Portuguese Phrase
Deixa os outros trabalharem.
Meaning
A direct command telling someone to allow the other people to work. It carries a slightly informal tone because of the use of ‘deixa’ instead of the formal ‘deixe’.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to politely (or informally) tell a colleague, friend, or teammate to stop interfering and let the rest of the group continue their tasks.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Deixaosoutrostrabalharem
Imperative of deixar
‘Deixa’ is the informal singular imperative form of the verb ‘deixar’ (to let/allow).
Personal infinitive
After ‘deixar’, Portuguese often uses the personal infinitive ‘trabalharem’, which agrees with the subject ‘os outros’.
Object pronoun agreement
‘os outros’ is a plural masculine direct object; the infinitive must reflect that plurality.
🗨In Conversation
Deixa os outros trabalharem.
Let the others work.
Claro, vou focar no meu projeto.
Sure, I’ll focus on my own project.
✕Common Mistakes
Deixa os outros trabalhar.
After ‘deixar’, you need the personal infinitive ‘trabalharem’, not the simple infinitive ‘trabalhar’.
Deixa o outro trabalharem.
The object is plural, so the article must be plural ‘os outros’.
Deixa os outros trabalharem, senhor.
In formal contexts, replace ‘deixa’ with ‘deixe’.
↔Alternatives
Permita que os outros trabalhem.
Allow the others to work.
Deixe os outros trabalharem.
Let the others work.
Deixa que os outros trabalhem.
Let the others work.
Cultural Tip
‘Deixa’ is the informal imperative used with ‘tu’. In a formal setting (e.g., with a boss or a stranger) you should use ‘deixe’. The personal infinitive after ‘deixar’ is a uniquely Portuguese construction that lets the verb agree with its logical subject, something learners often miss.