How to Use “Quem” in Portuguese for Who and Whom

Introduction

The pronoun quem is one of the most useful words in Portuguese for asking and referring to people. In English learners often struggle with who versus whom; in Portuguese the situation is simpler but there are important details to learn about word order, prepositions, and relative clauses. This guide explains when and how to use quem in Brazilian Portuguese with clear rules and many real sentences.

What is quem?

Quem is an interrogative and relative pronoun used to ask about or refer to people. It functions like English who and whom but Portuguese does not always separate subject and object forms. Understanding when quem appears with prepositions, when it acts as subject or object, and how it combines with verbs is essential for clear, natural speech.

Basic uses: questions and relative clauses

There are two main roles for quem: asking questions and linking clauses. In questions quem introduces a direct question about identity. In relative clauses it refers back to a previously mentioned person.

Question example:

Quem é você?

Relative clause example:

Conheci uma pessoa quem fala francês.

Quem as a question word: subject or object?

Unlike English, Portuguese uses quem both as subject and object without changing form. Context and verb position tell you whether it is acting as the subject (the doer) or the object (the receiver).

When quem is the subject

If quem performs the action, it is the subject. The verb agrees with the implied person or remains third person singular if no agreement is expressed. Note that Portuguese typically keeps the verb before or after for emphasis, but agreement is straightforward.

Examples:

Quem falou com você?

Quem quer café?

When quem is the object

If the action is done to quem, the pronoun is the object. No change in form is needed; you may add a preposition when required by the verb.

Examples:

Você viu quem?

Com quem você foi ao cinema?

Who versus whom: why Portuguese is simpler

English distinguishes who and whom. Portuguese uses quem for both. Learners who know when to use whom in English can relax: focus on position and prepositions in Portuguese rather than a different word form.

Compare:

Who did you call? — Quem você chamou?

Whom did you meet? — Quem você encontrou?

But watch prepositions

While Portuguese does not change the pronoun, many verbs and nouns require prepositions. When a verb is transitive with a required preposition, include it before quem. The preposition remains even when forming questions or relative clauses.

Examples:

Você falou com quem?

De quem é este livro?

Using quem with prepositions: common patterns

Portuguese uses prepositions much more frequently than English, so you will often hear quem with prepositions like com, para, de, por, and a. Learn which verbs and expressions require prepositions so your questions and sentences sound natural.

Common prepositions with quem

com — com quem (with whom)
de — de quem (of whom, whose)
para — para quem (for whom, to whom)
por — por quem (by whom, for whom)
a — a quem (to whom)

Examples:

Com quem você vai viajar?

De quem é essa mochila?

Para quem você comprou o presente?

Por quem você torce?

A quem devo entregar isto?

Relative clauses: quem as a connector

In relative clauses quem links clauses and refers back to a person. It replaces a noun phrase and can mean who, whom, or whoever depending on context. When the antecedent is a person or an indefinite idea (algo like someone), use quem correctly to avoid awkwardness.

Relative clause structures with quem

Quem can introduce restrictive relative clauses without an explicit antecedent, acting like whoever. It can also replace a noun with prepositions if required.

Examples:

Quem estuda passa no exame. (Whoever studies passes the exam.)

A pessoa com quem eu falei foi muito simpática. (The person whom I spoke with was very kind.)

Esse é o amigo de quem te falei. (This is the friend I told you about.)

Antecedent omitted: quem meaning whoever

When no specific antecedent is mentioned, quem can mean whoever or whoever that is. This use is common in proverbs, instructions, and general statements.

Examples:

Quem não arrisca não petisca. (Whoever does not take risks does not snack; a proverb meaning no risk, no reward.)

Quem chegar primeiro entra na fila. (Whoever arrives first gets in line.)

Combining quem with relative pronouns and articles

Portuguese sometimes uses other relative pronouns like que and o qual. Quem is more restricted: it always refers to people and absorbs the preposition when combined with de (possession) or com. Do not add articles directly to quem.

Incorrect:

O quem veio ontem…

Correct options:

A pessoa que veio ontem…

Quem veio ontem… (if no antecedent noun is needed)

Using com quem versus com o qual

Both com quem and com o qual can mean with whom, but they have different registers. Com quem is everyday and colloquial. Com o qual is more formal and appears in written language.

Examples:

Com quem você estava? (colloquial)

Com o qual você concorda? (formal, written)

Politeness and formal structures

When speaking formally or in writing, you may choose constructions that avoid starting a sentence with quem or prefer relative pronouns like o qual, a qual, or quem preceded by prepositions. For very formal registers, use o qual with gender and number agreement.

Examples:

O senhor com quem falei é o diretor. (Formal alternative using a respectful title.)

O autor a quem me refiro publicou outro livro. (More formal, especially in writing.)

Using titles and names with quem

In polite spoken Portuguese, people often use titles like senhor, senhora, doutor, and professora. You can combine these with relative or interrogative structures to show respect.

Examples:

Com quem a senhora falou?

Quem é o doutor? (informal in a medical setting; use full respectful form if needed)

Pronunciation and common pitfalls

Pronunciation of quem in Brazilian Portuguese sounds like kẽ with a nasal vowel. Pay attention to the nasalization and avoid pronouncing the m separately. Listening to native speakers will help you internalize the sound.

Common learner mistakes:

1. Omitting required prepositions — many verbs need com, de, a, por, or para before quem.
2. Using que instead of quem when referring specifically to people.
3. Adding articles directly to quem (incorrect: o quem).

Examples comparing que and quem

Que is a general relative pronoun used for things or people in many contexts; however, when the relative pronoun specifically replaces a person and stands alone or follows a preposition, quem is natural.

Eu vi o livro que você comprou. (I saw the book that you bought.)

Eu vi a pessoa com quem você falou. (I saw the person you spoke with.)

Cultural and usage notes

Brazilian Portuguese is flexible and context-driven. In casual conversation many speakers shorten or reorder phrases, but quem remains stable. In formal writing or legal contexts prefer structured forms like o qual or a quem for clarity. In everyday speech, using com quem or de quem is perfectly natural.

Also note regional speech patterns: in some areas speakers may favor alternative constructions or drop subject pronouns more often, but the grammar rules for quem stay the same across Brazil.

Putting it all together: model sentences

Below are common sentence types that show quem in action.

Direct question, subject:

Quem trouxe o bolo?

Direct question, object with preposition:

Com quem você saiu ontem?

Relative clause with antecedent:

Essa é a amiga de quem eu falei.

Relative clause without antecedent (whoever):

Quem ajuda os outros merece respeito.

Formal written alternative:

O candidato a quem me referi possui experiência internacional.

Quick reference summary

– Use quem for both who and whom.
– Keep prepositions required by verbs: com quem, de quem, a quem, para quem, por quem.
– Use quem as subject or object without changing form.
– Prefer com quem in speech and o qual in formal writing when needed.
– Do not add articles to quem.

Conclusion

Quem is a simple but powerful pronoun that covers both who and whom in Brazilian Portuguese. Focus on prepositions, word order, and whether quem is subject or object. With practice you will quickly become comfortable asking questions, making relative clauses, and sounding natural in everyday conversation.