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B1 noun 10 min read

os nossos

Examples os nossos in 30 Seconds
Explanation os nossos in your Level:
At the A1 level, you learn that 'os nossos' simply means 'our' for more than one masculine thing. You use it for basic items like 'os nossos livros' (our books) or 'os nossos amigos' (our friends). The most important thing to remember is that it must be plural and masculine. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet; just focus on the fact that 'os' + 'nossos' goes before the word you are talking about. It helps you talk about your family and the things you own with other people. You will see it in simple introductions like 'Estes são os nossos filhos' (These are our children). It is a building block for sharing information about your group.
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In A2, you start to see how 'os nossos' interacts with prepositions. This is where you learn that 'de + os nossos' becomes 'dos nossos' and 'em + os nossos' becomes 'nos nossos'. You might use it to describe where you live or your daily routine: 'Nós moramos nos nossos apartamentos' (We live in our apartments). You also learn that it can stand alone as a pronoun. If someone asks 'Whose are these?', you can say 'São os nossos'. This level focuses on making your sentences more fluid by using these contractions correctly in everyday conversations about work, hobbies, and travel.
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At the B1 level, you move beyond physical objects and start using 'os nossos' for abstract ideas and professional contexts. You will use it to discuss 'os nossos objetivos' (our goals), 'os nossos valores' (our values), or 'os nossos planos' (our plans). You understand the nuance of using it to create a sense of 'we' in a team or community. You also become more confident in using it in longer, more complex sentences. You might use it to express opinions: 'Na minha opinião, os nossos problemas são fáceis de resolver.' At this stage, you should rarely make mistakes with gender or number agreement, and you should be comfortable with all the prepositional contractions.
By B2, you are expected to use 'os nossos' with total precision in both formal and informal registers. You recognize that in formal writing, the definite article 'os' is almost mandatory, whereas in informal Brazilian Portuguese, it might be dropped. You can use 'os nossos' to make persuasive arguments, such as 'Devemos considerar os nossos interesses nacionais.' You also start to use emphatic structures like 'os nossos próprios' (our own) to add weight to your statements. Your listening skills are sharp enough to catch the different pronunciations across the Lusophone world, and you can adjust your own speech to sound more like a native speaker.
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At the C1 level, you explore the rhetorical and literary uses of 'os nossos.' You might encounter it in political speeches where it refers to the citizenry or a shared national identity. You understand its use in Fado or poetry to evoke nostalgia or collective destiny. You can use it subtly to establish authority or inclusivity in academic or professional presentations. You are also aware of rare or archaic variations like 'os de nós' and can interpret them in historical texts. Your command of the phrase allows you to use it in wordplay or to create specific emotional resonances in your writing and speaking.
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At the C2 level, 'os nossos' is a tool you master for stylistic perfection. You can use it in highly formal legal or diplomatic contexts where every word carries weight. You understand the historical evolution of the phrase from Latin 'nostros' and can discuss its grammatical role in the broader context of Romance languages. You can use it to mimic different dialects or historical styles of Portuguese. Whether you are writing a complex technical manual or a philosophical essay, you use 'os nossos' and its variations to create a sophisticated and nuanced narrative that perfectly balances clarity, tone, and cultural relevance.
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Examples

os nossos in 30 Seconds

  • Used for 'our' or 'ours' with masculine plural nouns.
  • Requires the definite article 'os' in most standard contexts.
  • Must agree with the object possessed, not the speaker's gender.
  • Contracts with prepositions like 'de' (dos) and 'em' (nos).

The phrase os nossos is a fundamental component of the Portuguese language, functioning as a masculine plural possessive determiner or pronoun. To an English speaker, it translates directly to 'our' or 'ours,' but with a grammatical twist that requires constant attention to gender and number agreement. In Portuguese, possessives must mirror the noun they modify, not the person who possesses the item. Therefore, os nossos is used exclusively when referring to a group of items or people that are grammatically masculine and plural.

