To Him & To Her: Indirect Pronouns (lhe, lhes)
lhe and lhes to replace indirect objects (to someone), making your Portuguese sound more fluent and sophisticated.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'lhe' to replace 'a ele' or 'a ela' when someone is the recipient of an action.
- Use 'lhe' for singular recipients (to him/her): Eu lhe dei um presente.
- Use 'lhes' for plural recipients (to them): Eu lhes contei a verdade.
- Lhe/lhes are gender-neutral; they work for both men and women.
Overview
Portuguese indirect object pronouns, specifically lhe (singular) and lhes (plural), serve a crucial role in enhancing sentence clarity and conciseness. These pronouns replace noun phrases that function as indirect objects, typically indicating the recipient or beneficiary of an action. They stand in for expressions such as a ele (to him), a ela (to her), a você (to you, formal singular), a eles (to them, masculine/mixed plural), a elas (to them, feminine plural), and a vocês (to you all, formal plural).
By substituting these longer phrases, lhe and lhes prevent repetition and streamline sentence structure, making communication more fluid and natural.
The existence of these pronouns is deeply rooted in the Latin origins of Portuguese, where the dative case marked the indirect object. Modern Portuguese retains this distinction through dedicated pronominal forms, distinguishing them from direct object pronouns and reinforcing a fundamental syntactic pattern. Understanding lhe and lhes is vital not only for grammatical correctness but also for comprehending the nuanced flow of native speech and writing, particularly as their usage patterns can vary between European Portuguese (EP) and Brazilian Portuguese (BP).
How This Grammar Works
a (to) or sometimes para (for), connecting it to the verb. When you say, "I gave the book to him," to him is the indirect object.lhe and lhes are specifically designed to replace these prepositional indirect object phrases.dar (to give). If you give something (o quê? – direct object), you give it to someone (a quem? – indirect object). For instance, Eu dei o livro a Maria (I gave the book to Maria).a Maria is the indirect object. To avoid repeating a Maria, you substitute it with lhe: Eu lhe dei o livro (I gave her the book). This substitution principle applies universally to verbs that govern an indirect object.Lhe can refer to ele (him), ela (her), or você (formal singular 'you'). Similarly, lhes covers eles (them, masculine), elas (them, feminine), and vocês (formal plural 'you all').Eu escrevi uma carta a ele (I wrote a letter to him) becomes Eu lhe escrevi uma carta. Likewise, Eu escrevi uma carta a ela (I wrote a letter to her) also becomes Eu lhe escrevi uma carta.Formation Pattern
lhe and lhes involves correctly identifying the indirect object in the sentence and then applying specific rules for pronoun selection and placement. The process can be broken down into clear steps:
a or para that answer a quem? (to whom?) or para quem? (for whom?).
Ela enviou um email ao professor. (She sent an email to the professor.) – ao professor is the indirect object.
Nós contamos a história aos nossos amigos. (We told the story to our friends.) – aos nossos amigos is the indirect object.
a ele, a ela, a você).
a eles, a elas, a vocês).
lhe or lhes relative to the verb is a key differentiator between EP and BP, and it also depends on sentence structure and negation.
Eu lhe dei o presente. (I gave him/her the gift.)
Nós lhes explicamos a situação. (We explained the situation to them.)
Eu dei-lhe o presente. (I gave him/her the gift.)
Nós explicámos-lhes a situação. (We explained the situation to them.)
não, nunca, jamais, ninguém, etc.) precedes the verb, the pronoun must precede the verb (proclisis) in both varieties.
Eu não lhe dei o presente. (I did not give him/her the gift.)
Eles nunca lhes perdoaram. (They never forgave them.)
Vou lhe dar o livro. OR Vou dar-lhe o livro. (Less common, but grammatically acceptable)
Vou dar-lhe o livro.
Estou lhe explicando. OR Estou explicando-lhe. (Less common, but grammatically acceptable)
Estou explicando-lhe.
Dar-lhe-ei o livro amanhã. (I will give him/her the book tomorrow.)
Dir-lhe-ia a verdade se soubesse. (I would tell him/her the truth if I knew.)
pronoun + verb (proclisis) | verb + pronoun (enclisis) |
negative + pronoun + verb | negative + pronoun + verb |
pronoun + auxiliary + main verb OR auxiliary + main verb + pronoun | auxiliary + main verb + pronoun |
verb stem + pronoun + ending (mesoclisis) |
When To Use It
- 1Conciseness and Elegance: The primary functional benefit is sentence economy. Instead of reiterating lengthy indirect object phrases, a single pronoun maintains clarity efficiently.
- Compare:
Vou telefonar para o meu amigo João.(I will call my friend João.) vs.Vou lhe telefonar.(I will call him.)
- 1Formal and Written Communication: In both BP and EP,
lhe/lhesare the standard in formal writing such as official documents, academic texts, journalism, and formal emails. Their use adds a level of sophistication and adherence to grammatical norms. In BP, while less common in informal speech,lhe/lhesare frequently encountered in media, literature, and professional settings.
