Introduction
Learning the difference between deles and delas will make your Portuguese sound more natural and accurate. These two words are possessive pronouns that express ownership, and the choice between them depends on gender of the thing possessed, not the gender of the possessor. This article explains their usage clearly with examples in Brazilian Portuguese, comparisons with English, and helpful cultural notes.
- What are deles and delas?
- Step-by-step guide to choosing between deles and delas
- Common sentence structures using deles and delas
- Why gender of the possessed noun matters
- Gender exceptions and spoken Brazilian Portuguese
- Practical tips for learners
- Examples in real Brazilian Portuguese sentences
- Cultural and usage notes
- Quick reference summary
- Conclusion
What are deles and delas?
Deles and delas are third-person plural possessive pronouns in Portuguese. They translate roughly to English phrases like of theirs, theirs, or belonging to them. Both are used when the owners are they (third person plural), but which one you use depends on the grammatical gender of the noun being possessed in Portuguese.
Basic forms and agreement
Portuguese nouns have gender: masculine or feminine. Possessive pronouns agree with the gender (and sometimes number) of the noun they refer to. Use deles before masculine or mixed-gender plural nouns, and use delas before feminine plural nouns.
Examples of the rule:
Casa delas = the house of theirs (if the noun were plural like casas, see below)
Carros deles = their cars
Amigas delas = their (female) friends
Step-by-step guide to choosing between deles and delas
Follow these simple steps when deciding which pronoun to use.
Step 1: Identify the noun being possessed
Look at what is being owned or referred to. The pronoun must match the gender of that noun.
Example:
Caderno — masculine
Revista — feminine
Step 2: Check the number (singular or plural)
Most often you will use the plural forms deles and delas when the owners are plural. The noun being possessed may be singular or plural; gender matters first and foremost.
Examples:
O toque do violão é bonito. O violão deles é novo. (violão is masculine singular)
As flores delas são lindas. (flores is feminine plural)
Step 3: Determine the gender of the noun
If the noun is masculine or a mixed group, use deles. If the noun is feminine and all items are feminine, use delas.
Examples:
Os livros deles = their books (books is masculine plural)
As malas delas = their suitcases (suitcases is feminine plural)
Common sentence structures using deles and delas
Portuguese uses these pronouns in several patterns. Here are the most common structures and examples.
1. Noun + possessive pronoun
This is the most straightforward pattern: noun followed by deles or delas.
Examples:
A casa deles é perto da praia.
As amigas delas trabalham juntas.
2. Definite article + noun + possessive pronoun
Portuguese often uses the definite article (o, a, os, as) before the noun when adding the possessive pronoun.
Examples:
O carro deles está na garagem.
A bolsa delas ficou no táxi.
3. Possessive phrase without article
In casual speech or with certain nouns (especially body parts), the article can be omitted, though in Brazilian Portuguese articles with possessives are common.
Examples:
Ele lavou as mãos deles. (common)
Ele lavou mãos deles. (less natural)
4. Using de + eles and de + elas for emphasis
Instead of the pronouns, you can use the prepositional phrase de + eles or de + elas. This is useful for clarity or emphasis, especially when referring to people rather than things.
Examples:
Aquela decisão veio de eles? (less formal)
Aquela decisão veio deles. (more natural)
Why gender of the possessed noun matters
Unlike English, which uses a single their regardless of the item, Portuguese requires agreement. This often confuses English speakers because the gender agreement is not about the owners themselves but the item owned.
Examples showing the difference
Imagine two groups of owners, one male and one female, each owns different objects.
Grupo de amigos (all male or mixed)
Os livros deles estão na mesa. (books = livros, masculine plural)
Grupo de amigas (all female)
Os livros delas estão na mesa. (books = livros is still masculine plural, so use deles)
As bolsas delas estão no carro. (bolsas = feminine plural so use delas)
Note that when the noun itself is masculine, even if the owners are all women, you still use deles. For example:
O cachorro delas é grande. (cachorro is masculine so grammatically you might expect deles, but many speakers prefer o cachorro delas to emphasize owners are female. Both forms appear in informal usage; traditional grammar would use deles when gender agreement strictly follows grammatical gender of the noun.)
Gender exceptions and spoken Brazilian Portuguese
In informal Brazilian Portuguese, speakers sometimes choose forms based on naturalness or emphasis rather than strict agreement. Two noteworthy tendencies:
1. Emphasizing the owners rather than the noun
Speakers might say o cachorro delas to stress that the dog belongs to a group of women. This follows a colloquial, natural pattern where the possessive pronoun highlights the owners’ identity.
Example:
O cachorro delas é muito dócil. (focus on owners)
2. Mixed groups and masculine default
When the owners are a mixed-gender group, Portuguese defaults to masculine forms. So you use deles for mixed groups regardless of the noun gender rule in everyday speech, but remember the primary grammatical rule is to match the possessed noun.
Example:
As mochilas deles estavam na sala. (mochilas is feminine plural, but since the group is mixed male/female, many speakers still prefer delas for agreement with mochilas; strictly speaking, mochilas delas would be grammatically clear because mochilas is feminine.)
Practical tips for learners
Here are practical steps to use deles and delas correctly in conversation.
Tip 1: Always identify the noun and its gender first
Look at the noun being possessed. If it ends in -o it’s usually masculine; if it ends in -a it’s usually feminine. There are exceptions, so learn common exceptions like mapa (masculine) and mão (feminine).
Tip 2: If unsure, default to agreement with the noun
If you do not know the gender of the owners or if the group is mixed, match the possessive pronoun to the noun’s gender. This is grammatically safe.
Tip 3: Learn common collocations
Some nouns are frequently paired with possessives in everyday speech. Practice phrases like o carro deles, a casa delas, os amigos deles to build automaticity.
Tip 4: Listen for natural speech
Native speakers often use forms that emphasize owners. Pay attention to spoken Brazilian Portuguese to understand when people say o cachorro delas vs o cachorro deles and mimic natural patterns.
Examples in real Brazilian Portuguese sentences
Here are varied examples with translations to show how deles and delas work in context.
1. O relógio deles é caro.
Their watch is expensive.
2. As roupas delas cheiravam a café.
Their clothes smelled like coffee.
3. Onde estão os documentos deles?
Where are their documents?
4. As plantas delas precisam de água.
Their plants need water.
5. O problema dos alunos deles foi resolvido.
The problem of their students was solved.
6. O caderno delas ficou sobre a mesa.
Their notebook was left on the table (notebook is feminine here).
Cultural and usage notes
In Brazilian Portuguese, possessive constructions are common in everyday speech. Using articles with possessives (o, a, os, as) is typical, more so than in European Portuguese. Also, Brazilian speakers sometimes prefer constructions that clarify ownership with de + eles or de + elas in spoken conversation or when emphasizing the owners.
Politeness and formality matter as well. In formal writing, stick to clear grammar rules and match the possessive pronoun with the noun. In informal speech, you will hear variations and relaxed constructions; these are usually acceptable in colloquial contexts but be careful in formal tests or writing.
Quick reference summary
Use this short checklist when writing or speaking:
1. Identify the noun being possessed.
2. Determine the noun gender (masculine or feminine).
3. If noun is masculine or mixed: prefer deles.
4. If noun is feminine: prefer delas.
5. Remember informal speech may emphasize owners and alter usage.
Conclusion
Mastering the difference between deles and delas is a small but important step toward natural Portuguese. Focus first on the gender of the noun being possessed, use articles commonly in Brazilian Portuguese, and listen to native speakers to pick up informal variations. With practice, choosing between deles and delas will become automatic and your Portuguese will feel more fluent and accurate.
