Introduction
Understanding where to place pronouns in Portuguese is a common challenge for learners. This article explains Brazilian Portuguese pronoun placement rules clearly and with many examples. You will learn the differences between clitic positions: próclise, ênclise, and mesóclise, when to use each, and how spoken Brazilian usage often differs from formal grammar.
Overview: What are clitic pronouns?
Clitic pronouns are unstressed object pronouns that attach to verbs rather than standing alone. In Portuguese, these include forms like me, te, se, o, a, nos, lhes, and more. Clitics do not carry emphasis and must be positioned relative to the verb according to grammatical and stylistic rules. Brazilian Portuguese uses three main positions: próclise, ênclise, and mesóclise. Understanding when to place the pronoun before, after, or inside the verb is essential for correct sentence formation.
Basic pronoun forms in Brazilian Portuguese
Before discussing placement, review common object pronouns used as clitics in Brazilian Portuguese:
me (me)
te (you informal)
se (himself/herself/yourself formal/oneself)
o, a (him, her, it, you formal)
nos (us)
vos (rare in Brazil)
os, as (them)
Combine these with indirect object forms like me, te, lhe, nos, lhes. For simplicity, this article focuses on the most frequent direct and indirect clitic forms and how they attach to verbs.
Three clitic positions explained
Ênclise: pronoun after the verb
Ênclise places the pronoun after the verb. This is common in affirmative commands, infinitive constructions, and when nothing triggers a different position. Formal written Portuguese often favors ênclise in standalone sentences without preceding particles.
Examples:
Eu vi-o ontem.
Ela explicou-me a situação.
Fazer-se-á o anúncio amanhã.
Próclise: pronoun before the verb
Próclise positions the pronoun before the verb. It occurs when certain words or constructions attract the pronoun forward. In Brazilian Portuguese, próclise is very common in everyday speech, and many contexts require it: negative words, question words, relative pronouns, subordinating conjunctions, and certain adverbs.
Triggers for próclise include:
Negative words like não, nunca, ninguém
Question words like quem, quando, onde
Relative pronouns and subordinators like que, que não, porque, se
Adverbs and adverbial expressions such as já, ainda, sempre, talvez
Examples:
Eu não me lembro.
Quem te chamou ontem?
Se tivermos tempo, nos encontramos depois. (note use of pronoun before verb when subordinated)
Mesóclise: pronoun inside the verb
Mesóclise inserts the pronoun into the middle of a future tense verb form, splitting the verb between its root and the future endings. Mesóclise is primarily a feature of formal written Portuguese, often appearing in the future indicative and the future subjunctive. In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, mesóclise is rare; speakers usually use próclise or enclise with periphrastic futures like vai + infinitive or eu vou fazer.
Example of mesóclise:
Dizer-te-ei amanhã. (I will tell you tomorrow)
Levantar-se-ão cedo. (They will get up early)
Note that mesóclise only occurs when the verb is in a synthetic future form and there is no clitic-attracting word before the verb. In practice, using eu vou dizer or eu direi + pronoun after verb or before verb are common alternatives in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Detailed rules and examples
1. When to use próclise
Use próclise when a negative word precedes the verb.
Examples:
Eu não o conheço. (I do not know him.)
Ela nunca me atende. (She never answers me.)
Use próclise after question words and exclamations.
Examples:
Quem te avisou? (Who told you?)
Quando vamos embora? (When are we leaving?)
Use próclise after relative pronouns and subordinating conjunctions.
Examples:
A pessoa que me ligou deixou recado. (The person who called me left a message.)
Se nos avisarem, vamos. (If they notify us, we will go.)
Use próclise after certain adverbs or particles like já, ainda, apenas, só.
Examples:
Já me disseram isso.
Só nos resta esperar.
2. When to use ênclise
Use ênclise when the verb is at the beginning of a sentence or clause without any attracting words before it. This is common in simple affirmative statements and in affirmative commands in European Portuguese; in Brazilian Portuguese, affirmative commands usually attach pronouns after the verb as well, but spoken usage often prefers placing pronoun before in negative or polite commands.
Examples:
Vê-lo-ei amanhã. (I will see him tomorrow.) — formal written style
Diga-me a verdade. (Tell me the truth.) — more formal
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, however, many speakers say Me diga a verdade instead of Diga-me a verdade. Both are grammatically acceptable, though the position shifts the register.
3. When mesóclise appears and why Brazil rarely uses it
Mesóclise appears only with the synthetic future forms like direi, dirás, dirá, diremos, direis, dirão and is used when no clitic-attracting particle precedes the verb. In written and formal registers, you will see constructions like dir-te-ei, but in Brazil many speakers avoid this by choosing other constructions.
