A2 Pronouns 17 min read Easy

Portuguese Indirect Pronouns: to me, to you (me, te, lhe)

Use indirect pronouns to replace 'to/for someone' and make your Portuguese sound natural, fluent, and less repetitive.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Indirect object pronouns replace the person receiving the action, usually preceded by 'a' or 'para'.

  • Use 'me' for 'to me': Ele me deu um presente (He gave a gift to me).
  • Use 'te' for 'to you' (informal): Eu te contei a verdade (I told the truth to you).
  • Use 'lhe' for 'to him/her/you (formal)': Eu lhe disse tudo (I told him/her everything).
Subject + (me/te/lhe) + Verb

Overview

Portuguese indirect object pronouns (me, te, lhe, nos, lhes) are fundamental linguistic tools that enhance sentence structure and clarity by identifying the recipient or beneficiary of a verb's action. Instead of explicitly stating lengthy prepositional phrases like "to her" or "for us," these concise pronouns integrate seamlessly into sentences, providing an elegant shortcut. Their correct application is a hallmark of fluent Portuguese, allowing you to move beyond basic, often clunky, literal translations.

Essentially, these pronouns answer the implicit questions of "to whom?" or "for whom?" an action is performed, fundamentally distinguishing them from direct object pronouns which answer "what?" or "whom?" without an intermediary preposition.

Mastering indirect object pronouns allows for greater precision in expressing interactions where an action is directed toward an entity without directly acting upon that entity. For instance, in Eu dei o livro à Maria (I gave the book to Maria), the prepositional phrase à Maria (to Maria) is the indirect object. Substituting it with the pronoun transforms the sentence into the more idiomatic Eu lhe dei o livro (I gave to her the book).

This grammatical condensation reflects a core linguistic mechanism in Portuguese, vital for constructing sophisticated sentences and sounding more like a native speaker rather than relying on cumbersome, repetitive phrasing. For A2 learners, this mastery marks a significant step towards more dynamic and authentic communication.

How This Grammar Works

Indirect object pronouns in Portuguese function by replacing nouns or pronouns that serve as the grammatical recipient of a verb's action, typically when that recipient is introduced by the preposition a (to) or para (for). This substitution eliminates redundancy and significantly improves the fluidity of speech and writing. For example, consider the sentence Eu escrevi uma carta para o meu pai (I wrote a letter for my father).
Here, para o meu pai is the indirect object. By replacing this entire phrase with the appropriate indirect object pronoun, the sentence becomes Eu lhe escrevi uma carta, where lhe clearly and efficiently indicates o meu pai as the recipient.
This mechanism is particularly prevalent with verbs that inherently describe an action involving a transfer or direction towards a beneficiary. Common examples include dar (to give), dizer (to say/tell), escrever (to write), enviar (to send), emprestar (to lend), perguntar (to ask), and responder (to answer). These verbs, by their very nature, imply a "destination" for the action, making them prime candidates for indirect object pronoun usage.
For instance, in Ele me deu o livro (He gave the book to me), me functions as the indirect object, receiving o livro (the direct object). This precise distinction between direct and indirect objects is foundational to correctly applying these pronouns.
Crucially, the placement of indirect object pronouns (known as clitic placement) exhibits significant dialectal variation between Brazilian Portuguese (BP) and European Portuguese (EP). In Brazilian Portuguese, these pronouns predominantly precede the verb (proclisis), as in Eu te falei (I spoke to you). Conversely, standard European Portuguese grammar generally places these pronouns after the verb, connected by a hyphen (ênclise), resulting in Eu falei-te.
While BP speakers almost exclusively use proclisis, EP speakers reserve proclisis for specific grammatical triggers (e.g., negative sentences, certain adverbs) and otherwise adhere to enclisis. Recognizing and consistently applying the clitic placement rules relevant to your target dialect is paramount for achieving native-like proficiency and avoiding grammatical dissonance.

