Uso e omissão do artigo definido
Uso e omissão do artigo definido means “when to use and when to drop the definite article (o/a/os/as)”. Portuguese uses the definite article far more than English, so you cannot translate word for word. Formation: o/a/os/as + nome (pessoa, país, parte do corpo) ; omitir com cidade, profissão predicativa, expressão fixa
when to use and when to drop the definite article (o/a/os/as)
A2Formation
o/a/os/as + nome (pessoa, país, parte do corpo) ; omitir com cidade, profissão predicativa, expressão fixa
Explanation
Portuguese uses the definite article far more than English, so you cannot translate word for word. Use the article before people's first names in Brazilian speech (a Ana, o Pedro), before most countries (o Brasil, a França, os Estados Unidos), and instead of a possessive with body parts and clothes (Lavei as mãos = 'I washed my hands'). Drop the article before most cities (Moro em São Paulo = 'I live in São Paulo'), before an unmodified profession after ser (Ele é médico = 'He is a doctor'), and in fixed expressions (em casa = 'at home'). Beware: a few countries take no article — Portugal, Angola, Cuba, Israel. Spanish is similar but not identical: Spanish says 'voy con María' with no article, while Brazilian says 'vou com a Maria' — that article before a name is a hallmark of Portuguese.
Examples
Note
Spanish speakers slip up here: Spanish uses no article before a person's name (voy con María), but in Brazil the article is normal (vou com a Maria). Also remember that Portugal and a few other countries take no article.
FAQ
Uso e omissão do artigo definido — what does it mean and how is it used?
when to use and when to drop the definite article (o/a/os/as). Portuguese uses the definite article far more than English, so you cannot translate word for word. Use the article before people's first names in Brazilian speech (a Ana, o Pedro), before most countries (o Brasil, a França, os Estados Unidos), and instead of a possessive with body parts and clothes (Lavei as mãos = 'I washed my hands'). Drop the article before most cities (Moro em São Paulo = 'I live in São Paulo'), before an unmodified profession after ser (Ele é médico = 'He is a doctor'), and in fixed expressions (em casa = 'at home'). Beware: a few countries take no article — Portugal, Angola, Cuba, Israel. Spanish is similar but not identical: Spanish says 'voy con María' with no article, while Brazilian says 'vou com a Maria' — that article before a name is a hallmark of Portuguese.
Uso e omissão do artigo definido — how do you form it?
o/a/os/as + nome (pessoa, país, parte do corpo) ; omitir com cidade, profissão predicativa, expressão fixa
Uso e omissão do artigo definido — any usage notes?
Spanish speakers slip up here: Spanish uses no article before a person's name (voy con María), but in Brazil the article is normal (vou com a Maria). Also remember that Portugal and a few other countries take no article.