Ways to say it
| Portuguese | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| nós | /ˈnɔ(j)s/ (Brazil) /ˈnɔ(j)ʃ/ (Rio de Janeiro) |
|
| a gente | /a ˈʒẽ.t͡ʃi/ (Brazil) /ɐ ˈʒẽ.tɨ/ (Portugal) |
informal |
In Portuguese, 'we' refers to the speaker and at least one other person, regardless of whether the person being addressed is included in the group.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase a gente literally translates to 'the people' or 'the folk', but it is used commonly to mean 'we'.
Which one should you use?
nós is the standard form used for formal or standard writing, whereas a gente is an alternative used in casual, everyday spoken conversation.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
nós is suitable for formal or standard writing. a gente is an informal alternative used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In the Northeast of Brazil, variations such as nós outros or nós tudo are used to express 'we'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When using nós, verbs must be conjugated in the first-person plural. Although a gente means 'we', it is grammatically treated as a singular third-person subject and requires verbs to be conjugated in the singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈnɔ(j)s/
Did you know?
- The word gente in the phrase a gente actually shares a common ancestor with the English word 'gentle' and the Latin 'gens', which refers to a clan or family.
- The word nós is a homograph that can also mean 'knot' in Portuguese, depending on the context and the accent used in other words.
- The phrase a gente is so common in Brazil that it often replaces nós in almost all spoken social situations, even when speaking to someone you respect.
Examples in context
- Nós fomos a pé.We went on foot.This sentence shows how to use nós to describe a past action.Tatoeba #2576827 by alexmarcelo, translation #2255719 by _undertoad
- Nós vamos a pé?Are we going on foot?This sentence shows how to use nós to ask a question.Tatoeba #9700737 by Ricardo14, translation #1222613 by FiRez
- A gente quer ir.We want to go.This sentence shows how to use a gente to express a desire.Tatoeba #1656842 by alexmarcelo, translation #1553334 by CK
- Nós vamos ao cinema hoje à noite.We are going to the movies tonight.
- Nós precisamos trabalhar juntos para alcançar esse objetivo.We need to work together to achieve this goal.
- Nós moramos em São Paulo.We live in São Paulo.
- A gente não pode esperar mais.We can't wait any longer.
- A gente vai se encontrar no parque amanhã.We are meeting at the park tomorrow.
- A gente ama viajar.We love to travel.
- A gente precisa sair agora.We need to leave now.
- A gente está indo para a praia neste fim de semana.We are going to the beach this weekend.
- A gente adora comer pizza.We love eating pizza.
- Nós outros vamos ao parque amanhã.We are going to the park tomorrow.
- 4436 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Juliana and Rodrigo are planning their weekend trip.
- JulianaNós vamos para a praia?Are we going to the beach?
- RodrigoSim, nós vamos de carro.Yes, we are going by car.
- JulianaRodrigo, você levou a comida?Rodrigo, did you bring the food?
- RodrigoSim, eu guardei no carro.Yes, I put it in the car.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “we” translations and entries nós, a gente, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries a, gente, nós, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
