eles/elas/eles e elas
1. Third person plural pronoun referring to two or more people or things previously mentioned
My friends arrived yesterday. They were very happy.
Meus amigos chegaram ontem. Eles estavam muito felizes.
2. Gender-neutral singular pronoun referring to a person of unspecified or non-binary gender
The student submitted their homework. They did great work.
O estudante entregou seu trabalho. Ele/ela fez um ótimo trabalho.
3. Used to refer to people in general or indefinitely
They say it will rain tomorrow.
Dizem que vai chover amanhã.
In English, 'they' has traditionally been plural only, but modern usage increasingly accepts singular 'they' as a gender-neutral pronoun. In Portuguese, this remains less standardized; eles/elas maintains gender distinction. Brazilian Portuguese speakers may use 'eles' generically, while some younger speakers adopt singular 'they' for non-binary individuals. The singular they reflects contemporary discussions about gender inclusion in both English and Portuguese-speaking communities.
Related Idioms & Phrases
they say what they say - people express opinions, whether justified or not
they're not wrong - acknowledging a valid point made by others
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