Formation Pattern

1
Portuguese indirect object pronouns are invariable in gender, which simplifies their application compared to direct object pronouns. However, they do inflect for person and number, specifically substituting for phrases that use a + noun/pronoun or para + noun/pronoun to denote the recipient or beneficiary of an action.
2
Below is the complete paradigm, illustrating how each pronoun corresponds to a specific person and its typical usage across Brazilian and European Portuguese:
3
| Person | Pronoun | Replaces (Prepositional Phrase) | Example (Brazilian Portuguese) | Translation | Example (European Portuguese) | Translation |
4
| :----- | :------ | :------------------------------ | :----------------------------- | :---------- | :--------------------------- | :---------- |
5
| 1st Singular | me | a mim / para mim | Ela me ligou hoje. | She called me today. | Ela ligou-me hoje. | She called me today. |
6
| 2nd Singular (informal) | te | a ti / para ti | Eu te enviei a proposta. | I sent you the proposal. | Eu enviei-te a proposta. | I sent you the proposal. |
7
| 3rd Singular | lhe | a ele / a ela / a você / a si | Ele lhe entregou a chave. | He delivered the key to him/her/you. | Ele entregou-lhe a chave. | He delivered the key to him/her/you. |
8
| 1st Plural | nos | a nós / para nós | O chefe nos explicou o plano. | The boss explained the plan to us. | O chefe explicou-nos o plano. | The boss explained the plan to us. |
9
| 3rd Plural | lhes | a eles / a elas / a vocês / a vós | Eu lhes escrevi um relatório. | I wrote a report to them/you all. | Eu escrevi-lhes um relatório. | I wrote a report to them/you all. |
10
Observe that me, te, and nos are identical in form to their direct object pronoun counterparts. The crucial distinction in usage lies in the third-person forms: lhe (singular) and lhes (plural) are exclusively indirect. The choice between te and lhe for the second person is primarily influenced by formality and regional norms. In Brazilian Portuguese, te is widely used for the informal "you," even when the subject pronoun is você. Lhe in BP typically signals greater formality or is found in more literary or official contexts, reflecting a more distant or respectful tone. In contrast, European Portuguese maintains a stricter formal distinction: te aligns with tu, while lhe is employed for você or more formal forms like o senhor/a senhora. This means lhe is more common in everyday EP for addressing a single person formally than in everyday BP.
11
For example, to say "Can you help me?" you would typically hear Pode me ajudar? in BP, whereas in EP, the standard would be Pode ajudar-me?. Similarly, Eu lhe desejo um bom dia (I wish you a good day) employs lhe in BP for formality, but in EP, lhe is frequently used for both formal você and o senhor/a senhora in comparable constructions. Internalizing these dialectal nuances is essential for appropriate and natural communication within either Portuguese-speaking region.

