lhes

The Portuguese word lhes is a third-person plural indirect object pronoun. In the intricate tapestry of Portuguese grammar, it serves a specific and vital function: it replaces the indirect object of a sentence when that object refers to 'them' (masculine or feminine) or the formal 'you' (plural, as in vocês or os senhores/as senhoras). Understanding lhes is a significant milestone for learners moving from the basic A1 level into the more nuanced A2 and B1 levels, as it marks the transition from using simple prepositional phrases to more sophisticated pronominal structures.

Grammatical Role

Indirect Object Pronoun (Pronome Oblíquo Átono). It represents the recipient of an action, usually preceded by the preposition 'a' or 'para' in its expanded form.

In everyday communication, especially in European Portuguese, lhes is frequently used to maintain flow and avoid repetition. Instead of saying 'Eu dei o livro a eles' (I gave the book to them), a speaker would say 'Eu dei-lhes o livro'. This contraction makes the language more rhythmic and efficient. However, it is important to note a major dialectal divide: while European Portuguese speakers use lhes quite naturally in speech, many Brazilian Portuguese speakers tend to favor the prepositional form 'para eles' or 'para elas' in informal conversation, reserving lhes for formal writing, literature, or formal speeches.

The versatility of lhes extends to the formal 'you'. When addressing a group of people formally (vocês/os senhores), lhes acts as the indirect object. For example, 'Eu lhes agradeço a atenção' (I thank you [all] for the attention). This usage is particularly common in business correspondence, academic settings, and official announcements. It conveys a level of respect and distance that is characteristic of formal Portuguese social dynamics.

Furthermore, lhes is gender-neutral. Unlike the direct object pronouns os and as, which must match the gender of the noun they replace, lhes remains the same whether you are referring to a group of men, a group of women, or a mixed group. This simplifies its application once you have mastered the concept of indirect objects. However, do not confuse it with the singular lhe, which is used for 'to him', 'to her', or 'to you' (singular formal).

Contextual Usage

Commonly found in literature, news reporting, and formal emails. In Brazil, it sounds very sophisticated; in Portugal, it is standard for both formal and semi-formal speech.

Historically, lhes derives from the Latin illis. Its evolution in the Romance languages has maintained its function as a dative case marker. In modern Portuguese, its placement (syntax) is governed by complex rules of clitic placement (pronominalização). Depending on the presence of certain 'attractor' words like negatives (não, nunca) or relative pronouns (que), lhes might move before the verb (proclisis) or after it (enclisis). Mastering these positions is what separates an intermediate learner from a truly proficient speaker.

Plurality

Always plural. If you are talking to or about one person, use 'lhe'. If it is more than one, 'lhes' is the correct choice.

Using lhes correctly requires an understanding of Portuguese sentence structure and verb valency. In Portuguese, verbs are categorized by the type of object they take. Verbs like dar (to give), dizer (to say/tell), perguntar (to ask), and entregar (to deliver) are transitive indirect verbs—they require a recipient. When that recipient is plural, lhes is the pronoun used to represent them without repeating their names or titles.

Placement Rule 1: Enclisis

In standard European Portuguese and formal Brazilian Portuguese, the pronoun usually follows the verb, attached by a hyphen. Example: 'Vou dar-lhes um presente' (I am going to give them a gift).

However, the placement of lhes is not always after the verb. Portuguese has a set of 'magnetic' words that pull the pronoun to a position before the verb (proclisis). These include negative words (não, nunca, jamais), relative pronouns (que, quem, qual), certain adverbs (sempre, talvez, ainda), and indefinite pronouns (alguém, tudo, nada). In these cases, the hyphen disappears, and lhes stands alone before the verb.

When dealing with compound verbs (auxiliary verb + main verb), lhes offers more flexibility. You can place it after the auxiliary verb, before the main verb, or attached to the end of the infinitive or gerund. For example, 'Eu quero lhes dizer' or 'Eu quero dizer-lhes' are both grammatically acceptable, though the latter is more common in Portugal and the former is more common in Brazil.

Placement Rule 2: Proclisis

Use proclisis when the sentence starts with a question word or a negative. Example: 'Por que lhes pediste isso?' (Why did you ask them that?).

