obtêla

Obtêla is a form sometimes encountered in discussions of Portuguese grammar, referring to the cliticized combination of the verb obter with a feminine direct object pronoun. In standard orthography, this clitic attachment is normally written with a hyphen as obtê-la, reflecting the rule that pronoun clitics are attached to a verb in infinitive or imperative forms. The unhyphenated variant obtêla appears mainly as a nonstandard or informal spelling and is generally discouraged in formal writing.

Origin and morphology

The construction derives from the verb obter (to obtain) plus a feminine object pronoun, traditionally used to refer to a feminine noun mentioned earlier in the discourse. The clitic pronoun functions as the direct object of the verb. When attached to an infinitive, the pronunciation and stress pattern of obter are preserved by orthographic marks such as the acute accent on the verb stem (obtê) and, in standard writing, by using a hyphen to separate the verb from the pronoun.

Usage considerations

In formal Portuguese, the recommended form is obtê-la, and the hyphen helps avoid ambiguity and maintains conventional stress. The concatenated form obtêla may be found in older texts, some regional varieties, or informal digital writing, but it risks being labeled nonstandard by prescriptive guides and spelling checkers.

See also

Portugues grammar, clitic pronouns, hyphenation rules, verb obter.

Note: This article treats obtêla as a linguistic form rather than a separate lexical entry or proper noun.