Introduction
Nesse is a small but very useful word in Brazilian Portuguese that helps speakers refer to context, location, time, and situations. For English-speaking learners, understanding when and how to use nesse will improve clarity and make conversations sound more natural. This article explains the grammar, usage rules, common phrases, and subtle differences between related words.
What is nesse?
Nesse is a contraction of the preposition em and the demonstrative esse. It combines em + esse = nesse. Use it when you want to say in that, on that, or at that in reference to something near the listener or already mentioned in conversation.
Grammatically, nesse agrees in gender and number with the noun that follows by changing to nessa, nesses, or nessas when needed:
em + esse = nesse
em + essa = nessa
em + esses = nesses
em + essas = nessas
Basic rules and when to use nesse
1. Reference to immediate context or something near the listener
Use nesse when referring to a thing, place, or idea that is close to the person you are speaking with or was just mentioned:
Você deixou o livro nessa mesa.
A reunião será nesse prédio.
2. Talking about time and moments
Nesse can indicate a specific period or moment that has been mentioned or is understood in context:
Nesse verão vou viajar para o Nordeste.
Nessa época eu estudava muito.
3. Situations, contexts, or circumstances
Use nesse to describe a situation or set of conditions:
Nesse caso, precisamos falar com um advogado.
Nessa situação, é melhor esperar.
4. Referring back to something already mentioned
Nesse is often used to point back to a clause or idea just expressed:
Ele disse que vai mudar de emprego. Nesse comentário, muita gente ficou surpresa.
Houveram erros no relatório. Nesses pontos, precisamos revisar os dados.
Comparison with similar words
Entender a diferença entre nesse, no, and na
No and na are contractions of em + o and em + a, used for masculine and feminine singular nouns respectively when the noun is definite and specific. The main difference is that no/na often point to something more definite or previously established, while nesse/nessa point to something linked to the listener or recently mentioned.
Examples:
O café está no balcão. (The coffee is on the counter — a specific counter.)
Coloque o copo nessa mesa. (Put the glass on that table — the table near you or the one we were talking about.)
Difference from neste and naquele
Nesse indicates proximity to the listener or connection to the immediate conversation. Neste (em + este) points to something near the speaker, while naquele (in that over there) points to something farther from both speaker and listener.
Examples:
Neste livro que eu tenho, há muitas notas. (This book I have — near the speaker.)
Nesse livro que você trouxe, há um capítulo interessante. (That book you brought — near the listener.)
Naquele livro na estante lá, tem informações antigas. (That book over there — away from both.)
How to form phrases with nesse
Structure with nouns and adjectives
Nesse is followed by a masculine singular noun or phrase. Make sure articles, adjectives, and verbs agree in gender and number as usual:
Nesse bairro há muitos restaurantes.
Nesse restaurante a comida é deliciosa.
Using nessa, nesses, and nessas
Change the form to match the noun:
Nessa cidade tem um bom transporte público.
Nesses dias choveu muito.
Nessas ocasiões eu prefiro ficar em casa.
Negation and questions
Nesse appears naturally in negative sentences and questions when referring to a context:
Você não vai trabalhar nesse feriado?
Não quero entrar nessa discussão agora.
Examples in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
Conversational phrases
Here are common phrases you will hear in Brazil that use nesse and its forms:
Como você chegou nessa conclusão?
Nessa hora eu não sabia o que fazer.
Você viu o que aconteceu nesse jogo?
Directions and locations
People often use nesse when giving directions or describing where something is in relation to the listener:
O ônibus passa nessa esquina.
Tem uma farmácia nessa rua, à direita.
Formal and written uses
Nesse also occurs in written texts, news reports, essays, and formal speech. It helps tie sentences together and point to previously mentioned ideas:
Nesse relatório, apresentamos os resultados do último trimestre.
Nesses termos, a proposta foi aprovada por unanimidade.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Overusing nesse for everything
New learners sometimes use nesse in contexts better suited to neste or naquele. Think about the spatial or conversational relationship: is the thing closer to the speaker, the listener, or neither?
Gender and number agreement
Remember to match the form to the noun. Using nesse before a feminine noun is incorrect; use nessa instead:
Incorrect: Nesse situação, precisamos conversar.
Correct: Nessa situação, precisamos conversar.
Confusing with em + o (no) and em + a (na)
Use no and na when the noun is definite and you are pointing to a specific thing already established in the discourse. Use nesse when linking to the listener or a recently mentioned context. Overlap exists, but the subtle difference changes nuance.
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilian Portuguese favors context and shared knowledge in conversation. Using nesse often signals that you expect the listener to understand the reference. This mirrors Brazilian conversational style, which is usually informal and context-driven. Native speakers will pick up on whether you mean something broadly known, something near you, or something near them.
In some regions and informal contexts, people may shorten speech or favor other demonstratives, but nesse remains common and correct across Brazil.
Quick checklist for using nesse
– Use em + esse when referring to something near the listener or recently mentioned.
– Change to nessa, nesses, or nessas to match gender and number.
– Prefer neste for things near the speaker and naquele for things farther away.
– Ensure agreement with the following noun and adjust adjectives and verbs normally.
– Use nesse to link to time periods or situations as well as physical locations.
More example sentences with explanations
Eu deixei os documentos nesse envelope. (The envelope is likely with the listener or was just mentioned.)
Nesse curso, você vai aprender gramática e conversação. (Refers to the course just mentioned or the one the listener knows.)
Nessa noite fomos ao cinema e depois jantamos. (Refers to that particular night previously mentioned.)
Se acontecer algo, me avise nesse grupo. (Use nesse to refer to a messaging group that the listener is part of.)
Conclusion
Mastering nesse helps you sound natural and precise in Brazilian Portuguese. Remember it is a contraction of em + esse and that it changes form to agree with the noun. Use it for locations, times, and situations connected to the listener or recently mentioned context, and compare it with neste, no, and naquele to choose the right demonstrative. With attention to agreement and context, your Portuguese will become clearer and more native-like.
