Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ele | /ˈe.li/ (Brazil) /ˈe.lɨ/ (Portugal) |
masculine |
| ela | /ˈɛ.lɐ/ (Brazil) /ˈɛ.lɐ/ (Portugal) |
feminine |
| isso | /ˈi.su/ (Brazil) /ˈi.su/ (Portugal) |
neuter, not translated, often |
When translating 'it', you must distinguish between referring to a specific object and referring to an abstract idea or an unknown thing. For a specific inanimate object, you use a gendered pronoun that matches the object's grammatical gender. For abstract concepts, situations or objects where the specific identity is not being emphasized, the neuter form is used.
Which one should you use?
Use ele (masculine) or ela (feminine) when referring to a specific inanimate object to match its grammatical gender. In contrast, use isso to refer to an abstract idea, a situation or an unidentified object rather than a specific noun with a gender.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The neuter form isso is used as a subject when the specific identity of the 'it' is unknown or when it refers to a whole concept that was previously mentioned.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈe.li/ (two syllables, stress on the 1st)
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often attempt to use a single word for 'it' in every situation. However, when replacing a specific noun, you must choose between ele or ela based on the gender of that noun.
Did you know?
- While isso is used for abstract ideas, using it to refer to a person is often considered offensive or dehumanizing.
- The pronoun isso can change to isto or aquilo depending on how far the 'it' is physically or metaphorically from the speaker.
- The word isso actually comes from the Latin word ipsum, which means 'itself', making it a linguistic relative of the English word 'itself'.
Examples in context
- Só dê a ela.Just give it to her.This sentence demonstrates the use of ela.Tatoeba #10790732 by DavidDias, translation #3907269 by CH
- É isso, não é?That's it, isn't it?This sentence shows how to use isso.Tatoeba #3490237 by piterkeo, translation #2548163 by CK
- Isso é do Tom?Is it Tom's?This sentence illustrates how isso can be used to ask about an object's ownership.Tatoeba #6003591 by bill, translation #2244574 by CK
- 4611 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Rodrigo and Beatriz are looking for a lost book in the living room.
- RodrigoOnde está o livro?Where is the book?
- BeatrizEle está em cima da mesa.It is on top of the table.
- RodrigoObrigado por encontrá-lo.Thank you for finding it.
- BeatrizDe nada, Rodrigo.You're welcome, Rodrigo.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “it” translations and entries ele, ela, isso, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ela, ele, isso, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
