Introduction
Understanding indirect object pronouns is essential for sounding natural in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how pronome oblíquo átono and stressed indirect object pronouns are used with everyday verbs, how they change position in sentences, and why they matter for communication. Clear examples and cultural notes make it practical for beginner to intermediate learners.
- What are indirect object pronouns?
- Common verbs that use indirect object pronouns
- Placement rules: where do pronouns go?
- Strong focus: pronoun forms and examples
- Combining direct and indirect object pronouns
- Practical tips for learners
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- More real-life example sentences
- Conclusion
What are indirect object pronouns?
Indirect object pronouns replace or accompany a noun that receives the action indirectly, usually corresponding to English to me, to you, to him, to her, to us, to them. In Portuguese they often indicate to whom or for whom something is done. The most common unstressed indirect object pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese are me, te, lhe, nos, vos, lhes.
Stressed versus unstressed pronouns
Portuguese has two types of object pronouns: unstressed (oblique átono) and stressed (tônico). Unstressed pronouns are short words that attach to the verb or stand before it depending on sentence structure: me, te, lhe, nos, lhes. Stressed pronouns are used after prepositions or for emphasis: mim, ti, ele/ela, nós, vós, eles/elas respectively, and also forms like consigo. Use mim after preposition para: para mim, and lhe is used as an indirect object pronoun without preposition in many cases.
Common verbs that use indirect object pronouns
Many everyday verbs naturally take an indirect object in Portuguese. Here are the most useful ones with examples so you can see how the pronouns work in context.
1. Dar (to give)
Dar commonly uses an indirect object to show the recipient. The structure is subject + dar + object + indirect object pronoun or noun.
Eu dei o livro a João.
Eu dei o livro a ele becomes Eu lhe dei o livro.
Example with me: Você me deu uma dica valiosa. (You gave me a valuable tip.)
Note: In speech, lhe replaces a ele / a ela when the indirect object is a person. Some Brazilians prefer usar pra mim / pra você in casual speech: Você me deu uma dica = informal alternative.
2. Dizer (to tell)
Dizer takes an indirect object for the person being told something. Often used with dizer a alguém.
Ela disse a notícia a mim.
Ela me disse a novidade.
For third person: Eles disseram a ela a verdade.
Eles lhe disseram a verdade.
Colloquial note: You will often hear falar in similar contexts with the preposition para: Eu falei pra ele ontem.
3. Enviar / Mandar (to send)
Enviar and mandar take an indirect object to indicate the recipient of what is sent.
Eu enviei o e-mail a você.
Eu lhe enviei o e-mail.
Ou mais comum no português do Brasil: Eu te mandei o e-mail.
With nos: A empresa nos mandou os documentos. (The company sent us the documents.)
4. Oferecer (to offer)
Oferecer frequently uses an indirect object to indicate the person receiving the offer.
Ela ofereceu o emprego a mim.
Ela me ofereceu o emprego.
For a third person: O gerente ofereceu o cargo a ele.
O gerente lhe ofereceu o cargo.
5. Contar (to tell, to count)
Contar, when meaning to tell a story or relate information, uses indirect object pronouns for the person being told.
Conte a história para nós.
Conte nos a história.
Ele me contou tudo ontem. (He told me everything yesterday.)
Placement rules: where do pronouns go?
Pronoun placement in Portuguese depends on sentence type and level of formality. Brazilian Portuguese favors proclisis (pronoun before verb) in most spoken contexts, while European Portuguese often uses enclisis (pronoun after verb) more. Below are practical placement rules for Brazilian Portuguese learners.
Basic placement in affirmative sentences
In affirmative main clauses in traditional grammar, enclisis places the pronoun after the verb: Dê-me o livro. However, modern spoken Brazilian Portuguese prefers placing the pronoun before the verb (proclisis): Me dê o livro. So you will commonly hear Me dê, Me fale, Me passe. Using proclisis is safe and natural in Brazil.
Negative sentences, questions, and subordinate clauses
In negative sentences, questions, and subordinate clauses, the pronoun almost always goes before the verb (proclisis). Examples:
Não me diga isso. (Do not tell me that.)
Você me contou? (Did you tell me?)
Se me disser a verdade, tudo bem. (If you tell me the truth, it’s okay.)
After infinitives, gerunds, and imperatives
After a gerund or infinitive and with affirmative imperative, Brazilian speakers often use proclisis too, but written norms accept different placements. Examples:
Vou te contar a história. (I am going to tell you the story.)