When To Use It

You should employ indirect object pronouns whenever the verb's action is directed to or for a person or entity, rather than being performed directly upon them. This grammatical function is consistently indicated by the prepositions a or para preceding the noun or pronoun being replaced. The core analytical step is to identify verbs whose semantic meaning inherently implies a transfer, benefit, or destination for the action.
Consider these typical contexts and verb classifications:
  • Verbs of Communication: These verbs inherently convey information to a recipient. If you are communicating something to someone, an indirect object pronoun is almost always required.
  • dizer (to say/tell): Eu lhe disse a verdade sobre o projeto. (I told him/her/you the truth about the project.)
  • falar (to speak/talk): Ele nos falou sobre a reunião. (He spoke to us about the meeting.)
  • perguntar (to ask): Vou te perguntar qual a sua opinião. (I'm going to ask you your opinion.)
  • responder (to answer): Por favor, me responda ao e-mail até amanhã. (Please answer my email by tomorrow.)
  • escrever (to write): Ela lhes escreveu uma carta de agradecimento. (She wrote them a thank-you letter.)
  • Verbs of Giving, Sending, or Lending: Actions that involve a physical item or abstract concept being transferred to a recipient.
  • dar (to give): O museu nos deu ingressos gratuitos. (The museum gave us free tickets.)
  • enviar (to send): Você me enviou o documento errado. (You sent me the wrong document.)
  • trazer (to bring): Você poderia nos trazer os relatórios novos? (Could you bring us the new reports?)
  • emprestar (to lend): Ele me emprestou o livro por uma semana. (He lent me the book for a week.)
  • Verbs of Showing or Explaining: Presenting information or an object to someone.
  • mostrar (to show): A guia nos mostrou todos os pontos turísticos. (The guide showed us all the tourist spots.)
  • explicar (to explain): Eu lhe explico a situação detalhadamente mais tarde. (I will explain the situation to you in detail later.)
  • Verbs of Causing or Permitting: Actions that indirectly affect a person or entity by enabling or preventing something.
  • permitir (to permit): Meus pais me permitiram viajar sozinha. (My parents permitted me to travel alone.)
  • mandar (to order/send): A professora lhes mandou fazer o trabalho em grupo. (The teacher ordered them to do the group work.)
The fundamental principle is to recognize the underlying structure of "verb + a/para + noun/pronoun." If you can logically insert "to" or "for" before the recipient in English, or a/para before the recipient in Portuguese, then an indirect object pronoun is the appropriate choice. Developing this analytical skill to identify implicitly indirect verbs and their valency is crucial for accurate and idiomatic pronoun usage.

