outros

Outros is a Portuguese word that functions as the masculine plural form of outro, meaning "other" or "another." It is used as an adjective or determiner and agrees with the noun it modifies: outros livros, outros amigos. The feminine forms are outras (adjective) and as outras (the others, feminine). As a pronoun, os outros or as outras can mean "the others," referring to people or things previously mentioned or implied.

Etymology and related forms: Outras originates from Latin alter, through the evolution of Portuguese. Cognates include Spanish otros and Italian altri, reflecting its common Indo-European roots for the concept of "the other(s)."

Grammar and usage: In standard Portuguese, outros is used when the referent is masculine or mixed gender. For a feminine referent, the form is outras. The phrase os outros typically introduces a group distinct from the one already identified, as in "Os outros chegaram cedo" (The others arrived early). The expression "outros" also appears in phrases like "outros dias" (other days) or "outros livros" (other books), indicating additional items or alternatives.

Notes: The word is common in both Brazilian and European Portuguese, with consistent agreement rules across dialects. While primarily an adjective or determiner, its pronoun use is well established in everyday speech and writing to denote a separate set from a previously mentioned group.

See also: Portuguese pronouns and determiners; gender and number agreement in Portuguese; related cognates in Romance languages.