Introduction
Learning definite articles is one of the first steps in Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to use os and as, the plural definite articles, with clear rules, practical examples, vocabulary, common mistakes, and simple tips for beginners. Follow the examples and short dialogues to build confidence using plural nouns in everyday situations.
- What are os and as?
- How to identify gender of nouns
- Forming plurals with os and as
- Using os and as in sentences
- Practical examples for everyday situations
- Short dialogues using os and as
- Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
- Tips for memorizing gender and article use
- Additional vocabulary list for practice
- Mini practice exercise
- Conclusion
What are os and as?
In Brazilian Portuguese, os and as are the plural forms of the definite article the. Use os for masculine plural nouns and as for feminine plural nouns. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify, just like the singular articles o and a. Understanding gender and plural formation is essential to choose os or as correctly.
Basic rule and quick examples
Rule: Use os for plural masculine nouns and as for plural feminine nouns.
Example masculine: os livros — the books
Example feminine: as mesas — the tables
How to identify gender of nouns
Most nouns that end in o are masculine and those that end in a are feminine, but there are exceptions. Look at patterns and memorize common words. When in doubt, learn the article with the noun: o carro, a casa. For plural, carro becomes carros and casa becomes casas, so you use os carros and as casas.
Common endings and gender guide
Masculine endings: -o, -e (many), -or, -ista (can be either; depends on context)
Feminine endings: -a, -ção, -dade, -agem
Examples:
o professor (male teacher) → os professores
a professora (female teacher) → as professoras
Forming plurals with os and as
After identifying the gender, make the noun plural and then use os or as. Basic plural rules are regular but a few changes occur depending on the ending sound of the noun.
Regular plural formation
Nouns ending in vowel: add s. Example: o amigo → os amigos
Nouns ending in -r, -s, -z: add es. Example: o flor → as flores; note that flor is feminine: a flor → as flores
Nouns ending in -m: replace m with ns. Example: o problema → os problemas; a homem → os homens
Examples with os
o carro → os carros
o telefone → os telefones
o computador → os computadores
Examples with as
a casa → as casas
a janela → as janelas
a cidade → as cidades
Using os and as in sentences
Definite articles are used before nouns to refer to specific things. They can appear before adjectives, possessives, and numbers. Below are common sentence patterns beginners will use.
Noun + adjective
Use the plural article and make the adjective plural and agree in gender.
os carros rápidos — the fast cars
as comidas gostosas — the tasty foods
Possessive with plural definite article
The structure often uses the article before the possessive.
os meus livros — my books
as nossas amigas — our friends (female)
With numbers and quantity words
You can say the with numbers when you refer to a specific set.
as três malas — the three suitcases
os dois horários — the two schedules
Practical examples for everyday situations
Here are realistic short phrases and sentences learners will see on signs, in conversations, menus, and schedules. Each example uses Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary appropriate for beginners.
At a café:
as mesas estão ocupadas — the tables are occupied
os cafés são gostosos — the coffees are tasty
On public transport:
os horários estão no painel — the schedules are on the board
as linhas 1 e 2 passam aqui — lines 1 and 2 pass here
At a hotel or hostel:
as chaves estão na recepção — the keys are at reception
os quartos têm ar-condicionado — the rooms have air conditioning
Shopping and market:
as frutas estão frescas — the fruits are fresh
os preços estão na etiqueta — the prices are on the tag
Making plans:
as reuniões começam às nove — the meetings start at nine
os passeios são amanhã — the tours are tomorrow
Short dialogues using os and as
Practice with short realistic dialogues you might hear in Brazil. These help you notice article agreement in context.
Conversation at a bakery:
— As pães estão quentes?
— Sim, os pães saíram agora do forno.
At a bus stop:
— Os ônibus já passaram?
— Não, as próximas linhas chegam em cinco minutos.
Asking at a store:
— As camisas vermelhas estão no provador?
— Não, os provadores ficam lá no fundo.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often make predictable errors. Here are common mistakes, why they happen, and simple fixes.
Mistake 1: Using o or a with plural nouns. Fix: Always match number first. If plural, use os or as.
Wrong: o livros estão aqui. Correct: os livros estão aqui.
Mistake 2: Choosing the wrong gender because of English assumptions. Fix: Learn nouns with their article and practice common endings.
Wrong: os mão. Correct: as mãos (hand → mão is feminine and irregular: mão → mãos).
Mistake 3: Forgetting adjective agreement. Fix: Make adjectives plural and match gender.
Wrong: as casas bonito. Correct: as casas bonitas.
Tips for memorizing gender and article use
Short practical tips to internalize os and as without overwhelming grammar drills.
Tip 1: Learn new nouns with the article. Instead of estudar cadeira, learn a cadeira. For plural, memorize as cadeiras.
Tip 2: Create small flashcards showing singular and plural forms: o livro → os livros; a flor → as flores.
Tip 3: Notice patterns on signs and menus. When you see as mesas, link that to other nouns ending in -a.
Tip 4: Practice short sentences out loud. Replace nouns in a template sentence like as X são Y or os X têm Y to build automaticity.
Additional vocabulary list for practice
These common nouns and articles are useful for beginners. Say them aloud and form simple plural sentences.
o amigo → os amigos
a amiga → as amigas
o mercado → os mercados
a loja → as lojas
o ônibus → os ônibus
a escola → as escolas
o restaurante → os restaurantes
a cadeira → as cadeiras
Mini practice exercise
Convert the singular phrase to plural using os or as. Check your answers by applying the rules above.
1) a maçã
2) o professor
3) a palavra
4) o hotel
Answers:
1) as maçãs
2) os professores
3) as palavras
4) os hotéis
Conclusion
Mastering os and as starts with recognizing gender and forming plurals correctly. Learn nouns with their articles, practice short everyday phrases, and pay attention to adjective agreement. Using the practical examples and tips in this article will help you feel confident saying sentences like os horários, as mesas, and as chaves in real Brazilian Portuguese situations.
