Understanding definite and indefinite articles in Brazilian Portuguese
In Brazilian Portuguese, like in many languages, articles are used to indicate whether a noun is specific or general. Articles are words like “the” or “a“ in English, and they help clarify whether we’re talking about a particular item or any item of that kind.
There are two types of articles in Brazilian Portuguese: definite articles and indefinite articles. Let’s explore both in detail.
Definite Articles
Definite articles are used when referring to a specific noun that is known to both the speaker and the listener. In Brazilian Portuguese, the definite articles are:
- O (the, masculine singular)
- A (the, feminine singular)
- Os (the, masculine plural)
- As (the, feminine plural)
Examples:
- O carro (the car)
- A casa (the house)
- Os livros (the books)
- As flores (the flowers)
When using definite articles, you are specifying which item you are talking about, and the listener usually knows or can assume which one it is.
Example:
Eu vi o gato. (I saw the cat.) – The use of “o” specifies that we are talking about a specific cat, perhaps one that both the speaker and listener know.
Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles are used when referring to a noun that is not specific or when the speaker is talking about any instance of that noun. The indefinite articles in Brazilian Portuguese are:
- Um (a, an, masculine singular)
- Uma (a, an, feminine singular)
- Uns (some, masculine plural)
- Umas (some, feminine plural)
Examples:
- Um livro (a book) – Here, “um” indicates that it is any book, not a specific one.
- Uma maçã (an apple) – “Uma” shows that it is just any apple.
- Uns amigos (some friends) – “Uns” means any group of friends, not a particular group.
- Umas crianças (some children) – “Umas” refers to a few children, not a specific group.
See that UNS and UMAS are usually translated as “some“
Example:
Eu quero uma maçã. (I want an apple.) – The use of “uma” indicates that the speaker is asking for any apple, not a specific one.
When Use Articles
a. Using Articles to Specify or Generalize
When choosing between definite and indefinite articles, think about whether you want to be specific or general. Use definite articles (o, a, os, as) when you are referring to a specific item that is known to both you and the listener. Use indefinite articles (um, uma, uns, umas) when you are talking about any item of that type.
Examples:
Definite Article: Eu vou ler o livro. (I will read the book.) – Refers to a specific book that both the speaker and listener know.
Indefinite Article: Eu vou ler um livro. (I will read a book.) – Refers to any book, not a specific one.
b. Use of Articles to Convey Specificity
Sometimes, using an article in Portuguese indicates that you are talking about a specific instance of a noun, even if the noun itself is general. For example:
Gosto de café. (I like coffee.) – No article is used; this is a general statement about coffee.
Gosto do café daqui. (I like the coffee here.) – “Do” is a contraction of “de” + “o,” which makes it specific to the coffee from a particular place.
Tips
- Combining Articles with Prepositions: Articles in Portuguese often combine with prepositions. For example:
- De + o = do (of the)
- Em + a = na (in the)
Eu gosto de banana
Eu gosto da banana brasileira (de + a)