Common Mistakes

Navigating indirect object pronouns can present several challenges for learners. Recognizing and addressing these common errors is key to achieving accuracy and fluency.
  • 1. Confusing Direct (o/a, os/as) with Indirect (lhe, lhes) Pronouns: This is the most prevalent and significant error. Learners frequently use direct object pronouns when an indirect one is grammatically required. The distinction lies in the verb's relationship with its object:
  • Direct Object Pronouns (o/a, os/as) replace nouns that are the direct target of the verb, answering "what?" or "whom?" without an intervening preposition. Example: Eu vi o João. (I saw João.) -> Eu o vi. (I saw him.)
  • Indirect Object Pronouns (lhe, lhes) replace nouns that are the recipient or beneficiary of the action, answering "to whom?" or "for whom??" and always replacing objects introduced by a or para. Example: Eu dei o livro ao João. (I gave the book to João.) -> Eu lhe dei o livro. (I gave him the book.)
The error occurs when the recipient is treated as a direct object:
  • ✗ Incorrect: Eu o dei o livro. (Using o to mean "to him")
  • ✓ Correct: Eu lhe dei o livro. (Using lhe to mean "to him")
  • Explanation: The verb dar (to give) requires two objects: a direct object (what is given, o livro) and an indirect object (to whom it is given, lhe). Always analyze the verb's transitivity. If the verb semantically requires a or para before the person, use lhe/lhes.
  • 2. Overusing para mim/para você/para ele: While grammatically permissible in certain contexts (especially for emphasis), consistently using these full prepositional phrases where a pronoun is more idiomatic makes speech sound verbose and unnatural. Portuguese speakers prioritize conciseness.
  • ✗ Clunky: Ele comprou um presente para mim.
  • ✓ Natural: Ele me comprou um presente. (He bought me a present.)
  • Explanation: While para mim is not inherently wrong, me is the preferred and more natural option with verbs like comprar when the recipient is clear. The full prepositional phrase is typically reserved for emphasis (e.g., O presente é para mim, não para ele!) or when the pronoun is the object of a preposition that cannot be substituted by an indirect object pronoun (e.g., Isso não tem importância para mim).
  • 3. Incorrect Pronoun Placement (Clitic Placement Errors): This is a significant point of divergence between BP and EP, and misapplication leads to errors that can mark you as a non-native speaker. The placement rules are strict within each dialect.
  • Brazilian Portuguese (BP): Predominantly uses proclisis (pronoun before the verb). Starting a sentence with an enclitic pronoun (pronoun after the verb) is generally avoided. Me dá! is extremely common in informal BP, but technically incorrect by formal standards, which would prefer Dê-me!. This is a descriptive vs. prescriptive grammar point.
  • ✗ Incorrect (formally): Dá-me o livro.
  • ✓ Correct (BP, natural): Me dá o livro.
  • ✓ Correct (BP, formal/written): Dê-me o livro. or Por favor, me dê o livro. (with a trigger for proclisis)
  • European Portuguese (EP): Standard grammar dictates ênclise (pronoun after the verb, with a hyphen) unless a specific grammatical trigger necessitates proclisis.
  • ✗ Incorrect: Me emprestas o lápis?
  • ✓ Correct (EP): Emprestas-me o lápis? (Will you lend me the pencil?)
  • General Rule (both dialects): In sentences with two verbs (e.g., a modal verb + infinitive), the indirect object pronoun can often be placed before the first verb, between the two verbs, or after the second verb (depending on dialect and specific construction).
  • BP: Eu te quero falar. / Eu quero te falar. / Eu quero falar-te. (The last is less common in BP)
  • EP: Eu quero falar-te. / Eu te quero falar. (The latter is possible with certain triggers)
  • Important: Negative sentences, certain adverbs (já, sempre, nunca), interrogative pronouns (quem, que), and relative pronouns (que, quem) typically trigger proclisis in both dialects. Não lhe disse nada. (I didn't tell him/her anything.)
  • 4. Mixing Formality Levels: Inconsistency in addressing someone can sound awkward. If you start a conversation using você and lhe for formality, maintain that. Switching to tu and te intermittently will create dissonance.
  • ✗ Inconsistent: (To a professor) Gostaria de lhe perguntar, mas você pode me ajudar?
  • ✓ Consistent: Gostaria de lhe perguntar, e poderia me ajudar? (Maintaining lhe for formality, or using consistent você with me.)
  • Explanation: Choose your level of formality (tu/te vs. você/lhe) and stick to it throughout a conversation with the same person to avoid sounding erratic or disrespectful.
By carefully analyzing verb transitivity, understanding the nuances of pronoun placement for your target dialect, and maintaining consistent formality, you can avoid these common errors and use Portuguese indirect object pronouns effectively.

Real Conversations

Understanding indirect object pronouns in theory is one thing; observing their fluid application in authentic, modern Portuguese conversations is another. Native speakers frequently employ these pronouns in contexts ranging from casual texting to professional emails, often demonstrating deviations from strict prescriptive grammar, particularly in informal Brazilian Portuguese.

- Texting/Social Media (Brazilian Portuguese): In highly informal contexts, you'll see a strong preference for proclisis and often the use of te even when você is the understood subject, along with pra + pronoun for emphasis or clarity.

- Me fala onde você tá! (Tell me where you are! - Instead of Fala-me)

- Amanhã te mando os prints. (Tomorrow I'll send you the screenshots. - Very common)

- Achei um meme e te marquei. (I found a meme and tagged you. - Te as indirect object with marcar)

- Isso é pra mim? (Is this for me? - Using the full phrase for clarity/emphasis).

- Work Emails/Formal Communication (Brazilian Portuguese): While less rigid than European Portuguese, formal BP still adheres more closely to standard grammar, especially regarding lhe for formal address and proper clitic placement where triggers exist.

- Encaminho-lhe o documento solicitado. (I am forwarding you the requested document. - Enclisis is still used in very formal BP for certain verbs or constructions, though proclisis with lhe is also common: Lhe encaminho...)

- Agradeço por ter me avisado. (I appreciate you having informed me. - Proclisis after ter in compound tenses is standard.)

- A equipe nos informou sobre o progresso. (The team informed us about the progress.)