O gerente lhe enviará os documentos por email.(The manager will send you the documents by email.)
- 1European Portuguese Speech: In EP,
lhe/lhesare integral to everyday spoken language, even in informal contexts. Their consistent use is a hallmark of natural EP communication.
Posso perguntar-lhe uma coisa?(Can I ask you something? – EP)
- 1Verbs Requiring an Indirect Object: Many common Portuguese verbs inherently take an indirect object, often implicitly or explicitly introduced by
a. Usinglhe/lheswith these verbs is natural and grammatically expected.
- Common verbs:
dar(to give),dizer(to say/tell),contar(to tell),perguntar(to ask),telefonar(to phone),obedecer(to obey),acreditar(to believe),desejar(to wish),oferecer(to offer),pagar(to pay),responder(to answer),sorrir(to smile),faltar(to lack). Ela lhe contou o segredo.(She told him/her the secret.)O médico lhes receitou um remédio.(The doctor prescribed a medicine to them.)
- 1Possessive Sense (Advanced Usage): In certain constructions,
lhecan convey a possessive meaning, replacingseu/sua(his/her/your) when referring to body parts or personal items that belong to the indirect object. This is more common in EP and formal BP.
Lavei-lhe as mãos.(I washed his/her hands. – Literally, 'I washed the hands to him/her.')Cortei-lhe o cabelo.(I cut his/her hair.)
Common Mistakes
lhe and lhes, primarily due to confusion with direct object pronouns and varying regional usage patterns. Recognizing these pitfalls is crucial for accurate application.- 1Confusing Direct and Indirect Objects: This is by far the most prevalent error.
Lhe/lhesonly replace indirect objects (a quem?,para quem?). They never replace direct objects (o quê?). Direct object pronouns areo,a,os,as.
- Incorrect:
Eu lhe vi ontem no mercado.(I saw him/her yesterday at the market.) – Here,him/heris the direct object ofver(to see). - Correct:
Eu o/a vi ontem no mercado.(I saw him/her yesterday at the market.) - Incorrect:
Vou lhes convidar para a festa.(I'm going to invite them to the party.) –convidartakes a direct object. - Correct:
Vou os/as convidar para a festa.(I'm going to invite them to the party.) - Why it happens: In English,
Indirect Object Pronouns
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
|
me
|
nos
|
|
2nd
|
te
|
vos
|
|
3rd
|
lhe
|
lhes
|
Meanings
The pronouns 'lhe' and 'lhes' function as indirect object pronouns, replacing prepositional phrases starting with 'a' (to).
Indirect Object
Replacing 'a ele', 'a ela', 'a você', 'a eles', 'a elas', 'a vocês'.
“Eu lhe entreguei o livro.”
“Ela lhes deu as chaves.”
Possessive replacement
Used to indicate possession of a body part or personal item.
“Beijei-lhe a mão.”
“O medo roubou-lhe a coragem.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + Verb
|
Eu lhe dou.
|
|
Negative
|
Não + Pronoun + Verb
|
Eu não lhe dou.
|
|
Question
|
Pronoun + Verb?
|
Você lhe deu?
|
|
Formal
|
Verb + Pronoun (enclitic)
|
Dei-lhe o livro.
|
|
Plural
|
Lhes + Verb
|
Eu lhes falei.
|
|
Possessive
|
Verb + lhe + noun
|
Beijei-lhe a mão.
|
Formality Spectrum
Entreguei-lhe o livro. (Giving a book)
Eu lhe entreguei o livro. (Giving a book)
Eu entreguei o livro para ele. (Giving a book)
Dei o livro pra ele. (Giving a book)
The Lhe/Lhes Map
Singular
- lhe to him/her/you
Plural
- lhes to them/you all
Direct vs Indirect
Examples by Level
Eu lhe dou um livro.
I give him/her a book.
Ela lhe fala a verdade.
She tells him/her the truth.
Eu lhe escrevo.
I write to him/her.
Nós lhe agradecemos.
We thank him/her.
Eu não lhe disse nada.
I didn't tell him/her anything.
Você lhes enviou o e-mail?
Did you send them the email?
Ela lhes deu as chaves.
She gave them the keys.
Eu lhe peço desculpas.
I apologize to him/her.
O professor lhe explicou a lição.
The teacher explained the lesson to him/her.
Eu lhes entreguei os documentos ontem.
I handed them the documents yesterday.
Ela lhe telefonou para avisar.
She called him/her to warn.
Nós lhe oferecemos uma oportunidade.
We offered him/her an opportunity.
Beijei-lhe a mão com respeito.
I kissed his/her hand with respect.
O medo roubou-lhe a esperança.
Fear stole his/her hope.
Não lhe permitirei tal comportamento.
I will not allow such behavior from him/her.
A notícia lhes causou grande surpresa.
The news caused them great surprise.
Concedeu-lhe o perdão que tanto buscava.
He granted him/her the forgiveness he/she was seeking.
