and their placement depends on the Portuguese variant you are using.
2
1. Identify the Direct Object: First, determine the noun or noun phrase that receives the verb's action. Ask 'What?' or 'Whom?' after the verb.
3
Eu comprei o carro. (I bought the car.) - o carro is the direct object.
4
Ele viu a Maria. (He saw Maria.) - a Maria is the direct object.
5
2. Determine Gender and Number: Assess whether the direct object is masculine or feminine, and singular or plural. This dictates the specific pronoun to be used.
6
3. Choose the Correct Pronoun: Select from the following:
7
| Pronoun | English Equivalent | Gender/Number | Formal/Informal | Example Replacement |
8
| :------ | :----------------- | :------------ | :-------------- | :------------------ |
9
| me | me | invariable | - | Eu me vejo. (I see myself.) |
10
| te | you | invariable | informal sing. | Eu te ajudo. (I help you.) |
11
| o | him, it, you | masc. singular | formal sing. | Eu o vi. (I saw him/it/you.) |
12
| a | her, it, you | fem. singular | formal sing. | Eu a vi. (I saw her/it/you.) |
13
| nos | us | invariable | - | Ele nos chamou. (He called us.) |
14
| vos | you | invariable | informal plural (EP) | Eu vos ajudo. (I help you all.) |
15
| os | them, you (pl.) | masc. plural | formal plural | Eu os vi. (I saw them/you all.) |
16
| as | them, you (pl.) | fem. plural | formal plural | Eu as vi. (I saw them/you all.) |
17
4. Place the Pronoun: This is where BP and EP diverge significantly.
18
Brazilian Portuguese (BP) - Proclisis: The pronoun generally precedes the verb.
19
Eu vi o filme. → Eu o vi. (I saw the movie. → I saw it.)
20
Eles nos chamaram. (They called us.)
21
European Portuguese (EP) - Enclisis: The pronoun generally follows the verb and is attached with a hyphen.
22
Vi o filme. → Vi-o. (I saw the movie. → I saw it.)
23
Chamaram-nos. (They called us.)
24
5. Special Forms (Enclisis with verb endings -r, -s, -z): In EP, and formally in BP (though rarely used colloquially), if the verb ends in -r, -s, or -z, these endings are dropped, and o/a/os/as transform into lo/la/los/las. The verb also gains an acute accent if not already accented.
25
comprar (to buy) + o (it) → comprá-lo
26
fazes (you do) + o (it) → fá-lo
27
fiz (I did) + o (it) → fi-lo
28
If the verb ends in a nasal sound (-ão, -õe, -em), the pronouns o/a/os/as become no/na/nos/nas.
29
põem (they put) + o (it) → põe-no
30
6. Placement with Compound Tenses and Infinitives: When you have auxiliary verbs (e.g., ter, estar, ir) followed by a main verb in the infinitive or gerund, the pronoun can often attach to either verb. The tendency varies between BP and EP.
31
BP prefers to place the pronoun before the auxiliary or between the auxiliary and the main verb:
32
Eu o vou comprar. OR Eu vou o comprar. (I am going to buy it.)
33
EP often attaches it to the main verb (infinitive/gerund) or the auxiliary:
34
Vou comprá-lo. OR Vou-o comprar. (I am going to buy it.)
35
Estou a lê-lo. (I am reading it.)
36
These nuances highlight the fluidity of pronoun placement and the importance of exposure to native speech.