Grammatical Agreement
In English, 'our' never changes. Whether you have one book or ten, one brother or five, it is always 'our.' In Portuguese, because 'livros' (books) and 'irmãos' (brothers) are masculine plural nouns, you must use os nossos. If the noun were feminine, like 'casas' (houses), you would change it to 'as nossas.'

Eles são os nossos melhores amigos.

Translation: They are our best friends.

People use this phrase in every conceivable context, from discussing family members (os nossos filhos) to professional assets (os nossos escritórios) and abstract concepts (os nossos sonhos). It creates a sense of collective ownership or belonging. Interestingly, the inclusion of the definite article 'os' (the) before 'nossos' is standard in most dialects of Portuguese, especially in Portugal, whereas in some Brazilian dialects, the article might be omitted in informal speech, though it remains grammatically correct to include it.

Collective Identity
Beyond mere possession, 'os nossos' is often used to refer to 'our people' or 'our kind.' In sports, fans might refer to their team simply as 'os nossos,' implying a deep cultural and emotional connection that transcends simple grammar.

Precisamos proteger os nossos.

Understanding the rhythm of 'os nossos' is key to sounding natural. The 'os' blends slightly into the 'nossos' in fast speech, often sounding like /uzˈnɔsuʃ/ in European Portuguese or /ozˈnosus/ in Brazilian Portuguese. It is a high-frequency phrase that signals the speaker is talking about something shared, reinforcing the communal nature of many Lusophone cultures.

The Masculine Default
Remember the 'masculine default' rule: if you are referring to a mixed group of male and female entities (e.g., brothers and sisters), you must use the masculine plural form 'os nossos irmãos' to cover the whole group.

Onde estão os nossos documentos?

Honramos os nossos antepassados.

Using os nossos correctly requires a two-step mental check: Is the object plural? Is the object masculine? If both are yes, this is your go-to phrase. It functions as an adjective-like determiner that sits comfortably before the noun, or as a pronoun that replaces the noun entirely when the context is already established.

Before the Noun (Determiner)
This is the most common usage. It identifies which specific masculine plural items belong to 'us'. Example: 'Os nossos carros estão no estacionamento' (Our cars are in the parking lot).

Nós amamos os nossos avós.

When using the phrase as a pronoun, it usually follows the verb 'ser' (to be). This is used to indicate possession without repeating the noun. If someone asks, 'De quem são estes livros?' (Whose books are these?), you would answer, 'São os nossos' (They are ours). Note that the definite article 'os' is almost always retained in this structure, which is a significant difference from English where we don't say 'the ours'.

With Prepositions
Example: 'Eu gosto dos nossos projetos' (I like our projects). Here, 'de' + 'os' = 'dos'. Example: 'Eu acredito nos nossos alunos' (I believe in our students). Here, 'em' + 'os' = 'nos'.

Pensamos muito nos nossos planos de viagem.

In more complex sentences, os nossos can be preceded by other adjectives, though it usually stays at the front. You would say 'Os nossos muitos problemas' (Our many problems) rather than 'Muitos os nossos problemas.' This word order reinforces the specificity of the possession before adding descriptive qualities.

Emphasis and Clarity
If you want to emphasize that something belongs to *us* and no one else, you might add 'próprios' (own). 'Os nossos próprios olhos' (Our very own eyes). This adds a layer of intensity to the statement.

Vimos o acidente com os nossos próprios olhos.

Estes são os nossos novos vizinhos.

You will encounter os nossos in almost every layer of Lusophone life. From the dinner table to the national parliament, it is the linguistic glue that defines shared experience and ownership. In Portugal, the definite article 'os' is pronounced very clearly, often sounding like a soft 'ooz' before the 'nossos'. In Brazil, it might be shortened or the 's' might have a different aspiration depending on the region (like the 'sh' sound in Rio de Janeiro).

At Home and With Family
Families use this constantly to refer to children, pets, and household items. 'Os nossos filhos já comeram?' (Have our children already eaten?). It establishes the boundary of the family unit.

Vamos levar os nossos cães ao parque.