- European Portuguese (General Conversation): In EP, enclisis is the default for pronoun placement, and the distinction between te (for tu) and lhe (for você/o senhor/a senhora) is generally maintained, even in casual settings.

- Podes emprestar-me a caneta? (Can you lend me the pen?)

- Digo-lhe que não é assim. (I tell you that it's not like that. - Addressing formally with você or o senhor)

- O João contou-nos uma história engraçada. (João told us a funny story.)

- Não te posso ajudar agora. (I cannot help you now. - Não triggers proclisis.)

It is important to note that while prescriptive grammar dictates certain forms, descriptive grammar acknowledges the evolution of spoken language. In informal Brazilian Portuguese, for example, the use of te and proclisis is so pervasive that it often overrides traditional rules. However, for A2 learners aiming for broad comprehension and the ability to adapt to different registers, understanding the standard rules and common deviations is key. Cultivating an ear for these differences will greatly enhance your listening comprehension and help you choose appropriate forms in various social contexts.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Can lhe be used for both male and female recipients?
  • A: Yes, lhe is gender-neutral. It works for "to him," "to her," and formal "to you" (singular). Similarly, lhes is gender-neutral for plural recipients.
  • Q: What if a verb can take both a direct and an indirect object pronoun?
  • A: When both objects are pronouns, Portuguese places the indirect object pronoun (me, te, lhe, nos, lhes) before the direct object pronoun (o, a, os, as). For example, Eu lho dei. (I gave it to him/her/you), where lho is a contraction of lhe + o (it). This is an advanced topic often introduced at higher levels, but it's good to be aware of its existence.
  • Q: Does lhe or lhes change form when combined with prepositions em or a?
  • A: No, lhe and lhes do not combine with prepositions in the same way direct object pronouns (o, a) do to form no, na, ao, à. The indirect object pronouns replace the prepositional phrase a + noun/pronoun, so they inherently already contain that relational information.
  • Q: Is it ever okay to use para mim instead of me?
  • A: Yes, primarily for emphasis or clarity, especially when contrasting recipients. For instance, Você deu o livro para ele, não para mim. (You gave the book to him, not to me.) In most other cases where the verb normally takes an indirect object, me is more natural.
  • Q: How does lhe compare to a você?
  • A: Lhe is the pronoun that substitutes for a você (or a ele/a ela). Using lhe makes your sentence more concise and idiomatic, avoiding the repetition of the full prepositional phrase. For instance, Eu falei a você vs. Eu lhe falei. (I spoke to you.)
  • Q: What about verbs that change meaning with or without a/para?
  • A: Some verbs can be both transitive direct and transitive indirect, sometimes with a shift in meaning. For example, chamar alguém (to call someone by name) vs. chamar a alguém (to call to someone, to summon). Paying attention to these subtle semantic shifts is crucial, though often a point of focus for intermediate learners. For A2, focus on the most common verbs that clearly take an indirect object.
  • Q: Why do I sometimes hear te in Brazilian Portuguese even with você?
  • A: This is a pervasive characteristic of informal Brazilian Portuguese. Despite você being a third-person pronoun (which would logically pair with lhe), te is widely used as the informal indirect object pronoun for "you" in spoken BP. It reflects a descriptive reality of the language, even if it deviates from prescriptive grammar.

Indirect Pronoun Table

Person Pronoun Meaning
1st Sing
me
to me
2nd Sing
te
to you (informal)
3rd Sing
lhe
to him/her/you (formal)
1st Plur
nos
to us
2nd Plur
vos
to you (plural)
3rd Plur
lhes
to them/you (plural)

Meanings

These pronouns represent the indirect object of a sentence, indicating the person to whom an action is directed.

1

Recipient

Indicating the person receiving an object or message.

“Ele me deu o livro.”

“Eu te mandei o e-mail.”

2

Beneficiary

Indicating someone for whom an action is performed.

“Eu lhe fiz um favor.”

