Introduction
This article explains how to use the Portuguese pronouns Ele, Ela, and Você in Brazilian Portuguese for complete beginners. You will learn when to use each pronoun, how they affect verbs, common phrases and useful examples you can use in simple conversations and everyday situations.
Pronouns at a glance: ele, ela, você
Portuguese subject pronouns replace a person or thing in a sentence. For beginners the three most useful ones are Ele, Ela, and Você.
Ele means he or it (masculine). Use it for a man, a boy, or a masculine noun like carro.
Ela means she or it (feminine). Use it for a woman, a girl, or a feminine noun like casa.
Você means you (singular, formal or informal in Brazil). Brazilians commonly use você in everyday speech instead of the more formal tu in many regions.
Quick grammar rule: verb agreement
Portuguese verbs change form depending on the subject. For beginners focus on the present tense: verbs after Ele and Ela usually end in -a, -e, or -o depending on the verb group; verbs after Você take the same form as Ele and Ela in the present tense in Brazilian Portuguese.
Example with the verb estudar (to study):
Ele estuda.
Ela estuda.
Você estuda.
Using ele and ela for people and things
Ele and Ela refer to third persons. You will see them often when answering questions or talking about someone else.
Questions and short answers students often learn:
Quem é aquele rapaz? — Ele é meu amigo.
Quem é aquela mulher? — Ela é professora.
O que é isso? — É um carro. (Notice that for objects Portuguese often uses o/ele or ela depending on gender; a neutral reply can be just É.)
Practice examples with everyday nouns
Ele é médico. (He is a doctor.)
Ela é estudante. (She is a student.)
Ele está cansado. (He is tired.)
Ela está feliz. (She is happy.)
O livro é velho. Ele está na mesa. (The book is old. It is on the table.)
A mesa é nova. Ela é grande. (The table is new. It is big.)
Using você for direct conversation
Você is the main way to say you in Brazil in everyday contexts. It uses third-person singular verb forms. Use Você to speak directly to one person when you want a neutral but common tone.
Examples:
Você fala inglês? (Do you speak English?)
Você quer café? (Do you want coffee?)
Você mora aqui? (Do you live here?)
In many regions people also use você in informal contexts, so you will hear it in shops, restaurants, and buses.
Negative sentences with ele, ela, você
To make negatives, put não before the verb. The subject pronoun remains the same.
Ele não trabalha aqui. (He does not work here.)
Ela não gosta de peixe. (She does not like fish.)
Você não precisa pagar agora. (You do not need to pay now.)
Common short phrases and responses
Beginners need short, practical responses for everyday interactions. Below are typical examples using the three pronouns.
Short answers to questions:
Ele? Sim. / Não. (Him? Yes. / No.)
Ela? Sim. / Não. (Her? Yes. / No.)
Você? Sim. / Não. (You? Yes. / No.)
Useful polite phrases:
Você pode me ajudar? (Can you help me?)
Ele vai chegar às oito. (He will arrive at eight.)
Ela está no trabalho. (She is at work.)
Short dialogues beginners will use
At a café:
— Olá, você quer algo?
— Sim, eu quero um café. (Here eu = I; included to show contrast with você.)
Meeting someone:
— Quem é ela?
— Ela é minha irmã.
Two useful verbs: ser and estar
Ser and estar both mean to be, but they are used differently. For beginners, remember simple patterns with pronouns.
Use ser for identity, origin, profession, time:
Ele é brasileiro. (He is Brazilian.)
Ela é professora. (She is a teacher.)
Você é estudante? (Are you a student?)
Use estar for temporary states and locations:
Ele está em casa. (He is at home.)
Ela está cansada. (She is tired.)
Você está pronto? (Are you ready?)
Short practice sentences mixing ser and estar
Ele é alto, mas hoje ele está triste. (He is tall, but today he is sad.)
Ela é médica e agora ela está no hospital. (She is a doctor and now she is at the hospital.)
Você é inteligente e você está preparado. (You are smart and you are prepared.)
Politeness and regional notes
In Brazil Você is very common and polite enough for most situations. For a more formal tone, many Brazilians use o senhor or a senhora with third-person verb forms, but those are for formal contexts like official services or older adults. For beginners, mastering Você plus Ele and Ela is a practical first step.
Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
1. Confusing subject and object position: Portuguese still uses subject pronouns before verbs as in English. Make sure Ele, Ela, and Você are subjects. Example error: Estou ele. Correct: Ele está aqui.
2. Wrong verb endings: Remember that in the present tense Você uses the same verb form as Ele/Ela. Incorrect: Você estudam. Correct: Você estuda.
3. Overusing pronouns: Portuguese often drops subject pronouns because verb endings show the subject. Beginners can include them for clarity, but later you can say Está cansado instead of Ele está cansado when context is clear.
Practical vocabulary and mini-phrases list
Eu — I
Você — You (singular)
Ele — He / it (masculine)
Ela — She / it (feminine)
Ser — to be (identity)
Estar — to be (state/location)
Trabalhar — to work
Morar — to live
Querer — to want
Gostar — to like
Everyday examples you can use now
At the bus stop:
— Você vai para a universidade?
— Sim, eu vou para a universidade.
In a store:
— Onde está o provador?
— Ele fica ali. (It is over there.)
Asking about someone:
— A Ana está aqui?
— Não, ela saiu. (No, she left.)
Short exercises for practice
Replace the subject pronoun in each English sentence and make the correct Portuguese sentence in the present tense.
1. He studies. — Ele _______. (estuda)
2. She lives in Rio. — Ela _______ no Rio. (mora)
3. You want water. — Você _______ água. (quer)
Answers: 1) Ele estuda. 2) Ela mora no Rio. 3) Você quer água.
Conclusion
Mastering Ele, Ela, and Você gives beginners a powerful foundation for basic Brazilian Portuguese conversation. Focus first on using these pronouns correctly with present-tense verbs, practice short real-life phrases, and pay attention to ser versus estar. With simple daily practice you will soon recognize these pronouns in signs, dialogues, and messages and start using them comfortably.