One of the most complex aspects of lhes is its combination with direct object pronouns (o, a, os, as). In very formal or literary Portuguese, these pronouns can merge. For instance, lhes + o becomes lho (singular masculine) or lhos (plural masculine). While 'Eu lhos dei' (I gave them to them) is technically correct, it is extremely rare in modern spoken Portuguese and even in most contemporary writing. Most speakers would opt for 'Eu dei-os a eles' to avoid the archaic-sounding contraction.

When using lhes with the imperative mood (commands), the placement depends on whether the command is affirmative or negative. For affirmative commands, the pronoun follows the verb: 'Digam-lhes a verdade!' (Tell them the truth!). For negative commands, the pronoun precedes the verb: 'Não lhes digam nada!' (Don't tell them anything!). This distinction is crucial for maintaining grammatical accuracy in imperative sentences.

The 'Para' Alternative

In informal contexts, especially in Brazil, 'lhes' is often replaced by 'para eles' or 'para elas'. Example: 'Eu falei para eles' instead of 'Eu lhes falei'.

Finally, remember that lhes is never used as the subject of a sentence. It can only function as the object. If you want to say 'They gave me a gift', you must use the subject pronoun eles: 'Eles deram-me um presente'. Mixing up subject and object pronouns is a common error for beginners, but distinguishing them is key to reaching the A2/B1 proficiency level.

The frequency and naturalness of lhes vary significantly across the Lusophone world. If you are in Lisbon, Porto, or Luanda, you will hear lhes in everyday conversations, from a waiter asking a group 'Posso trazer-lhes o menu?' (Can I bring you the menu?) to friends discussing a third party. In these regions, the use of unstressed object pronouns (clitics) is a fundamental part of the spoken rhythm.

European Portuguese Context

Standard in all registers. Used in shops, restaurants, and between friends. It is essential for sounding like a native speaker in Portugal.

In Brazil, the situation is more complex. Brazilian Portuguese has undergone a process of 'depronominalization' in its spoken form. This means that pronouns like lhe and lhes have largely been replaced by prepositional phrases (para você, para eles) or even by direct object pronouns in non-standard speech. If you use lhes in a casual Brazilian bar, you might sound overly formal or like a character from a 19th-century novel. However, if you are watching the news (Jornal Nacional), listening to a political speech, or reading a high-quality newspaper like Folha de S.Paulo, lhes will appear frequently.

Literature is another realm where lhes reigns supreme. From the classical works of Machado de Assis to the modern prose of José Saramago, the use of indirect object pronouns is a tool for precision and stylistic elegance. Authors use lhes to create a specific narrative voice or to reflect the formal speech patterns of their characters. For a student, reading literature is one of the best ways to see lhes used in various syntactic positions.

Professional Settings

In business emails, 'lhes' is the gold standard for addressing clients or partners. Example: 'Encaminho-lhes os documentos em anexo' (I am forwarding the attached documents to you).

In the legal and academic world, lhes is indispensable. Legal documents, court rulings, and academic theses use lhes to maintain a formal, objective tone. For example, a judge might write, 'A sentença lhes foi favorável' (The sentence was favorable to them). In these contexts, using the informal 'para eles' would be considered unprofessional and grammatically 'weak'.

Finally, religious contexts often preserve the use of lhes. In sermons, prayers, and biblical translations, lhes is used to address the congregation or to refer to groups in a way that feels timeless and sacred. 'Jesus disse-lhes' (Jesus said to them) is a standard phrase found in almost all Portuguese Bible translations, reinforcing the pronoun's presence in the collective consciousness of speakers.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when learning Portuguese is confusing direct and indirect object pronouns. In English, 'them' serves both purposes ('I saw them' vs. 'I gave them a book'). In Portuguese, these are distinct: os/as for direct objects and lhes for indirect objects. A common mistake is saying 'Eu lhes vi' (I saw them), which is grammatically incorrect because 'ver' (to see) is a direct transitive verb. The correct form is 'Eu os vi'.

Mistake 1: Direct vs. Indirect

Using 'lhes' with verbs that don't take the preposition 'a'. Incorrect: 'Eu lhes chamei'. Correct: 'Eu os chamei' (I called them).

