Portuguese Phrase
Bota eles na caixa de brinquedos.
Meaning
The sentence is a direct command telling someone to place ‘them’ (usually toys) inside the toy box. It uses a casual tone typical of everyday conversation among family members or friends.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to ask a child, sibling, or roommate to tidy up by putting toys back in their designated box. It works best in informal settings; in formal contexts you would choose a more standard form.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Botaelesnacaixadebrinquedos.
Imperative (colloquial)
‘Bota’ is the informal imperative of the verb ‘botar’ (to put), commonly used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Clitic pronoun placement
In standard Portuguese the object pronoun is attached to the verb with a hyphen: ‘Bota‑os’. The detached form ‘Bota eles’ is accepted in informal speech.
Preposition contraction ‘na’
‘na’ = ‘em’ + ‘a’, meaning ‘in/on the’. It precedes feminine singular nouns like ‘caixa’.
Noun phrase ‘caixa de brinquedos’
A compound noun meaning ‘toy box’; ‘de’ links the container (caixa) to its content (brinquedos).
🗨In Conversation
Bota eles na caixa de brinquedos.
Put them in the toy box.
Tá bom, já coloco.
Okay, I’ll put them there now.
✕Common Mistakes
Bota eles na caixa de brinquedos.
In formal writing the pronoun should be attached to the verb with a hyphen: ‘Bota‑os’. The detached version is colloquial.
Bota eles na caixa de brinquedo.
‘Brinquedo’ is singular; the phrase refers to a box that holds many toys, so use the plural ‘brinquedos’.
Bota ele na caixa de brinquedos.
The pronoun must agree in number with the objects; ‘ele’ is singular, while ‘eles’ is plural.
↔Alternatives
Coloque‑os na caixa de brinquedos.
Place them in the toy box.
Ponha‑os na caixa de brinquedos.
Put them in the toy box.
Guarde‑os na caixa de brinquedos.
Store them in the toy box.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the verb ‘botar’ is preferred over the more formal ‘colocar’ in everyday speech, especially when giving quick commands to children. The clitic pronoun can either be attached (Bota‑os) or left separate (Bota eles); the attached form is grammatically correct, while the separated form is widely heard in informal contexts. Remember that ‘caixa de brinquedos’ is a fixed expression; avoid saying ‘caixa de brinquedo’ unless you refer to a single toy.