Obedeçam

Obedeçam is a conjugated form of the Portuguese verb obedecer, used to express obedience or instruction directed at a plural audience. Grammatically, obedeçam is the third-person plural form of the present subjunctive of obedecer, and in everyday usage it functions as the imperative mood when addressing the pronoun vocês (you all). For example, in commands such as Obedeçam às regras, it translates roughly as “You all must obey the rules.”

Usage and nuances: In Portuguese, commands directed at a group often rely on the present subjunctive form of the verb, which gives Obedeçam its imperative sense without changing the pronoun. The form can appear in formal or semi-formal contexts—such as official guidelines, rules, or admonitions—and is common in spoken, written, or instructional language. It can also appear in literary, rhetorical, or political contexts to emphasize collective compliance.

Linguistic details: The verb obedecer comes from the Latin root oboedire, and its present-subjunctive third-person plural ending is -am, yielding obedeçam. This form contrasts with other persons (obedeças, obedeça, obedeçamos, obedeçais) used in subordinate clauses or different pronouns. The same principle applies to other regular -er verbs in the present subjunctive.

See also: Portuguese verb conjugation, present subjunctive, imperative mood, obedience in language.