When NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese

If the question of when NOT to use definite articles in Portuguese has been driving you crazy, then this post is for you! This is one of the most confusing areas of European Portuguese grammar, especially for beginners.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when to drop the articles (o, a, os, as) with clear examples and real-life usage. Read my post about definite articles in Portuguese first if you’re not sure what they are.

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Quick Answer: When NOT to Use Definite Articles in Portuguese

You do NOT use definite articles in Portuguese:

• In some expressions with days of the week (Hoje é sexta-feira)
• With months (em maio, em julho)
• With casa when it means “home” (em casa, para casa)
• After verbs when speaking generally (gosto de café)
• With famous names (Camões escreveu…)
• When addressing someone directly (Olá, João!)
• When stating names (Chamo-me Ana)

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Watch my Video on when NOT to use Definite Articles in European Portuguese

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1 – No Definite Articles with Months in Portuguese

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2 – No Definite Articles with “Casa” (Meaning Home)

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3 – No Definite Articles After Verbs (General Meaning)

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.)

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.)

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4 – No Definite Articles with Names in Portuguese

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5 – No Definite Articles when addressing someone directly

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6 – No Definite Articles with When referring to our own name or someone else’s name

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

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

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7 – No Definite Articles with the days of the week (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”

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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