Direct object pronoun forms

In brief

A direct object receives the action of a verb: in ‘Ela me chamou’ (She called me), me tells you whom she called. Brazilian Portuguese has short pronouns for this role, including me (me), te (you), and nos (us). In more careful or written language, o, a, os, and as can mean him, her, it, or them.

Form

me / te / nos + conjugated verb; in careful or written usage, o / a / os / as + conjugated verb. Choose o or a for a singular object, os or as for a plural object, matching its grammatical gender.

Usage

• Use these forms instead of repeating the person or thing receiving the action.
• In Brazilian Portuguese, put a short object pronoun before the conjugated verb in ordinary sentences and after não.
• Use o, a, os, and as especially in writing or careful speech; their gender and number follow the noun they replace.

Examples

• Você me viu ontem? — Did you see me yesterday?
• Eu te vi na praça. — I saw you in the square.
• A diretora nos chamou para conversar. — The principal called us over to talk.
• Não o encontrei na reunião. — I didn’t find him at the meeting.

Common mistake

❌ Ela chamou nos ontem.

✅ Ela nos chamou ontem.

Unlike English ‘She called us yesterday,’ a short object pronoun normally goes before the conjugated verb in Brazilian Portuguese.

Remember

Me, te, and nos do not change for gender; o, a, os, and as do.