Agradeço-lhe imensamente pela colaboração.
I thank you (him/her) immensely for the collaboration.
Não lhe restava outra alternativa.
There was no other alternative left for him/her.
Impôs-lhes condições severas.
He imposed severe conditions on them.
O destino reservava-lhe um futuro incerto.
Destiny reserved an uncertain future for him/her.
Aos que lhe pediram ajuda, ele respondeu prontamente.
To those who asked him for help, he responded promptly.
É-lhe devido o reconhecimento pelo trabalho.
Recognition for the work is due to him/her.
Apesar de tudo, não lhe guardo rancor.
Despite everything, I hold no grudge against him/her.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'o' and 'lhe'.
When to use which?
Singular vs Plural.
Common Mistakes
Eu lhe vi.
Eu o vi.
Eu dei o presente para ele.
Eu lhe dei o presente.
Eu lhe comprei.
Eu comprei para ele.
Eu lhes vi.
Eu os vi.
Eu lhe chamei.
Eu o chamei.
Eu lhe ajudei.
Eu o ajudei.
Eu lhe conheço.
Eu o conheço.
Eu lhe mandei um beijo.
Eu lhe mandei um beijo.
Eu lhe amo.
Eu o amo.
Eu lhe escutei.
Eu o escutei.
Eu lhe vi no mercado.
Eu o vi no mercado.
Eu lhe encontrei.
Eu o encontrei.
Eu lhe trouxe.
Eu o trouxe.
Sentence Patterns
Eu ___ dei o presente.
Eu não ___ contei a verdade.
___ entreguei os documentos ontem.
Agradeço-___ pela ajuda.
Real World Usage
Escrevo-lhe para solicitar...
Eu lhe apresento o projeto.
O autor refere-lhe que...
Já lhe disse!
Como posso lhe ajudar?
Olhou-lhe nos olhos.
The 'To' Test
Direct Object Trap
European Portuguese
Brazilian Casual
Smart Tips
Replace the 'a + person' with 'lhe'.
Use 'lhe' instead of 'para ele'.
Ask: 'To whom?' If yes, use 'lhe'.
Always use 'lhe' for indirect objects.
Pronunciation
Lhe
The 'lh' sound is like the 'lli' in 'million'.
Statement
Eu lhe dei o livro. ↘
Falling intonation for certainty.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Lhe is for the 'To' person. If you can say 'to him' or 'to her', use 'lhe'.
Visual Association
Imagine a gift box with a tag that says 'LHE'. You are handing the box to a person.
Rhyme
When you give to him or her, use 'lhe' to be sure.
Story
Maria wanted to give a flower to João. She walked up to him. She said, 'Eu lhe dou esta flor.' João smiled. She gave it to him.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences today about giving things to people using 'lhe'.
Cultural Notes
In Brazil, 'lhe' is increasingly rare in speech, replaced by 'para ele/ela'.
In Portugal, 'lhe' is used constantly and is the standard for both speech and writing.
Regardless of dialect, 'lhe' is preferred in formal documents.
Derived from the Latin 'illi' (to him/her).
Conversation Starters
O que você lhe deu de presente?
Você lhe contou o segredo?
Quem lhe enviou esta mensagem?
Você lhe pediu ajuda?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Eu ___ dei o livro.
Eu ___ vi no parque.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu lhe amo.
Eu dei o livro para ele.
Lhe is for direct objects.
A: Você falou com Maria? B: Sim, eu ___ falei.
lhe / eu / disse / a verdade
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesEu ___ dei o livro.
Eu ___ vi no parque.
Find and fix the mistake:
Eu lhe amo.
Eu dei o livro para ele.
Lhe is for direct objects.
A: Você falou com Maria? B: Sim, eu ___ falei.
lhe / eu / disse / a verdade
Dar vs Ver
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesO gerente ___ entregou os documentos. (to them)
Sempre dou-lhe flores.
não / eu / lhes / nada / perguntei
I told him the truth.
Choose the standard form:
Match correctly:
Vou ___ ligar amanhã. (to you, formal)
Which sentence is WRONG?
I sent them a message.
Ninguém deu-lhe dinheiro.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
No, 'lhe' is for people. Use 'nele/nela' for things.
No, 'lhe' works for both men and women.
It's a common regional preference for clarity and casual tone.
Yes, 'Você lhe disse?' is perfectly correct.
The plural is 'lhes'.
Only in very specific, non-standard dialects (lheísmo), but you should avoid it.
Before the verb: 'Eu não lhe disse'.
Yes, it sounds professional and formal.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
le/les
Portuguese is stricter about the direct/indirect distinction.
lui/leur
French has separate forms for singular and plural.
Dative case
German changes the article/pronoun form; Portuguese uses a fixed clitic.
ni particle
Japanese is agglutinative; Portuguese is inflectional.
Attached pronouns
Arabic is a Semitic language with different root structures.
Prepositional phrases
Chinese does not have clitic pronouns.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Videos
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