“Você me comprou um café?”

3

Formal Address

Using 'lhe' to address someone formally in European Portuguese.

“Como lhe posso ajudar?”

“Lhe agradeço a atenção.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Portuguese Indirect Pronouns: to me, to you (me, te, lhe)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Pronoun + Verb
Ele me deu.
Negative
Não + Pronoun + Verb
Ele não me deu.
Question
Pronoun + Verb + ?
Me deu o livro?
Formal
Verb + Pronoun (PT-EU)
Deu-lhe o livro.
Informal
Pronoun + Verb (PT-BR)
Lhe deu o livro.
Compound
Pronoun + Verb + Verb
Ele me vai dar.
Imperative
Verb + Pronoun
Dê-me o livro.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Entreguei-lhe o livro.

Entreguei-lhe o livro. (Returning a book)

Neutral
Eu lhe entreguei o livro.

Eu lhe entreguei o livro. (Returning a book)

Informal
Eu entreguei o livro para ele.

Eu entreguei o livro para ele. (Returning a book)

Slang
Dei o livro pra ele.

Dei o livro pra ele. (Returning a book)

Indirect Object Flow

Action

Recipient

  • me to me
  • te to you
  • lhe to him/her
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Examples by Level

1

Ele me deu um presente.

He gave me a gift.

2

Eu te amo.

I love you.

3

Ela me disse oi.

She said hi to me.

4

Você me ajuda?

Can you help me?

1

Eu lhe enviei o e-mail.

I sent him the email.

2

Ele não me contou a verdade.

He didn't tell me the truth.

3

Eu te comprei um café.

I bought you a coffee.

4

Ela lhe deu o livro.

She gave him the book.

1

Pode me passar o sal, por favor?

Can you pass me the salt, please?

2

Eu lhe agradeço pela ajuda.

I thank you for the help.

3

Ele me prometeu que viria.

He promised me he would come.

4

Eu te expliquei a lição.

I explained the lesson to you.

1

Eu lhe teria dito a verdade se pudesse.

I would have told you the truth if I could.

2

Não me venha com desculpas.

Don't come to me with excuses.

3

Ela lhe entregou os documentos ontem.

She handed him the documents yesterday.

4

Eu te desejo toda a felicidade do mundo.

I wish you all the happiness in the world.

1

Lhe convém aceitar a proposta.

It suits you to accept the proposal.

2

Ele me pareceu um pouco confuso.

He seemed a bit confused to me.

3

Eu lhe asseguro que tudo ficará bem.

I assure you that everything will be fine.

4

Não me cabe julgar suas escolhas.

It is not for me to judge your choices.

1

Lhe é devido um pedido de desculpas.

An apology is owed to you.

2

Nada me apraz mais do que ler.

Nothing pleases me more than reading.

3

Eu lhe confesso que não esperava por isso.

I confess to you that I didn't expect this.

4

O sucesso lhe subiu à cabeça.

Success went to his head.

Easily Confused

Portuguese Indirect Pronouns: to me, to you (me, te, lhe) vs Direct vs Indirect

Learners mix up 'o' and 'lhe'.

Portuguese Indirect Pronouns: to me, to you (me, te, lhe) vs Proclisis vs Enclisis

Placement of the pronoun.

Portuguese Indirect Pronouns: to me, to you (me, te, lhe) vs Reflexive vs Indirect

Both use 'me'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Eu dei o presente para eu.

✓

Ele me deu o presente.

Use pronouns, not prepositional phrases.
✗

Me deu o livro.

✓

Ele me deu o livro.

Don't start sentences with pronouns in formal writing.
✗

Eu te dei o livro para você.

✓

Eu te dei o livro.

Redundant usage.
✗

Eu lhe vi.

✓

Eu o vi.

Lhe is indirect, o is direct.
✗

Eu lhe comprei.

✓

Eu lhe comprei um presente.

Comprar needs an object.
✗

Ele não lhe viu.