In the business world, 'os nossos' is used to talk about clients, products, and goals. Corporate presentations are filled with phrases like 'os nossos objetivos para este trimestre' (our goals for this quarter). It projects a sense of teamwork and collective responsibility. When a CEO says 'os nossos colaboradores' (our employees/collaborators), they are using the masculine plural to refer to the entire workforce.

In Sports and Media
Sports commentators frequently use 'os nossos' to refer to the national team or the local club. 'Os nossos jogadores estão cansados' (Our players are tired). Even the news uses it: 'os nossos repórteres' (our reporters).

Apoiamos os nossos atletas em Tóquio.

In literature and music, 'os nossos' can take on a more poetic or melancholic tone. Fado lyrics might mention 'os nossos fados' (our fates/destinies) or 'os nossos passados' (our pasts). Here, the phrase moves beyond physical possession into the realm of shared emotional history. It is a powerful tool for building rapport with an audience, as it immediately includes them in the speaker's world.

Social Media and Digital Life
On platforms like Instagram or YouTube, influencers use it to talk about their community: 'Olá a todos os nossos seguidores!' (Hello to all our followers!). It creates a digital sense of 'us'.

Vejam os nossos novos vídeos no canal.

Partilhamos os nossos conhecimentos com vocês.

The most frequent errors involving os nossos usually stem from English interference or a misunderstanding of Portuguese noun gender. Because English possessives are static, learners often forget that 'nossos' must change to match the noun, not the speaker. Even if a group of women is speaking, if they are talking about their 'livros' (books), they must say os nossos livros, never 'as nossas livros'.

Gender Mismatch
Mistake: 'Os nossos casas'. Correction: 'As nossas casas'. Why: 'Casa' is feminine. You must use the feminine form 'as nossas' regardless of who owns the house.

Não diga 'os nossos cadeiras', diga as nossas cadeiras.

Another common pitfall is forgetting the definite article 'os'. While English speakers are used to saying 'our friends,' in Portuguese, the standard is 'the our friends.' Skipping the 'os' can make your speech sound slightly incomplete or overly informal in certain regions. In European Portuguese, omitting the article is quite rare and can sound unnatural.

Number Disagreement
Mistake: 'Os nossos carro'. Correction: 'O nosso carro' (singular) or 'Os nossos carros' (plural). You cannot mix a plural possessive with a singular noun or vice versa.

Confusão comum: os nossos problemas (plural) vs. o nosso problema (singular).

Contractions are also a major source of errors. When 'os nossos' follows 'de' or 'em', it must contract. Many learners say 'Gosto de os nossos amigos,' but the correct form is 'Gosto dos nossos amigos.' Failing to contract makes the sentence sound robotic and non-native.

Preposition Errors
Mistake: 'Em os nossos sonhos'. Correction: 'Nos nossos sonhos'. Mistake: 'Para os nossos filhos'. Correction: 'Pelos nossos filhos' (if using 'por'). Always check if the preposition combines with 'os'.

Nós acreditamos nos nossos projetos.

Estes são os nossos erros, vamos corrigi-los.

While os nossos is the standard way to express 'our' for masculine plural nouns, there are several alternatives and related terms that can add variety or specific nuance to your speech. Understanding these will help you navigate different registers of Portuguese, from the very formal to the slangy street talk.

Os de nós
This is a much more formal and slightly archaic way of saying 'ours.' It is rarely used in daily conversation but might appear in legal documents or older literature. It literally means 'those of us.'

Este é um dever de todos os de nós.

In some informal Brazilian contexts, speakers might use 'da gente' instead of 'nosso'. While 'nosso' is perfectly fine, 'da gente' is extremely common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese. However, 'da gente' is technically singular feminine ('gente'), so the agreement changes. You would say 'os amigos da gente' instead of 'os nossos amigos'. It sounds very friendly and down-to-earth.

Os próprios
This means 'our own.' It is used when you want to emphasize that something belongs exclusively to the group. 'São os nossos próprios termos' (They are our own terms).