When To Use It

Direct object pronouns are indispensable for achieving naturalness and avoiding redundancy in Portuguese, functioning much like their English counterparts. Their primary purpose is to refer back to a previously mentioned noun or a noun understood from context, thus creating more concise and fluid sentences. Mastering their use signifies a significant step towards intermediate proficiency.
One of the most frequent applications is avoiding repetition of the direct object. Instead of Eu comprei a pizza e depois comi a pizza (I bought the pizza and then ate the pizza), you use the pronoun a (feminine singular, agreeing with a pizza) to say Eu comprei a pizza e depois a comi (BP) or Eu comprei a pizza e depois comi-a (EP). This principle applies universally, from casual text messages to formal written reports.
Direct object pronouns are also crucial for clarity and efficiency in questions and answers. If someone asks Você viu o meu telefone? (Did you see my phone?), a succinct answer using the pronoun is Sim, eu o vi (Yes, I saw it - BP) or Sim, vi-o (Yes, I saw it - EP). This not only saves words but also demonstrates grammatical competence.
In formal contexts, particularly in writing and more formal speech (especially in EP), the use of o, a, os, as to represent formal 'you' (singular and plural) is paramount. When addressing a superior or in professional communication, Você o chamou? (Did you call him/it/formal you?) or Você a viu? (Did you see her/it/formal you?) maintains appropriate respect and formality. In BP, while o/a are grammatically correct for formal 'you,' many speakers informally use the subject pronoun ele/ela as an object, which is grammatically less precise but colloquially prevalent.
Consider modern communication. In a WhatsApp message, if a friend sends a picture and asks Gostas da foto? (Do you like the photo?), you would likely reply Sim, gosto dela (BP, using de + ela which functions as an indirect object pronoun, replacing da foto) or Sim, gosto dela (EP, less common for direct object in this structure) or more often with Sim, gostei muito avoiding the pronoun entirely. For verbs taking a direct object, such as ver (to see), mandar (to send), or ler (to read):
  • Social Media: Eu adorei a tua nova foto! (I loved your new photo!) → Eu a adorei! (BP) / Adorei-a! (EP). (I loved it!)
  • Work Email: Recebeste o documento? (Did you receive the document?) → Sim, o recebi. (BP) / Sim, recebi-o. (EP). (Yes, I received it.)
  • Casual Conversation: Viste o João? (Did you see João?) → Sim, o vi no café. (BP) / Sim, vi-o no café. (EP). (Yes, I saw him at the café.)
These examples demonstrate how direct object pronouns are woven into the fabric of everyday Portuguese, enabling concise and native-sounding expression across various communication channels.

Common Mistakes

Learners of Portuguese, particularly those whose native language does not have strict pronoun-verb agreement or placement rules, frequently encounter several pitfalls when using direct object pronouns. Addressing these common errors is crucial for developing accurate and fluent communication.
1. Using Subject Pronouns as Objects: This is perhaps the most widespread error, especially among BP learners. Instead of using o or a as direct objects, learners might incorrectly use ele (he) or ela (she).
  • Incorrect: Eu vi ele na rua. (I saw he on the street.)
  • Correct: Eu o vi na rua. (BP) / Vi-o na rua. (EP) (I saw him on the street.)
While this error is pervasive in informal spoken BP, it is grammatically incorrect and considered highly informal. In formal BP and all contexts in EP, it is a significant grammatical deviation, akin to saying

Direct Object Pronouns

Person Pronoun English
1st Sing
me
me
2nd Sing
te
you (inf)
3rd Sing (M)
o
him/it
3rd Sing (F)
a
her/it

Meanings

Direct object pronouns replace the direct object of a sentence, which is the person or thing receiving the action of the verb.

1

First Person Singular

Refers to the speaker.

“Ele me viu.”

“Você me entende?”

2

Second Person Singular (Informal)

Refers to the person being addressed.

“Eu te amo.”

“Eu te chamo mais tarde.”

3

Third Person Singular (Masculine)

Refers to him or it (masculine).

“Eu o conheço.”

“Eu o vi no parque.”

4

Third Person Singular (Feminine)

Refers to her or it (feminine).

“Eu a vi.”

“Eu a conheço.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her (me, te, o, a)
Type Structure Example
Affirmative
Subj + Pron + Verb
Eu o vejo
Negative
Subj + Não + Pron + Verb
Eu não o vejo
Question
Subj + Pron + Verb?
Você me ama?
Infinitive
Verb + Pron
Quero vê-lo
Gerund
Verb + Pron
Estou vendo-o

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Eu o vejo.

Eu o vejo. (Daily conversation)

Neutral
Eu vejo ele.

Eu vejo ele. (Daily conversation)

Informal
Eu vejo ele.

Eu vejo ele. (Daily conversation)

Slang
Tô vendo ele.

Tô vendo ele. (Daily conversation)

Pronoun Mapping

Direct Object

Singular

  • me me
  • te you
  • o him
  • a her
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Eu o vejo.

I see him.

2

Ela me ama.

She loves me.

3

Você me entende?

Do you understand me?

4

Eu a quero.

I want it.

1

Eu não o conheço.