Examples:
Direi-lhes a verdade. (I will tell them the truth) — formal written
Dir-vos-ei a verdade. (I will tell you all the truth) — very formal mesóclise
In conversation Brazilians prefer:
Eu vou dizer a verdade a eles.
Eu lhes direi a verdade. (less common in speech)
Practical patterns and common Brazilian usage
Brazilian Portuguese tends to favor próclise in spoken language, especially in negative constructions and conversational contexts. People often say Me ajuda? instead of Ajuda-me?. Learning both formal placements and everyday patterns helps you understand written text and sound natural in speech.
Typical spoken patterns:
Me explica isso, por favor. (Explain this to me, please.)
Não me lembro. (I don’t remember.)
Você me viu ontem? (Did you see me yesterday?)
Even when formal grammar would allow ênclise, Brazilian speakers often use próclise. For example, instead of Telefonarei-lhe, you will hear Eu vou ligar para ele or Eu lhe telefonarei in semi-formal contexts.
Special cases and tricky constructions
Pronouns with infinitives
When a verb in the infinitive is used, pronouns can attach to the infinitive as enclitic or come before as proclitic depending on preceding elements. If the main clause contains a clitic-attracting element, the pronoun usually comes before the infinitive.
Examples:
Quero ver-te amanhã. (I want to see you tomorrow.) — formal written
Quero te ver amanhã. (I want to see you tomorrow.) — common in Brazil
Vou me vestir. (I am going to get dressed.) — common spoken form
Two verbs together: compound verbs and gerunds
With compound verbs like modal verbs or progressive aspects (estar + gerúndio), pronouns can attach to the finite verb or to the infinitive/gerund, and Brazilian usage often prefers placing the pronoun before the finite verb.
Examples:
Estou me preparando. (I am getting ready.)
Quero te ajudar. (I want to help you.)
Vou lhe explicar depois. (I will explain it to you later.)
Note: Portuguese gerunds used with pronouns can take enclisis in formal writing, e.g., Estando ele se sentindo mal, chamamos o médico, but in modern Brazilian Portuguese Estando ele se sentindo mal sounds old-fashioned. More natural is Como ele está se sentindo mal, chamamos o médico.
Commands and polite requests
Affirmative commands typically attach pronouns after the verb in both European and Brazilian Portuguese, though spoken Brazilian sometimes places the pronoun before in colloquial forms. Negative commands always use próclise and place the pronoun before the verb.
Examples:
Fala-me quando chegar. (Speak to me when you arrive.) — formal
Fala comigo quando chegar. — more colloquial alternative using prepositional pronoun
Não me fale assim. (Do not speak to me that way.)
Cultural and register notes
Brazilian Portuguese varies by region and register. Formal writing, legal texts, and literature often follow prescriptive rules and use ênclise and mesóclise more. Everyday conversation, social media, and informal speech favor próclise, periphrastic futures, and prepositional pronouns. When learning, pay attention to context: aim for formal structures in writing and exams, and practice the more natural spoken patterns for conversation.
Also note that Brazilian Portuguese uses prepositional pronouns for clarity or emphasis in places where clitics might be ambiguous. For example, instead of Me dá o livro, someone may say Dá o livro para mim to avoid confusion or to emphasize the recipient.
Quick reference summary
Próclise: pronoun before the verb. Triggered by negatives, question words, subordinators, relative pronouns, and many adverbs. Very common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Ênclise: pronoun after the verb. Used when the verb starts the clause and no attractor precedes it. More common in formal writing.
Mesóclise: pronoun inserted into a future tense verb. Rare in Brazilian spoken Portuguese, found in formal written style.
Examples roundup
Negative trigger — Não me ajudou ontem. (He did not help me yesterday.)
Question trigger — Quando você vai chegar? (When are you going to arrive?)
Affirmative clause with enclisis — Ver-te-ei mais tarde. (I will see you later.) — formal
Mesóclise in future — Dir-te-ei tudo amanhã. (I will tell you everything tomorrow.) — formal, uncommon in speech
Daily spoken preference — Me conta a história. (Tell me the story.)
Conclusion
Mastering Portuguese pronoun placement improves both comprehension and fluency. Remember the three positions: próclise, ênclise, and mesóclise. Learn the triggers for próclise, use ênclise in many formal written contexts, and recognize that mesóclise is mostly literary. Practice with real Brazilian sentences and pay attention to register: formal writing follows stricter rules, while spoken Brazilian Portuguese often favors simpler, more natural placements.