Resolvemos com os nossos próprios recursos.

When contrasting 'ours' with 'yours' or 'theirs,' you might use 'os deles' (theirs) or 'os vossos' (yours - plural). In modern Brazilian Portuguese, 'os de vocês' is the standard replacement for 'os vossos'. These comparisons are vital for clarifying possession in a group setting. For example: 'Estes são os nossos lugares, aqueles são os deles' (These are our seats, those are theirs).

Os mesmos
Sometimes confused by learners, 'os mesmos' means 'the same ones.' While it doesn't indicate possession, it often appears in similar sentence structures. 'Os nossos problemas são os mesmos' (Our problems are the same ones).

Estes livros são os nossos, não os vossos.

Queremos proteger os nossos direitos.

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Examples by Level

1

Estes são os nossos livros.

These are our books.

Masculine plural agreement with 'livros'.

2

Os nossos amigos são simpáticos.

Our friends are nice.

Subject of the sentence.

3

Onde estão os nossos sapatos?

Where are our shoes?

Question form.

4

Os nossos pais moram aqui.

Our parents live here.

Refers to both parents (masculine plural default).

5

Nós amamos os nossos gatos.

We love our cats.

Direct object of the verb 'amar'.

6

Os nossos carros são azuis.

Our cars are blue.

Agreement with color adjective 'azuis'.

7

Estes cadernos são os nossos.

These notebooks are ours.

Used as a possessive pronoun.

8

Os nossos nomes são Pedro e João.

Our names are Pedro and João.

Agreement with plural 'nomes'.

1

Nós gostamos dos nossos vizinhos.

We like our neighbors.

Contraction: de + os = dos.

2

Eles moram nos nossos apartamentos.

They live in our apartments.

Contraction: em + os = nos.

3

Falamos com os nossos professores.

We spoke with our teachers.

Preposition 'com' does not contract with 'os'.

4

Os nossos dias são muito ocupados.

Our days are very busy.

Abstract noun 'dias'.

5

Precisamos dos nossos passaportes.

We need our passports.

Verb 'precisar' requires the preposition 'de'.

6

Estes lugares são os nossos?

Are these seats ours?

Pronoun usage in a question.

7

Os nossos quartos estão limpos.

Our rooms are clean.

Agreement with plural 'quartos'.

8

Compramos presentes para os nossos avós.

We bought gifts for our grandparents.

Preposition 'para' + 'os nossos'.

1

Os nossos objetivos são claros.

Our goals are clear.

Professional/Abstract context.

2

Acreditamos nos nossos sonhos.

We believe in our dreams.

Contraction 'nos' (em + os).

3

Os nossos antepassados vieram de longe.

Our ancestors came from far away.

Historical/Personal context.

4

Devemos proteger os nossos direitos.

We must protect our rights.

Political/Social context.

5

Os nossos resultados foram excelentes.

Our results were excellent.

Business context.

6

Eles são os nossos maiores apoiadores.

They are our biggest supporters.

Superlative 'maiores' between possessive and noun.

7

Partilhamos os nossos conhecimentos com a equipa.

We share our knowledge with the team.

Abstract plural noun 'conhecimentos'.

8

Os nossos planos mudaram recentemente.

Our plans changed recently.

Subject in a past tense sentence.

1

Honramos os nossos compromissos financeiros.

We honor our financial commitments.

Formal register.

2

Os nossos próprios medos nos impedem.

Our own fears stop us.

Use of 'próprios' for emphasis.

3

Lutamos pelos nossos ideais de liberdade.

We fight for our ideals of freedom.

Contraction 'pelos' (por + os).

4

Os nossos colaboradores são o nosso maior ativo.

Our employees are our greatest asset.

Corporate terminology.

5

Não podemos ignorar os nossos erros passados.

We cannot ignore our past mistakes.

Complex sentence structure.

6

Os nossos caminhos cruzaram-se por acaso.

Our paths crossed by chance.

Metaphorical usage.

7

Apresentamos os nossos mais sinceros pêsames.