✓

Ele não o viu.

Ver is a direct object verb.
✗

Dê-lhe o livro para ele.

✓

Dê-lhe o livro.

Redundancy.
✗

Eu lhe mandei a carta para ela.

✓

Eu lhe mandei a carta.

Redundancy.
✗

Lhe vi ontem.

✓

Eu o vi ontem.

Direct object error.
✗

Ele me deu a mim.

✓

Ele me deu.

Redundancy.
✗

Lhe é um bom amigo.

✓

Ele é um bom amigo para você.

Lhe is not a subject.
✗

Eu lhe conheço.

✓

Eu o conheço.

Conhecer is direct.
✗

Dê-me a mim.

✓

Dê-me.

Redundancy.

Sentence Patterns

Ele ___ deu um presente.

Eu ___ contei a verdade.

Você ___ pode ajudar?

Não ___ diga isso!

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Te mando a foto.

Ordering food very common

Me traz um suco?

Job interview common

Lhe agradeço a oportunidade.

Social media common

Te sigo de volta!

Travel occasional

Pode me indicar um hotel?

Email common

Lhe escrevo para confirmar.

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💡

The 'Para' Test

If you can replace the person with 'para ele/ela', use 'lhe'.
⚠️

Direct vs Indirect

Don't use 'lhe' for direct objects like 'ver' or 'conhecer'.
🎯

Placement

In Brazil, keep it before the verb for a natural sound.
💬

Regionalism

In Portugal, 'Dei-lhe' is standard; in Brazil, 'Lhe dei' is common.

Smart Tips

Use 'lhe' instead of 'para ele'.

Eu dei o livro para ele. → Eu lhe dei o livro.

If the verb is 'dar' or 'dizer', it's almost always indirect.

Eu disse o segredo para ele. → Eu lhe disse o segredo.

Avoid starting sentences with pronouns.

Me diga a verdade. → Diga-me a verdade.

Use 'te' for 'you'.

Eu ajudo você. → Eu te ajudo.

Pronunciation

mee, tee, lyee

Vowel reduction

The 'e' in 'me', 'te', 'lhe' is often pronounced as 'i' in Brazil.

Proclisis

Eu ↗me ↘disse.

Standard declarative.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Me, Te, Lhe: The 'Recipient Trio'. Remember: 'Me' is me, 'Te' is you, 'Lhe' is him/her.

Visual Association

Imagine a gift being passed. You are the receiver (me), your friend is the receiver (te), and a third person is the receiver (lhe).

Rhyme

Para mim, uso 'me', para ti, uso 'te', para ele, uso 'lhe', é fácil, você vê!

Story

Maria wanted to give a gift. She gave 'me' a flower. She gave 'te' a card. She gave 'lhe' a book. Everyone was happy.

Word Web

metelhenoslhesdardizerenviar

Challenge

Write 3 sentences today using 'me', 'te', and 'lhe' to describe your day.

Cultural Notes

In Brazil, 'lhe' is often used for direct objects in speech, even if technically incorrect.

Portugal strictly uses 'lhe' for indirect objects and prefers enclisis (verb-pronoun).

Usage is similar to Portugal but with local variations in formality.

Derived from Latin dative case pronouns.

Conversation Starters

“

O que você me recomenda?

“

Você me pode ajudar?

“

Quem lhe contou isso?

“

O que te faz feliz?

Journal Prompts

Write about a gift you received.
Write about a time you helped a friend.
Describe a conversation you had recently.
Explain a piece of advice you were given.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Ele ___ deu um presente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Indirect object needed.
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

Eu ___ contei a verdade.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Indirect object needed.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lhe vi ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vi ontem.
Ver is direct.
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: Ele me deu um presente.
Standard order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

He told me.