I don't know him.

2

Ele te chama.

He calls you.

3

Nós a compramos.

We bought it.

4

Você me viu?

Did you see me?

1

Eu gostaria de o convidar.

I would like to invite him.

2

Ela sempre me ajuda.

She always helps me.

3

Não o vi na festa.

I didn't see him at the party.

4

Eles a encontraram.

They found it.

1

Quem o viu, não o esquece.

Whoever saw him, doesn't forget him.

2

Se eu a visse, falaria.

If I saw her, I would speak.

3

Ele prometeu me ajudar.

He promised to help me.

4

Não a vi, mas a ouvi.

I didn't see her, but I heard her.

1

Dá-me um abraço.

Give me a hug.

2

Vê-lo-ei amanhã.

I will see him tomorrow.

3

Não a tendo visto, saí.

Not having seen her, I left.

4

Onde o puseste?

Where did you put it?

1

Conhecê-lo-ia se pudesse.

I would know him if I could.

2

Fê-lo com cuidado.

He did it carefully.

3

Não a vi, nem a verei.

I didn't see her, nor will I see her.

4

Onde o guardaste?

Where did you keep it?

Easily Confused

Portuguese Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her (me, te, o, a) vs Direct vs Indirect

Learners mix up 'o/a' (direct) and 'lhe' (indirect).

Portuguese Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her (me, te, o, a) vs Subject vs Object

Learners use 'ele/ela' as objects.

Portuguese Object Pronouns: me, you, him, her (me, te, o, a) vs BP vs EP placement

Learners don't know where to put the pronoun.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu vejo ele

✓

Eu o vejo

Using subject pronoun instead of object.
✗

Eu o não vejo

✓

Eu não o vejo

Wrong placement of negation.
✗

Eu vejo o

✓

Eu o vejo

Wrong order in BP.
✗

Eu a vejo ele

✓

Eu o vejo

Double object pronoun.
✗

Eu vejo a

✓

Eu a vejo

Placement error.
✗

Ele me vê-lo

✓

Ele me vê

Redundant pronoun.
✗

Eu te vi ele

✓

Eu o vi

Mixing pronouns.
✗

Eu lhe vejo

✓

Eu o vejo

Using indirect for direct.
✗

Vejo-o ele

✓

Vejo-o

Redundancy.
✗

Não vejo-o

✓

Não o vejo

Placement in negative.
✗

Vê-lo-ei

✓

Vê-lo-ei

Correct, but rare.
✗

Não o vi-o

✓

Não o vi

Redundancy.
✗

Vi-o ele

✓

Vi-o

Redundancy.
✗

O vi

✓

Vi-o

Placement in EP.

Sentence Patterns

Eu ___ vejo.

Eu não ___ conheço.

Você ___ viu?

Eu gostaria de ___ convidar.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Te vejo lá!

Job Interview common

Eu o conheço bem.

Ordering Food common

Eu a quero.

Social Media very common

Te amo!

Travel occasional

Eu o vi no mapa.

Legal Document rare

Fê-lo conforme a lei.

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

Placement

In Brazil, put the pronoun before the verb.
⚠️

Avoid Redundancy

Don't use 'o' and 'ele' together.
🎯

Listen to Music

Listen to MPB to hear how they use pronouns.
💬

Regionalism

Expect to hear 'ele' instead of 'o' in Brazil.

Smart Tips

Replace the noun with the correct pronoun.

Eu vejo o carro. Eu gosto do carro. → Eu vejo o carro. Eu gosto dele.

Place the pronoun before the verb.

Vejo-o. → Eu o vejo.

Place the pronoun after the verb with a hyphen.

Eu o vejo. → Vejo-o.

Put 'não' before the pronoun.

Eu o não vejo. → Eu não o vejo.

Pronunciation

me (meh), te (teh)

Clitic reduction

Pronouns are often unstressed and blend into the verb.

Rising

Você me ama? ↑

Questioning tone

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Me, Te, O, A — these are the ones that lead the way.

Visual Association

Imagine a mirror. 'Me' is looking at myself, 'Te' is looking at you, 'O/A' is looking at someone else.

Rhyme

For objects direct, use these with respect: me, te, o, a, keep them in check.

