Understanding the Basics: Why Do Contractions Occur?
In Portuguese, contractions between prepositions and articles occur to simplify pronunciation and make speech flow more naturally. Unlike English, where contractions are usually formed with auxiliary verbs and pronouns, Portuguese frequently combines prepositions (such as a, de, em, por) with definite or indefinite articles (o, a, os, as, um, uma, etc.).
Common Prepositions and Their Contractions
1. Contractions with “de” (of, from)
De is one of the most frequently used prepositions in Portuguese and almost always contracts when followed by a definite article.
- de + o = do (do livro – of the book)
- de + a = da (da casa – of the house)
- de + os = dos (dos amigos – of the friends)
- de + as = das (das crianças – of the children)
2. Contractions with “em” (in, on, at)
Em contracts with articles to form:
- em + o = no (no carro – in the car)
- em + a = na (na escola – at the school)
- em + os = nos (nos dias – on the days)
- em + as = nas (nas ruas – in the streets)
3. Contractions with “a” (to, at)
When a (the preposition) meets a or o (the article), they contract:
- a + o = ao (ao mercado – to the market)
- a + a = à (à praia – to the beach, note the accent!)
- a + os = aos (aos alunos – to the students)
- a + as = às (às mulheres – to the women)
Tip: The contraction à always uses a grave accent to distinguish it from the simple article or preposition.
4. Contractions with “por” (by, through, for)
“Por” contracts with definite articles as follows:
- por + o = pelo (pelo caminho – through the path)
- por + a = pela (pela janela – through the window)
- por + os = pelos (pelos anos – over the years)
- por + as = pelas (pelas cidades – through the cities)
Contractions with Indefinite Articles
While contractions with definite articles are most common, some prepositions also contract with indefinite articles (um, uma, uns, umas):
- de + um = dum (dum amigo – of a friend)
- de + uma = duma (duma casa – of a house)
- em + um = num (num lugar – in a place)
- em + uma = numa (numa escola – in a school)
These forms are more common in European Portuguese, while Brazilian Portuguese often keeps the preposition and article separate in spoken language.
Special Notes and Exceptions
- Some prepositions, such as com (with), form unique contractions: com + o = com o (no contraction), but com + a = com a (also no contraction), except in some idioms or regional speech.
- Contractions do not occur with possessive pronouns (de meu, de sua, etc.).
- In Brazilian Portuguese, especially in informal contexts, contractions with indefinite articles are less frequent and sometimes considered old-fashioned.
Practical Tips for Mastering Contractions
- Always listen for contractions when watching Portuguese media or using Talkpal’s AI tools.
- Practice reading aloud and pay attention to the flow of speech.
- Try writing sentences both with and without contractions to internalize the patterns.
Conclusion
Learning the contraction rules for prepositions and articles in Portuguese is a vital step on your path to fluency. With consistent practice and tools like Talkpal’s AI-powered language exercises, you’ll soon use these contractions naturally in both speech and writing. Remember, mastering these small details will make your Portuguese sound authentic and help you understand native speakers with greater ease.
