Introduction
Learn how to use eles and elas in Brazilian Portuguese with clear, practical examples for complete beginners. This guide explains pronoun agreement, when to choose eles or elas, common phrases, and easy exercises you can use in everyday situations like shopping, messaging, and introductions.
- What are eles and elas?
- Subject pronoun examples
- How verbs agree with eles and elas
- Possessive agreements and eles/elas
- Direct and indirect object pronouns with eles/elas
- When to use eles vs elas: practical tips
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Practice sentences and short dialogues for beginners
- Short reading passage for comprehension
- Useful vocabulary related to people and groups
- Mini quiz for self-check
- Beginner tips for practice
- More realistic examples you might see in Brazil
- Conclusion
What are eles and elas?
In Brazilian Portuguese, eles and elas are the third-person plural subject pronouns. Eles is used for groups that are all male or mixed male and female. Elas is used for groups that are all female. Both mean they in English, but gender matters in Portuguese. Understanding this distinction helps you form correct sentences and be understood in common conversations.
Basic forms and translation
eles = they (masculine or mixed group)
elas = they (feminine group)
Use eles when the group has at least one male. Use elas only when everyone in the group is female.
Subject pronoun examples
Simple present tense examples with verbs most beginners learn.
Eles são estudantes.
Elas são estudantes.
Translation: They are students. The first sentence refers to a male or mixed group, the second to a group of females.
Eles falam português.
Elas falam português.
Translation: They speak Portuguese. Note that the verb form falam is the same for both eles and elas in present tense.
How verbs agree with eles and elas
Verbs in Portuguese agree with the subject in person and number. For the third-person plural, verbs usually end in -am in the present indicative for regular -ar verbs, and in -em for many irregular verbs of other conjugations. The verb ending is the same for eles and elas; only the pronoun changes based on gender.
Examples with common verbs
Eles trabalham no centro.
Elas trabalham no centro.
Eles comem no restaurante.
Elas comem no restaurante.
Eles vivem aqui.
Elas vivem aqui.
Translation and note: trabalhar, comer, viver show how endings work for -ar, -er, -ir verbs. The ending corresponds to they, and does not change between eles and elas.
Possessive agreements and eles/elas
Possessive adjectives also agree with the noun possessed, not with the pronoun. This is a common beginner trap. The possessive changes to match the gender and number of the object, not the people.
Examples of possessives
Eles trouxeram seus livros.
Elas trouxeram suas bolsas.
Translation and explanation: In the first sentence, seus matches livros (masculine plural). In the second, suas matches bolsas (feminine plural). Even if eles refers to males, the possessive form depends on the thing owned.
Direct and indirect object pronouns with eles/elas
When replacing a plural noun previously mentioned, Brazilians often use eles and elas as subjects, but object pronouns change. For direct objects in spoken Brazilian Portuguese, the forms them are eles/elas only as subjects; as objects, use os or as for masculine or feminine plural, or lhes for indirect objects in formal writing.
Object examples
Eu vi eles ontem. (informal speech)
Eu vi as meninas ontem.
Eu vi os meninos ontem.
Eu dei o presente a elas.
Translation and explanation: Eu vi eles ontem is common in speech; formal written Portuguese would prefer Eu os vi ontem. Similarly, Eu dei o presente a elas uses a prepositional structure that is natural and common for beginners.
When to use eles vs elas: practical tips
Tip 1: Identify the people first. If you can see or know all members are female, use elas. If there is any male, use eles. When in doubt, default to eles for mixed groups.
Tip 2: Use context clues like names and titles. Names ending in -a are often female and -o often male, but there are exceptions. Ask politely if unsure: Você está falando de homens ou mulheres?
Tip 3: For groups with animals or objects, match grammatical gender. For example, carros is masculine, so use eles when referring back to carros: Eles são novos.
Examples in everyday contexts
At a café: Elas vão querer mais café?
Translation and note: Use elas if the customers are all women.
In a class: Eles entregaram a tarefa?
Translation and note: Use eles if the class has male or mixed students.
Talking about bags: As bolsas são novas. Elas são caras.
Translation and note: Bolas is feminine plural so elas refers back to bolsas.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Choosing eles for an all-female group out of habit. Avoid by checking the group composition. If you are unsure, listen for names or ask Quem está aqui?
Mistake 2: Matching possessives to the people instead of the object. Fix: Identify the noun the possessive modifies. For example, minhas chaves (my keys) if keys are feminine plural.
Mistake 3: Overusing eles in writing because it feels neutral. For accurate and natural Brazilian Portuguese, use elas for all-female groups.
Quick correction examples
Incorrect: Eles trouxeram as bolsas e eles são novas.
Correct: Elas trouxeram as bolsas e elas são novas.
Explanation: Bolsas is feminine, so reference should be elas and o adjetivo should agree: elas são novas.
Practice sentences and short dialogues for beginners
Use these short, realistic lines to practice listening and speaking.
Dialogue 1
A: Onde estão as meninas?
B: Elas estão na escola.
Dialogue 2
A: Os turistas chegaram?
B: Sim, eles chegaram ontem à noite.
Dialogue 3
A: As colegas vão ao cinema?
B: Sim, elas vão às oito.
Dialogue 4
A: Você viu os carros novos?
B: Sim, eles são muito bonitos.
Short reading passage for comprehension
Students can use this simple paragraph to identify eles and elas in context.
As professoras chegaram cedo. Elas prepararam a sala. Os alunos chegaram depois. Eles trouxeram livros e cadernos.
Translation and note: The passage uses both elas for professoras and eles for alunos, showing clear gender-based selection.
Useful vocabulary related to people and groups
o grupo (group)
a turma (class, group)
os amigos / as amigas (friends masculine/mixed / friends feminine)
os colegas / as colegas (coworkers/classmates masculine/mixed or feminine)
os estudantes / as estudantes (students)
as pessoas (people) — although people is feminine plural, you still choose eles or elas based on the gender of the people being referenced
Note on pessoas
Pessoas is grammatically feminine plural, but you choose eles or elas based on the actual mix of genders in the group. If the group is mixed or unknown, most speakers use eles.
Mini quiz for self-check
Choose the correct pronoun for each sentence. Check your answers after trying.
1. João e Maria chegaram. ____ conversam na sala.
2. As meninas estudam juntas. ____ estudam no parque.
3. Os carros estão limpos. ____ estão na garagem.
4. As enfermeiras terminaram o turno. ____ foram para casa.
Answers
1. Eles conversam na sala.
2. Elas estudam no parque.
3. Eles estão na garagem.
4. Elas foram para casa.
Beginner tips for practice
Tip 1: Label groups when you study. Write small notes like eles (mixed) and elas (female) next to vocabulary lists to build habit.
Tip 2: Listen to Brazilian Portuguese podcasts, focusing on dialogues. Notice when speakers say eles or elas and why.
Tip 3: Create short role-plays with friends or language partners that use group references: organize a mock class, meeting, or shopping trip and practice choosing pronouns.
More realistic examples you might see in Brazil
On a message from a friend: Eles vão chegar às 19h.
On a menu or sign referencing staff: As funcionárias estão disponíveis hoje. Elas atendem até as 20h.
On a schedule or announcement: Os jogadores viajaram ontem. Eles vão jogar no sábado.
Conclusion
Mastering eles and elas is essential for clear, natural Brazilian Portuguese. Remember that eles is for mixed or male groups and elas for all-female groups. Focus on matching pronouns to group gender, matching possessives to the noun they modify, and listening to real examples. With short daily practices and these realistic phrases, beginners can quickly use eles and elas correctly in everyday conversations.
