Portuguese Phrase
Às vezes eu os guardo pra mim.
Meaning
This phrase describes the act of keeping things, such as secrets, thoughts, or physical objects, private instead of sharing them. The use of 'os' refers to a masculine plural noun mentioned previously, and 'pra mim' emphasizes the internal or personal nature of the action. It is a common way to express personal boundaries or a reserved nature.
When to use
Use this phrase when explaining why you haven't shared certain information or items with others. It is appropriate for conversations about personal habits, secrets, or professional confidentiality. It works well in both casual and semi-formal settings.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Às vezeseuosguardopramim
Às vezes
An adverbial phrase meaning 'sometimes'; the accent is mandatory to distinguish it from a simple article-noun combination.
Os
A direct object pronoun used to replace a masculine plural noun, placed before the verb in this specific sentence structure.
Pra mim
A colloquial contraction of 'para mim'. 'Mim' is the object pronoun used after prepositions when there is no following verb.
🗨In Conversation
Você sempre conta seus planos para os outros?
Do you always tell your plans to others?
Não, às vezes eu os guardo pra mim.
No, sometimes I keep them to myself.
✕Common Mistakes
As vezes eu os guardo pra mim.
The phrase 'às vezes' always requires the grave accent (crase) to indicate the feminine plural adverbial locution.
Às vezes eu guardo eles pra mim.
While common in casual Brazilian speech, 'eles' should not be used as a direct object in formal grammar; 'os' is the correct pronoun here.
Às vezes eu os guardo para eu.
After a preposition like 'para' or 'pra', use the stressed pronoun 'mim' instead of the subject pronoun 'eu'.
↔Alternatives
De vez em quando eu não os conto.
Once in a while I don't tell them.
Eu costumo guardar isso comigo.
I usually keep this with me.
Às vezes prefiro manter segredo.
Sometimes I prefer to keep it a secret.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the contraction 'pra' is almost universally used in spoken language instead of 'para'. While 'os' is the grammatically correct direct object pronoun, many Brazilians will use 'eles' after the verb in very informal situations. Speeek focuses on helping you recognize these nuances so you sound natural while staying grammatically aware.