Pelo and Pela in Portuguese: When Por Contracts with an Article — Practice
A guided practice lesson with English explanations, Brazilian Portuguese examples, and answers you can check. Read the examples, recall the meaning, then say a version of your own.
Build the four contractions from por and an article
Portuguese combines por with the definite articles: por + o = pelo, por + a = pela, por + os = pelos, and por + as = pelas. These contractions are standard forms. The noun and its article determine which one you use.
Learn the noun with its article—o centro, a cidade, os bairros, as ruas—then connect it to the expression with por. Do not choose the ending by looking only at the English word “through,” “for,” or “by.”
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Passamos pelo centro. | We went through the downtown area. |
| Caminhei pela praia. | I walked along the beach. |
| O ônibus passa pelas cidades pequenas. | The bus goes through the small towns. |
Use pelo or pela for routes and movement
A route gives you a concrete setting for these forms: caminhar pela rua, passar pelo portão, or viajar pelos bairros. Some expressions are conventional, so notice the entire phrase and how a speaker uses it.
When giving directions, a street or neighborhood noun can make the choice visible. If the place takes o, use pelo; if it takes a, use pela. When unsure about a place name, ask how locals refer to it instead of forcing a rule from English.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| A gente entrou pelo portão principal. | We entered through the main gate. |
| Vire pela próxima rua. | Turn onto the next street. |
| Eles caminharam pelos corredores. | They walked through the hallways. |
Recognize other common meanings of por
Por can express more than movement. It can describe a price or exchange, a duration or frequency, and the means by which something happens. The context helps you decide which meaning fits; the contraction rule remains por plus the matching article.
Many frequent phrases are best learned as chunks, such as pelo menos (at least) and pelo telefone (by phone). Do not translate a contraction letter by letter when an expression has a conventional meaning.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Comprei por vinte reais. | I bought it for twenty reais. |
| Estudamos por uma hora. | We studied for one hour. |
| Pelo menos, temos tempo. | At least we have time. |
Compare pelo with related contractions carefully
Pelo comes from por + o, while pelo menos is a fixed phrase meaning “at least.” Do not confuse pelo with pelo as a noun meaning body hair; spelling and context resolve the meaning. The plural form pelos can have the same spelling as that noun too.
Other prepositions contract in different ways: de + o is do, and em + o is no. Keep each preposition separate in your notes so that an article contraction does not make you forget which relationship the sentence expresses. For a broader preposition review, compare this guide with Real Life Portuguese and ask an I Speak Portuguese teacher about your examples.
| Brazilian Portuguese | English meaning |
|---|---|
| Passei pelo mercado e depois fui à farmácia. | I went by the market and then went to the pharmacy. |
| Ela mandou a confirmação por e-mail. | She sent the confirmation by email. |
| Pela manhã, eu estudo; à noite, eu descanso. | In the morning, I study; at night, I rest. |
Remember: Write four phrases—pelo, pela, pelos, and pelas—using nouns whose articles you know. Underline the noun article that controls each contraction.
Check your understanding
Choose the English meaning of each Portuguese example. Answer before looking back at the tables. These questions check the written examples in this guide; they are not a listening or proficiency test.
Recall the Portuguese, then say it
Read the English prompt and say a Portuguese version before opening the answer. The answer shows the example from the lesson; other natural translations may also work. Compare the meaning and the situation rather than counting a different word as automatically wrong.
We went through the downtown area.
Show a Portuguese answer
Passamos pelo centro.
I walked along the beach.
Show a Portuguese answer
Caminhei pela praia.
The bus goes through the small towns.
Show a Portuguese answer
O ônibus passa pelas cidades pequenas.
We entered through the main gate.
Show a Portuguese answer
A gente entrou pelo portão principal.
Turn onto the next street.
Show a Portuguese answer
Vire pela próxima rua.
They walked through the hallways.
Show a Portuguese answer
Eles caminharam pelos corredores.
Make the phrase useful to you
Choose one example you could actually use. Say it once from memory, then change one detail that fits your life, such as the person, place, time, or object. Check whether your change also needs a different verb form, article, or adjective ending. If it does, compare it with the pattern in the explanation.
Write four phrases—pelo, pela, pelos, and pelas—using nouns whose articles you know. Underline the noun article that controls each contraction.
Return to two prompts tomorrow without opening the answers first. If a phrase still feels difficult, shorten it to a useful chunk and build the complete sentence again.
Sources and your next lesson
This I Speak Portuguese practice guide builds on our Pelo and Pela in Portuguese: When Por Contracts with an Article lesson on Real Life Portuguese, with written recall tasks and additional speaking practice. The explanations and examples are teaching material; the practice questions are exercises, not a transcript of a recording.
To add Brazilian audio to your routine, choose a lesson in the Real Life Portuguese app. The app offers its own lessons and practice; this page does not imply that every example here has an app recording.
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