Another frequent pitfall is the confusion between singular and plural. Because lhe and lhes sound very similar, especially in fast speech, learners often use the singular lhe when referring to a group. Remember: if the recipient is more than one person, you must add that 's' at the end. 'Eu lhe dei' is for one person; 'Eu lhes dei' is for multiple people.

Placement errors are also rampant. Learners often default to placing the pronoun before the verb because that mirrors English word order ('I them gave' is wrong in English, but 'I gave them' puts the object after). However, in Portuguese, you cannot start a sentence with lhes. Saying 'Lhes dei o livro' is a major grammatical error in formal Portuguese. You must say 'Dei-lhes o livro' or 'Eu lhes dei o livro' (if you include the subject 'Eu').

Mistake 2: The 'Que' Trap

Forgetting that 'que' attracts the pronoun. Incorrect: 'O homem que deu-lhes o dinheiro'. Correct: 'O homem que lhes deu o dinheiro'.

In Brazil, a specific mistake occurs due to the influence of spoken language on writing. Many Brazilians use lhe/lhes as direct objects in casual speech (e.g., 'Eu lhe amo' instead of 'Eu te amo' or 'Eu a amo'). While this is common, it is technically incorrect in standard grammar (Norma Culta). As a learner, it is best to stick to the standard rules until you have a very strong grasp of regional variations.

Finally, watch out for the 'double preposition' error. Since lhes already means 'to them', you should not use the preposition 'a' or 'para' with it. Saying 'Eu dei o livro a lhes' is redundant and incorrect. The pronoun lhes incorporates the 'to' within itself. If you want to use the preposition, you must use the stressed pronoun: 'Eu dei o livro a eles'.

Mistake 3: Redundancy

Adding 'a' or 'para' before 'lhes'. Incorrect: 'Para lhes dizer a verdade...'. Correct: 'Para lhes dizer a verdade...' (Wait, 'para' here is a conjunction meaning 'in order to', which is correct. But 'Vou dar a lhes' is wrong).

To truly master lhes, you must understand its relationship with other pronouns and prepositional phrases. The most direct alternative is the prepositional phrase a eles / a elas or para eles / para elas. These are often used for emphasis or to clear up ambiguity. For example, while lhes can mean 'to them' (men) or 'to them' (women), saying 'Eu dei o livro a elas' specifically identifies the recipients as female.

Lhes vs. Os/As

'Lhes' is indirect (to them). 'Os/As' is direct (them). Use 'lhes' with verbs like 'dar' (give to). Use 'os/as' with verbs like 'ver' (see).

Another similar word is the singular form lhe. It functions exactly like lhes but refers to a single person ('to him', 'to her', or 'to you' formal). In many regions of Brazil, lhe is used much more frequently than lhes, even when the plural might be intended in a vague sense, though this is non-standard. In Portugal, the distinction is strictly maintained.

In informal Brazilian Portuguese, the pronoun vocês is often used as an object without a preposition, or with para. For example, instead of 'Eu lhes darei um desconto', a Brazilian might say 'Eu vou dar um desconto para vocês'. This is the most common spoken alternative in Brazil. In Portugal, 'lhes' remains the standard even in casual speech when referring to 'them'.

Lhes vs. Se

'Se' is reflexive (to themselves). 'Lhes' is non-reflexive (to them). Example: 'Eles lhes deram' (They gave them [others]) vs. 'Eles se deram' (They gave themselves).

For learners of Spanish, lhes is the direct equivalent of the Spanish les. However, Portuguese is much more restrictive about using lhes as a direct object. In Spanish, 'les vi' (leísmo) is accepted in some regions, but in Portuguese, 'lhes vi' is always considered a mistake. This is a crucial distinction for polyglots.

Finally, consider the pronoun vos. In northern Portugal and in very formal or religious contexts, vos is used for 'to you' (plural). While lhes is used with the third-person plural verb form (vocês/eles), vos is used with the second-person plural (vós). For most learners, lhes is much more useful, as vós is rarely used in modern speech outside of specific regions or liturgical settings.

Summary Table

- Lhes: Indirect object, plural, third person.
- Lhe: Indirect object, singular, third person.
- Os/As: Direct object, plural, third person.
- A eles/elas: Prepositional phrase, plural, third person.