Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials
"We" in Portuguese: nós
nós
Note: spoken: a gente
We in Portuguese is nós. In speech Brazilians often say a gente with a singular verb: a gente vai. Formal writing still loves nós vamos.
Team plan
Nós fechamos o relatório hoje.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce nós
Say it
noys / ah ZHEN-chee
/ˈnɔs/
noys (approx.). A gente is ah ZHEN-chee.
"We" in Portuguese: quick reference
| Portuguese | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| nós | we Subject pronoun. | Subject pronoun. |
| a gente | we (spoken) Everyday Brazil. | Everyday Brazil. |
| nós vamos | we go / we’re going With nós. | With nós. |
| a gente vai | we go / we’re going Spoken pattern. | Spoken pattern. |
How to use nós in real life
- 1Team plan
Nós fechamos o relatório hoje.
We’re finishing the report today.
Work.
- 2Friends texting
Nós encontramos vocês na praça.
We’ll meet you at the square.
Plans.
- 3Contrast
Nós ficamos; eles viajam.
We’re staying; they’re traveling.
Emphasis.
Mistakes English speakers make with nós
Incorrect: We vamos ao cinema.
Correct: Nós vamos ao cinema. / A gente vai ao cinema.
Use nós or a gente, not English we.
Incorrect: A gente vamos agora.
Correct: A gente vai agora. / Nós vamos agora.
A gente takes singular verb forms.
Good to know
A gente is extremely common in Brazilian speech and takes ele/ela verb forms. Nós is clear and a bit more careful. Both mean we—pick based on formality.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Weekend planning
ChatPal
Nós vamos à feira amanhã?
Are we going to the market tomorrow?
You
Nós vamos sim, cedo.
Yes we are, early.
ChatPal
Perfeito. Nós compramos fruta fresca.
Perfect. We’ll buy fresh fruit.
You
Eu levo as sacolas.
I’ll bring the bags.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"We" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "We" in Portuguese
We?
Nós (or spoken a gente).
A gente verb?
Singular: a gente vai.
Nós verb?
Plural: nós vamos.
Which to use?
A gente in casual speech; nós anytime.
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
