when NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese

When NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese

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If when NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese has been driving you crazy, then this post is for you! I’m going to list all the situations in which we don’t use them. You’ll never be confused again after reading this lesson. Read my post about definite articles in Portuguese first if you’re not sure what they are.

Table Of Contents
  1. 1 – With the months of the year
  2. 2 – With the word casa, whenever it means home
  3. 3 – After verbs when we list things or refer to things in general
  4. 4 – With famous or important people's names
  5. 5 – When we address someone directly
  6. 6 – When referring to our own name or someone else's name
  7. 7 – The days of the week, but only in some cases:

No time to read? Then watch/listen to the lesson.

But if you just want a summary, then please read on.

1 – With the months of the year

Faço anos em Maio. (It’s my birthday in May)

Vou para o Canadá em Julho. (I’m going to Canada in July)

2 – With the word casa, whenever it means home

Ela voltou para casa ontem. (She went back “for” home yesterday)

Eu estou em casa agora. (I’m “in” home now)

Vamos sair de casa às sete horas. (We’re leaving “from” home at 7 O’clock)

3 – After verbs when we list things or refer to things in general

Mais tarde vou ao supermercado para comprar leite, pão, água e fruta. (later I’m going to the supermarket to buy milk, bread, water and fruit)

Ele toca piano. (he plays piano)

Eles fazem portas e janelas. (they make doors and windows)

Eu gosto de café. (I like coffee)

Ela estuda biologia e psicologia. (She studies biology and psychology)

Eles falam Espanhol mas não falam Português. (They speak Spanish but they don’t speak Portuguese.)

When NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese

In these examples, the second you include an article you make the items specific. For instance:

Eu vou fazer a limpeza. (I’m going to do the cleaning) vs
Eu vou fazer limpeza no verão. (I’m doing cleaning work in the Summer)

Eu gosto de café, mas gosto particularmente do café neste sítio. (I like coffee, but I particularly like the coffee in this place.)

4 – With famous or important people’s names

Camões escreveu os Lusíadas.(Camões wrote “os Lusíadas”)

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa é o Presidente da República neste momento. (Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa is the President of the Republic at the moment)

5 – When we address someone directly

Como estás, Luísa? (How are you, Luísa?)

Hélder!! Vai sair do estacionamento agora? Hélder!! Are you leaving the car park now?)

6 – When referring to our own name or someone else’s name

Chamo-me Adelina. (My name is Adelina – “I call myself” Adelina)

Ela chama-se Andreia. (Her name is Andreia – “he calls herself” Andreia)

O nome dele é Filipe. (His name is Filipe)

7 – The days of the week, but only in some cases:

7.1 when we’re saying what day of the week it is

Hoje é sexta-feira. (today is Friday) and not “Hoje é a sexta-feira”

When to use definite articles in Portuguese

7.2 when we colloquially state what we’re doing on the next-mentioned day relative to when you say it. For example:

Quinta vou ao cinema. (Thursday, I’m going to the cinema)

Outside of this colloquial use, there should be an article, so: “na quinta” (on Thursday). Both ways are considered correct and interchangeable in everyday speech.

So there you have the ultimate list of when NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese. Over here, we learnt when to use definite articles in Portuguese, in case you’re wondering 😉

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