indef article: contractions

Contractions of Indefinite Articles in Brazilian Portuguese

In Brazilian Portuguese, indefinite articles (um, uma, uns, umas) can sometimes combine with prepositions. However, the rules differ significantly depending on which preposition you are using.

1. Contractions with the Preposition Em

The preposition em (meaning 'at', 'in', or 'on') combines with indefinite articles by using a reduced "n" stem. This creates single-word contractions that are standard and extremely common in spoken Portuguese:

• em + um = num (in a / at a): Ele mora num apartamento novo. (He lives in a new apartment.)
• em + uma = numa (in a / at a): Eu trabalho numa empresa grande. (I work in a large company.)
• em + uns = nuns (in some / at some): Encontrei o livro nuns sebos. (I found the book in some used bookstores.)
• em + umas = numas (in some / at some): Pensamos numas ideias legais. (We thought of some cool ideas.)

Note: While these contractions are frequent and natural in speech, they are optional and can sometimes be written separately (em um, em uma) in formal writing.

2. Avoidance of Contractions with the Preposition De

Historically, the preposition de ('of', 'from') also formed contractions with indefinite articles (dum, duma, duns, dumas). However, in modern Brazilian Portuguese:

• These contractions are now considered rare and outdated.
• You should avoid writing them. Instead, always keep de and the article separate:
• Correct: Este é o carro de um amigo. (This is a friend's car / This is the car of a friend.)
• Incorrect/Archaic: Este é o carro dum amigo.

Tip: Even though native speakers naturally blend these sounds together when speaking quickly (running de and um together), standard written grammar requires keeping them as two distinct words.