We offer our most sincere condolences.

Highly formal/Social etiquette.

8

Os nossos sentidos podem nos enganar.

Our senses can deceive us.

Philosophical/Scientific context.

1

Os nossos fados estão escritos nas estrelas.

Our fates are written in the stars.

Poetic usage of 'fados'.

2

Refletimos sobre os nossos legados culturais.

We reflect on our cultural legacies.

Academic register.

3

Os nossos antepassados forjaram esta nação.

Our ancestors forged this nation.

Rhetorical/Patriotic tone.

4

Os nossos discursos devem ser coerentes.

Our speeches must be coherent.

Focus on communication and logic.

5

Analisamos os nossos comportamentos sociais.

We analyze our social behaviors.

Sociological terminology.

6

Os nossos esforços foram finalmente recompensados.

Our efforts were finally rewarded.

Passive voice construction.

7

Os nossos laços familiares são inquebráveis.

Our family ties are unbreakable.

Abstract noun 'laços'.

8

Devemos questionar os nossos próprios preconceitos.

We must question our own prejudices.

Introspective/Critical thinking.

1

Os nossos desígnios permanecem obscuros.

Our designs/intentions remain obscure.

Elevated vocabulary ('desígnios').

2

Compete-nos zelar pelos nossos interesses mútuos.

It is up to us to look after our mutual interests.

Formal legal/diplomatic structure.

3

Os nossos contemporâneos muitas vezes nos julgam.

Our contemporaries often judge us.

Sophisticated social commentary.

4

Os nossos ancestrais legaram-nos esta terra.

Our ancestors bequeathed this land to us.

Archaic/Literary verb 'legar'.

5

Os nossos pressupostos básicos foram desafiados.

Our basic assumptions were challenged.

Epistemological context.

6

Os nossos anseios de paz são universais.

Our longings for peace are universal.

Poetic/Philosophical register.

7

Os nossos escritos sobreviverão ao tempo.

Our writings will survive time.

Future tense with abstract plural.

8

Aferimos os nossos progressos com cautela.

We measure our progress with caution.

High-level verb 'aferir'.

Common Collocations

os nossos amigos
os nossos filhos
os nossos pais
os nossos objetivos
os nossos direitos
os nossos problemas
os nossos planos
os nossos vizinhos
os nossos antepassados
os nossos sentimentos

Common Phrases

Os nossos parabéns!

— Our congratulations! A standard way for a group to congratulate someone.

Os nossos parabéns pelo seu novo emprego!

Os nossos pêsames.

— Our condolences. Used to express sympathy after a death.

Aceite os nossos pêsames pela sua perda.

São os nossos.

— They are ours. A quick way to claim possession of masculine plural items.

De quem são estes casacos? São os nossos.

Entre os nossos.

— Among our own people. Refers to being in a familiar or safe group.

Aqui, estamos entre os nossos.

Os nossos melhores votos.

— Our best wishes. Common in formal letters or cards.

Enviamos os nossos melhores votos de sucesso.

Pelos nossos pecados.

— For our sins. Often used humorously to explain a minor misfortune.

A chuva caiu bem agora, pelos nossos pecados!

Os nossos caminhos.

— Our paths. Often used to talk about life journeys.

Os nossos caminhos voltaram a cruzar-se.

Todos os nossos.

— All of ours. Emphasizes the entire collection of things owned.

Todos os nossos pertences estão no camião.

Um dos nossos.

— One of our own. Refers to a person who belongs to the same group.

Ele é um dos nossos, pode confiar.

Os nossos dias.

— Our days / Nowadays. Can refer to the current era.

Nos nossos dias, a tecnologia é essencial.

Idioms & Expressions

"Lavar a roupa suja entre os nossos"

— To wash dirty laundry among ourselves. To settle private disputes within the group.

Não vamos discutir isso em público, vamos lavar a roupa suja entre os nossos.

Informal
"Defender os nossos"

— To defend our own. To protect the interests of one's family or group fiercely.

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