Story

I saw a cat (o gato). I fed the cat. I saw a dog (a cadela). I fed the dog. Instead of repeating, I say: 'Eu o vi, eu o alimentei. Eu a vi, eu a alimentei.'

Word Web

meteoanosvososas

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your daily routine using at least one direct object pronoun in each.

Cultural Notes

Proclisis is standard. Using 'ele/ela' as an object is very common in speech.

Enclisis is standard. Using 'o/a' is strictly required.

Varies, but generally follows European Portuguese standards.

These pronouns evolved from Latin accusative forms.

Conversation Starters

“

Você me entende?

“

Você o conhece?

“

Você a viu ontem?

“

Você me ajudaria?

Journal Prompts

Describe your best friend using object pronouns.
Write about a movie you saw recently.
How do you handle difficult situations?
Reflect on a past relationship.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Direct object pronoun.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Correct word order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu vejo ele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Use object pronoun.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Correct order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I see her.

Answer starts with: Eu ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu a vejo
Correct pronoun.
Match the pronoun. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Eu (o) vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Correct pronoun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você me ama? B: Sim, eu ___ amo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Correct pronoun.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Eu ___ vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Direct object pronoun.
Choose the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Correct word order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu vejo ele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Use object pronoun.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

o / vejo / Eu

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vejo
Correct order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I see her.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu a vejo
Correct pronoun.
Match the pronoun. Match Pairs

me -> ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
1st person.
Conjugate. Conjugation Drill

Eu (o) vejo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Correct pronoun.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você me ama? B: Sim, eu ___ amo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Correct pronoun.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank (Informal Brazilian) Fill in the Blank

Eu ___ amo, meu amigo!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Find the error Error Correction

Maria me convidou, mas eu não vi ela.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Maria me convidou, mas eu não a vi.
Put the words in order (Brazil style) Sentence Reorder

o / eu / ontem / vi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vi ontem.
Translate: I saw them (feminine). Translation

I saw them (the keys/as chaves).

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu as vi.
Which is correct in European Portuguese? Multiple Choice

Choose the EP form:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Amo-te.
Match the pronoun to its meaning Match Pairs

Match the following:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me : me, te : you (inf), o : him, a : her
Negative sentence rule Fill in the Blank

Não ___ compre agora.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: o
Translate to Portuguese Translation

He called me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me chamou.
Order the words (Formal) Sentence Reorder

ajudar / vou / o

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou o ajudar.
Feminine object check Multiple Choice

Cadê a pizza? Eu ___ comi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: a

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a common colloquialism. In formal grammar, 'Eu o vejo' is preferred.

Use 'lhe' for indirect objects, not direct ones.

Yes, 'o' is masculine, 'a' is feminine.

Yes, 'Você me ama?' works perfectly.

Use 'os' and 'as'.

Yes, they are essential for formal writing.

Yes, they make you sound natural.

Yes, they prefer 'Vejo-o'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

lo/la

Spanish has leísmo; Portuguese does not.

French high

le/la

French uses 'le' for both masculine and neutral.

German moderate

ihn/sie

German changes articles, not just pronouns.

Japanese low

o (particle)

Japanese doesn't use pronouns as much.

Arabic moderate

suffixes

Arabic uses suffixes exclusively.

Chinese low

ta

Chinese has no gendered pronouns.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
Direct Object Pronouns: Me, Te, O/A (The Shortcut Words)

Related Grammar Rules

C1

Formal Indirect Pronouns: Using 'lhe' like a Pro

Overview At the C1 level of Portuguese, fluency transitions from simply communicating to communicating with precision,...
A1

Portuguese Subject Pronouns: Eu, Você, and the Magic of 'A Gente'

Overview Portuguese, like many Romance languages, operates on a **pro-drop** principle, meaning subject pronouns are fre...
B1

To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)

Overview Portuguese indirect object pronouns, specifically **lhe** (singular) and **lhes** (plural), serve a crucial rol...
C1

Portuguese Possessives: My, Your, His, Her (Meu, Teu, Seu)

Overview Portuguese possessives, both **determiners** (also known as possessive adjectives) and **pronouns**, indicate o...
B1

Portuguese Object Pronouns: Enclisis (The Hyphenated Form)

Overview In Portuguese, object pronouns—the words for "me," "him," "her," and "us" that receive a verb's action—don't h...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!