Answer starts with: Ele...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me disse.
Standard indirect.
Match the pronoun to meaning. Match Pairs

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

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to me, to you, to him
Correct mapping.
Conjugate the pronoun. Conjugation Drill

Eu (to him) dou o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Indirect object.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você me ajuda? B: Sim, eu ___ ajudo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Addressing the speaker.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Ele ___ deu um presente.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me
Indirect object needed.
Choose the correct pronoun. Multiple Choice

Eu ___ contei a verdade.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Indirect object needed.
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Eu lhe vi ontem.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu o vi ontem.
Ver is direct.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

deu / me / ele / presente / um

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me deu um presente.
Standard order.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

He told me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me disse.
Standard indirect.
Match the pronoun to meaning. Match Pairs

me, te, lhe

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: to me, to you, to him
Correct mapping.
Conjugate the pronoun. Conjugation Drill

Eu (to him) dou o livro.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhe
Indirect object.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Você me ajuda? B: Sim, eu ___ ajudo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: te
Addressing the speaker.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank (to us). Fill in the Blank

Eles ___ contaram o segredo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: nos
Pick the formal version of 'I say to you'. Multiple Choice

How do you say 'I say to you' (formal)?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu lhe digo.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

He told me the truth.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ele me disse a verdade.
Order the words correctly. Sentence Reorder

mandei / Eu / o / te / link

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu te mandei o link.
Match the pronoun to its English meaning. Match Pairs

Match these pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: me:to me, te:to you, lhe:to him, nos:to us
Fix the pronoun usage. Error Correction

Eu o enviei um e-mail para ele.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu lhe lhe enviei um e-mail.
Fill in the blank (to them). Fill in the Blank

O professor ___ explicou a matéria.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: lhes
Which is more common in Brazil? Multiple Choice

Identify the common Brazilian placement:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me diga a verdade.
Translate to Portuguese. Translation

I'll give you (informal) a discount.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vou te dar um desconto.
Correct the pronoun. Error Correction

Eu nos mostrei a foto.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Eu lhe mostrei a foto.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

In Brazil, yes, in speech. In formal writing, no.

Before the verb in Brazil, after in Portugal.

'Me' is an object pronoun, 'mim' follows prepositions.

No, 'te' is informal.

Use 'nos'.

Yes, in formal contexts.

Because it can mean him, her, or formal you.

You can place the pronoun before the first or after the second.

Scaffolded Practice

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4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

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Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

me, te, le

Portuguese is stricter about indirect vs direct.

French moderate

me, te, lui

French placement is more rigid.

German partial

mir, dir, ihm

German changes the article/pronoun form entirely.

Japanese low

ni

Portuguese uses pronouns, Japanese uses post-positional particles.

Arabic low

Suffixes

Portuguese uses separate words.

Chinese none

Prepositional phrases

Chinese has no pronoun conjugation.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Direct Object Pronouns: Me, Te, O/A (The Shortcut Words)
Next
Portuguese Pronouns: Using 'A gente' for We/Us

Learn These First

A1 Requires

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...

Continue With

A2 Requires

Portuguese Pronouns: Using 'A gente' for We/Us

Overview In Portuguese, particularly in Brazil, the collective pronoun `a gente` serves as the predominant informal subs...
B1 Requires

Direct vs Indirect Objects (o/a vs lhe)

Overview Mastering object pronouns in Portuguese is fundamental for fluent and natural communication. These grammatical...
B1 Builds On

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

Overview Portuguese indirect object pronouns, specifically **lhe** (singular) and **lhes** (plural), serve a crucial rol...
B2 Requires

Portuguese Pronoun Fusions: mo, to, lho

Overview Portuguese is renowned for its conciseness, particularly in its pronoun system. At the B2 CEFR level, understan...
C1 Builds On

Formal Indirect Pronouns: Using 'lhe' like a Pro

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

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...
A2

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

Overview Portuguese direct object pronouns—`me`, `te`, `o`, `a`, `nos`, `vos`, `os`, `as`—serve a crucial role in gramma...
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