A2 Portuguese GrammarPossessive Pronouns
Master Portuguese possessive pronouns (meu, teu, seu, nosso, vosso, dele) to replace nouns and express ownership clearly. Unlike possessive adjectives which accompany nouns, these pronouns stand alone. Learn how they agree in gender and number with the possessed item, and understand the important distinction between seu/sua and dele/dela for clarity.
1Possessive Pronouns vs Possessive Adjectives
Possessive pronouns in Portuguese replace a noun plus its possessive adjective. While possessive adjectives accompany nouns (meu carro - my car), possessive pronouns stand alone (o meu - mine). In Portuguese, possessive pronouns take the same forms as possessive adjectives but are typically preceded by a definite article. They agree in gender and number with the thing possessed, not the possessor.
Possessive Pronouns with Articles
| English | Masc. Sing. | Fem. Sing. | Masc. Plur. | Fem. Plur. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mine | o meu | a minha | os meus | as minhas |
| yours (tu) | o teu | a tua | os teus | as tuas |
| yours/his/hers (você) | o seu | a sua | os seus | as suas |
| ours | o nosso | a nossa | os nossos | as nossas |
| yours (vós) | o vosso | a vossa | os vossos | as vossas |
Examples
Este livro é o meu.
This book is mine.
o meu replaces 'o meu livro'
A casa deles é grande, mas a nossa é pequena.
Their house is big, but ours is small.
a nossa replaces 'a nossa casa'
Onde está o teu? O meu está aqui.
Where is yours? Mine is here.
Pronouns stand alone without nouns
Estas chaves são as tuas ou as minhas?
Are these keys yours or mine?
Feminine plural to match 'chaves'
2Using Dele/Dela for Clarity
Because seu/sua can mean 'your', 'his', 'her', or 'its', Portuguese often uses dele (his), dela (her), deles (theirs, masc.), and delas (theirs, fem.) to avoid ambiguity. These forms come after the noun or at the end of the sentence. This is especially important when the context doesn't make the possessor clear.
Dele/Dela Forms
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dele | his/its (masc.) | o carro dele |
| dela | her/its (fem.) | a casa dela |
| deles | theirs (masc./mixed) | os livros deles |
| delas | theirs (fem.) | as amigas delas |
Examples
O carro é dele, não é dela.
The car is his, not hers.
dele/dela clarify ownership
A ideia foi dela.
The idea was hers.
dela = hers (clear and unambiguous)
Este apartamento é deles.
This apartment is theirs.
deles = theirs (masculine/mixed group)
Os problemas são delas, não nossos.
The problems are theirs, not ours.
delas = theirs (feminine group)
3Agreement Rules
Possessive pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace, not with the possessor. A man referring to his houses uses 'as minhas' (feminine plural) because 'casas' is feminine. The article also matches: o/a/os/as corresponds to the possessed item. This agreement is essential for grammatical correctness.
Agreement Examples
| Possessed Item | Pronoun Form | Full Expression |
|---|---|---|
| o carro (masc. sing.) | o meu | O carro é o meu. |
| a casa (fem. sing.) | a minha | A casa é a minha. |
| os livros (masc. plur.) | os meus | Os livros são os meus. |
| as chaves (fem. plur.) | as minhas | As chaves são as minhas. |
Examples
A bicicleta vermelha é a minha.
The red bicycle is mine.
a minha agrees with 'bicicleta' (fem.)
Os sapatos pretos são os teus?
Are the black shoes yours?
os teus agrees with 'sapatos' (masc. plur.)
Estas flores são as nossas.
These flowers are ours.
as nossas agrees with 'flores' (fem. plur.)
O computador novo é o dele.
The new computer is his.
o dele - article matches 'computador'
4Common Expressions and Usage
Possessive pronouns appear frequently in comparisons, questions, and clarifications about ownership. Common patterns include 'é meu/teu/nosso' (is mine/yours/ours) and questions like 'de quem é?' (whose is it?). In informal speech, the article is sometimes omitted, especially in Brazil, but using it is always correct.
Common Patterns
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| É + possessive | É meu. | It's mine. |
| Comparison | O meu é melhor que o teu. | Mine is better than yours. |
| Question | De quem é este? - É nosso. | Whose is this? - It's ours. |
| Contrast | Não é seu, é meu. | It's not yours, it's mine. |
Examples
De quem é esta mala? - É minha.
Whose suitcase is this? - It's mine.
Article often omitted with ser + possessive
O nosso apartamento é maior que o deles.
Our apartment is bigger than theirs.
Comparison using possessive pronouns
Isso não é problema teu, é meu.
That's not your problem, it's mine.
Emphatic contrast of ownership
A responsabilidade é nossa, não deles.
The responsibility is ours, not theirs.
nossa/deles show clear contrast