Portuguese Phrase
Eles se conheceram no ano passado.
Meaning
The sentence means 'They met each other last year.' It uses the reciprocal form of the verb 'conhecer' to show that the meeting was mutual. The time phrase pinpoints the event to the previous calendar year.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to talk about how two or more people first met, especially in storytelling, introductions, or recounting past events.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Elesseconheceramnoanopassado
Pronoun 'se' (reflexive)
The reflexive pronoun 'se' is used with reciprocal verbs to indicate that the subjects act upon each other.
Past tense -ar verbs (pretérito perfeito)
Conjugate regular -ar verbs in the past perfect by adding -ei, -aste, -ou, -amos, -astes, -aram to the stem.
Preposition 'no'
The contraction 'no' = 'em' + 'o' is used before masculine singular nouns like 'ano'.
Time expression 'no ano passado'
Indicates a specific point in the past, similar to 'last year' in English.
🗨In Conversation
Como vocês se conheceram?
How did you meet?
Eles se conheceram no ano passado, na festa de aniversário do João.
They met each other last year, at João's birthday party.
✕Common Mistakes
Eles se conheceu no ano passado.
The verb must agree with the plural subject; use 'conheceram' not 'conheceu'.
Ele se conheceram no ano passado.
Avoid using 'se' when the action is not reciprocal; for a single person you would say 'Ele conheceu'.
Eles se conheceram no último ano.
Do not translate 'last year' as 'no último ano' in this context; 'no ano passado' is the idiomatic expression.
↔Alternatives
Eles se encontraram no ano passado.
They met each other last year.
Eles se conheceram no ano passado na universidade.
They met each other last year at the university.
Eles se conheceram no ano passado.
They met last year.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, it's common to ask 'Como vocês se conheceram?' when meeting a couple or a group of friends. Using the reciprocal form 'se conheceram' emphasizes that the meeting was mutual, which sounds natural in informal conversation.