Third Person Indirect Object Pronouns

These pronouns are all about the recipient. In any sentence, you usually have an action. Sometimes that action is directed at a thing (Direct Object). But often, the action is done *to* or *for* a person (Indirect Object). In English, we say "to him," "to her," or "to them." In Portuguese, lhe covers "to him," "to her," and even "to you" (formal). lhes covers the plural version.

Here is the magic trick: lhe doesn't care about gender. Whether you're talking to a man, a woman, or your formal boss, it’s still just lhe. It’s like a one-size-fits-all t-shirt that actually looks good. The verb usually signals that an indirect object is coming. Verbs of communication, giving, or asking are the biggest fans of lhe. If you’re giving a gift or telling a secret, lhe is your best friend. It sits quietly next to the verb, doing all the heavy lifting of referring back to someone you’ve already mentioned.

1. 1Identify the Recipient: Look for the person receiving the action. Usually, they follow prepositions like a or para. For example, in Eu dou o livro a ela, the recipient is a ela.
2. 2Select the Pronoun: Is the recipient one person? Use lhe. Is it a group? Use lhes.
3. 3Check the Verb: Make sure the verb actually takes an indirect object. Verbs like dar (to give), dizer (to say), and pedir (to ask) are perfect candidates.
4. 4Place the Pronoun: In most modern contexts (especially Brazilian Portuguese), we put the pronoun before the verb. Eu lhe dei o livro. In very formal writing or European Portuguese, it might go after: Dei-lhe o livro.
5. 5Drop the Preposition: When you use lhe, you no longer need a or para. The lhe already contains that "to/for" meaning.

Use lhe when you want to be clear and slightly more formal or polished. It's fantastic for job interviews. If you want to say "I will send you my CV," Eu lhe enviarei meu currículo sounds professional.

It’s also great for ordering food. If you’re telling the waiter that your friend wants the steak, you could say: O garçom lhe trouxe a conta? (Did the waiter bring him/her the bill?).

• Use it with verbs of communication: dizer, contar, perguntar.
• Use it with verbs of giving/transfer: dar, entregar, enviar.
• Use it with verbs of service: servir, trazer.

Think of it like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener exactly where the action is headed without causing a pile-up of repetitive nouns.

Don't use lhe to replace a thing. If you bought a car and want to say "I bought it," you use o or a, not lhe. lhe is strictly for people (or things treated like people, like your cat who thinks he's human).

Also, be careful in informal Brazilian Portuguese. In casual chats, Brazilians often prefer para ele or para você. If you use lhe at a loud BBQ with friends, you might sound like a 19th-century poet. It’s not wrong, just a bit fancy.

• Don't use it with verbs that don't need a or para.
• Don't use it as a subject. lhe can never be the one doing the action.
• Avoid using it if it makes the sentence confusing (like if there are three different people it could refer to).

One big trap is gender confusion. Many learners try to change lhe to something else for women. Nope! lhe is neutral. It works for Maria just as well as for João.

Another classic is mixing up Direct vs. Indirect. Learners often say Eu lhe amo. While you might hear this in some regions, grammatically, "love" is a direct action. It should be Eu te amo or Eu o amo. lhe needs that hidden "to" or "for."

• ✗ Mistake: Eu lhe vi na rua. (I saw him/her in the street).
• ✓ Correct: Eu o vi or Eu a vi. You don't see *to* someone; you just see them.
• ✗ Mistake: Vou dar o presente para lhe.
• ✓ Correct: Vou lhe dar o presente. The lhe replaces the whole para + person chunk.

Let’s compare lhe with o/a.

• Eu o chamei = I called him (Direct).
• Eu lhe disse = I said to him (Indirect).

Now, compare lhe with the informal para você/ele.

• Informal: Eu contei para ele.
• Standard/Formal: Eu lhe contei.

The second one is more concise. It feels tighter. It’s the difference between saying "I'm going to go to the store" and "I'm hitting the shop." Both work, but one is punchier. In European Portuguese, lhe is used much more frequently in daily life than in Brazil. If you're in Lisbon, you'll hear lhe everywhere. In Rio, you'll hear it in movies or news reports more than at the beach.