Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"He" in Portuguese: ele
ele
He in Portuguese is ele. Verbs often drop the pronoun: (Ele) chegou. Keep ele for clarity or contrast: Ele vai; ela fica.
Assigning chores
Ele lava a louça; eu seco.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ele
Say it
EH-lee
/ˈe.li/
EH-lee
"He" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ele | he Subject pronoun. | Subject pronoun. |
| ele mesmo | he himself Emphasis. | Emphasis. |
| e ele? | and him / and he? Follow-up. | Follow-up. |
| para ele | for him Prepositional. | Prepositional. |
How to use ele in real life
- 1Assigning chores
Ele lava a louça; eu seco.
He washes the dishes; I dry.
Contrast.
- 2Late friend
Ele ainda está no trânsito.
He’s still in traffic.
Update.
- 3Gift plan
Comprei um livro para ele.
I bought a book for him.
Object of prep.
Mistakes English speakers make with ele
Incorrect: He é meu irmão.
Correct: Ele é meu irmão.
Use ele, not English he.
Incorrect: Lo chegou cedo. (as subject)
Correct: Ele chegou cedo.
Subject is ele; lo/o are object clitics.
Good to know
Brazilians drop ele when the verb ending is clear. Putting ele back adds contrast on the phone or in crowded stories. After prepositions use ele: com ele, para ele—not o.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Waiting for a coworker
ChatPal
Ele já saiu da reunião?
Has he left the meeting yet?
You
Ele mandou mensagem agora.
He just texted.
ChatPal
Então ele chega em dez minutos.
Then he arrives in ten minutes.
You
Combinado. Eu pego café para os três.
Deal. I’ll get coffee for the three of us.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"He" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "He" in Portuguese
He?
Ele.
Must I say ele?
Often optional if the verb shows person.
For him?
Para ele / pra ele.
He himself?
Ele mesmo.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