Ele está me ajudando agora. (He is helping me now.)
Me diga a hora, por favor. or Diga-me a hora, por favor. (Tell me the time, please.)
Strong focus: pronoun forms and examples
Here are the core unstressed indirect object pronouns and stressed forms you will meet most often in Brazilian Portuguese.
Unstressed indirect object pronouns (oblíquos átonos)
me = to me
te = to you (informal)
lhe = to him / to her / to you (formal) — used for third person indirect objects
nos = to us
vos = to you (plural, archaic in Brazil)
lhes = to them / to you (plural, formal)
Stressed forms (used after prepositions or for emphasis)
mim = me after preposition (para mim)
ti = you after preposition (para ti, rare in Brazil; more common para você)
ele / ela = him / her after preposition (para ele, para ela)
nós = us after preposition (para nós)
eles / elas = them after preposition (para eles, para elas)
Examples showing both types
Ela comprou flores para mim. or Ela me comprou flores.
Eu trouxe um presente para vocês. or Eu vos trouxe um presente. (Vos is rare; typically Eu trouxe um presente para vocês or Eu lhes trouxe um presente in formal contexts.)
Combining direct and indirect object pronouns
When a verb takes both direct and indirect objects, Portuguese can combine pronouns. The usual order is: me/te/lhe/nos/lhes + o/a/os/as for direct objects, with some changes in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Examples
Ela me deu o presente. (me = indirect, o presente = direct) — No combination needed when direct object is a noun.
Ela deu-mo. Traditional written form with enclisis for third person direct and indirect pronouns together. In Brazil, it’s more natural to say Ela me deu o presente or Ela deu para mim o presente in informal speech.
Ele nos contou a história. (nos = indirect, a história = direct)
Important note on lhe + o/a
When combining lhe with a third-person direct object, some grammars show lhe + o = lho, lhe + a = lha, lhes + os = lhos, lhes + as = lhas in older or very formal written Portuguese. These forms are uncommon in spoken Brazilian Portuguese and can sound archaic: Eu lho dei. Instead, Brazilians prefer Eu lhe dei o livro or Eu dei o livro a ele.
Practical tips for learners
1. Start by mastering me, te, nos and the common use of lhe for third person. These cover most everyday needs.
2. Use proclisis (pronoun before verb) in spoken Brazilian Portuguese: Me fala, Me dá, Me conta. It sounds natural and safe.
3. Use para mim and other prepositional forms after prepositions: para mim, para você, para ele, para nós.
4. Avoid archaic combined forms like lho, lha in spoken interactions. Prefer lhe + noun or para + noun: Eu lhe dei o livro or Eu dei o livro para ele.
5. Pay attention to register: lhe and lhes are more common in formal speech, while te/você/vocês are used in casual conversation in Brazil.
Cultural and usage notes
In Brazil, the pronoun você (second person singular) has largely replaced tu in many regions, and with você the verb conjugates in the third person. For indirect objects, people often use te informally (especially in regions where tu is common) or you might hear pra você instead of lhe: Eu te espero or Eu espero por você. In formal writing and in many spoken situations, lhe remains correct for third-person indirect objects, but casual speech favors me/te/ pra você/ pra gente.
Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Mixing up direct and indirect pronouns.
Solution: Ask whether the object answers to whom/for whom. If yes, use indirect pronoun (me, te, lhe, nos, lhes).
Mistake 2: Overusing lhe in casual speech where pra você is more natural.
Solution: Mirror native speakers: use pra você, pra gente, me, te in informal contexts.
Mistake 3: Using lho/lha combinations in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Solution: Use simpler constructions: Eu lhe dei o livro or Eu dei o livro para ele.
More real-life example sentences
Vou te explicar agora. (I will explain to you now.)
Eles me contaram uma história engraçada. (They told me a funny story.)
Posso lhe fazer uma pergunta? (Can I ask you a question? — formal) or Posso te fazer uma pergunta? (informal)
A professora nos entregou as provas. (The teacher handed us the tests.)
Ela me trouxe um café. (She brought me a coffee.)
Conclusion
Mastering indirect object pronouns in Brazilian Portuguese helps you communicate naturally and understand native speech. Focus on learning the core pronouns me, te, lhe, nos, lhes, prefer proclisis in everyday spoken language, and use prepositional forms like para mim after prepositions. With these practical guidelines and real-life examples, you will gain confidence using indirect object pronouns with common verbs and in varied conversational contexts.
