Pelo and Pela in Portuguese: When Por Contracts with an Article
Pelo, pela, pelos, and pelas combine por with a definite article. Match the form to the noun phrase and learn it in context.
Real Life Portuguese · 7 min read · Updated October 14, 2026
The short answer
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.
Build the four contractions from por and an article
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
Put it into practice
Write four phrases—pelo, pela, pelos, and pelas—using nouns whose articles you know. Underline the noun article that controls each contraction.
Quick practice
Which Portuguese example matches “I went by the market and then went to the pharmacy”?
Choose an answer to check yourself.
Keep practicing with the Real Life Portuguese app
Build on this guide with everyday expressions and native Brazilian audio. Choose iPhone, Android, or the web app.