To speak truly street smart Portuguese, you need to learn how to use A GENTE in Brazil instead of using NÓS.
A gente = Nós = We, but you conjugate the verb in the singular, as you do for você, ele, and ela.
Notice that a gente does NOT mean “the people” when used this way. It means we.
In Brazilian Portuguese, we use a gente more often than we use nós. That is why I recommend that you do so too, especially among friends and family.
I show you how to use a gente in the examples below:
- Nós falamos português.
- A gente fala português.
- (We speak Portuguese)
- Nós andamos no parque com nosso cachorro.
- A gente anda no parque com nosso cachorro.
- (We walk in the park with our dog)
- Nós gostamos de música brasileira.
- A gente gosta de música brasileira.
- (We like Brazilian music)
Express likes and dislikes. Learn to use the verb Gostar in Portuguese
- Nós fomos ao cinema ontem.
- A gente foi ao cinema ontem.
- We went to the movies yesterday.
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- Nós vamos a uma festa amanhã.
- A gente vai a uma festa amanhã.
- We are going to a party tomorrow.
I assume this applies also when indicating the future using ir + infinitive? For example:
We will have fun in the new office.
A gente vai se divertir no novo escritorio.
Thanks for your site, I purchased your book “51 Portuguese Idioms” and love it.
Oi, Chris! Yes, your example in the future tense is perfect. Muito obrigada pelo comentário e por ter comprado meu livro 🙂