Portuguese · People & Family
"People" in Portuguese: pessoas / gente
as pessoas / a gente
People in Portuguese is as pessoas, or casually a gente for we/people in general. As pessoas is clearer for plural people; a gente takes singular verbs.
Crowd
Tinha muita gente na fila do show.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce pessoas / gente
Say it
peh-SOH-ahss / ah ZHEN-chee
/ˈʒẽ.tʃi/, /ˈas ˈpesoas/
peh-SOH-ahss / ah ZHEN-chee.
"People" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| as pessoas | people / the people Clear plural noun. | Clear plural noun. |
| a gente | we / people (casual) Very Brazilian; singular verb. | Very Brazilian; singular verb. |
| muita gente | a lot of people Crowd size. | Crowd size. |
| poucas pessoas | few people Small number. | Small number. |
| o povo | the people / populace Collective / political. | Collective / political. |
How to use pessoas / gente in real life
- 1Crowd
Tinha muita gente na fila do show.
There were a lot of people in the concert line.
Muita gente.
- 2Opinion
As pessoas aqui são bem receptivas com turistas.
People here are very welcoming to tourists.
As pessoas.
- 3Plans
A gente pode chegar mais cedo se quiser.
We can arrive earlier if you want.
A gente + singular pode.
Mistakes English speakers make with pessoas / gente
Incorrect: A gente podemos ir.
Correct: A gente pode ir.
A gente takes a singular verb: pode, not podemos.
Incorrect: Os peoples chegaram.
Correct: As pessoas chegaram. / Chegou muita gente.
Use pessoas or gente, not English people.
Good to know
A gente is one of the most Brazilian ways to say we. As pessoas sounds clearer when you mean people in general as a plural noun. Muita gente describes crowds without counting heads.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Leaving a packed café
ChatPal
Tem gente demais aqui dentro.
There are too many people in here.
You
Verdade. As pessoas estão na porta também.
True. People are at the door too.
ChatPal
A gente sai e toma café na praça?
Shall we leave and have coffee in the square?
You
Vamos. Lá tem menos gente.
Let's go. There are fewer people there.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"People" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "People" in Portuguese
Pessoas vs gente?
Pessoas is plural people; a gente often means we and uses singular verbs.
How do I say a lot of people?
Muita gente / muitas pessoas.
Does a gente use plural verbs?
No—a gente pode, a gente vai.
What about o povo?
More collective/populace; not the default for everyday people.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
