Introduction
This article explains Portuguese demonstrative pronouns and adjectives focusing on esse and aquele. You will learn when to use each form, how they change with gender and number, and see clear Brazilian Portuguese examples with translations and usage notes to help you speak and understand native patterns.
What are demonstratives in Portuguese?
Demonstratives point to people, objects, ideas, or places relative to the speaker and listener. In Brazilian Portuguese the main groups are the proximal set (near the speaker), the medial set (near the listener), and the distal set (far from both). The three basic roots are este, esse, and aquele. Each changes for gender and number.
Forms and agreement
Demonstratives agree with the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural). Below are the core forms for the medial and distal sets that we focus on here:
Esse (masculine singular) — essa (feminine singular) — esses (masculine plural) — essas (feminine plural).
Aquele (masculine singular) — aquela (feminine singular) — aqueles (masculine plural) — aquelas (feminine plural).
Basic difference: esse vs aquele
The simplest way to distinguish the two is by relative distance and discourse role. Use esse to refer to something close to the listener or to something previously mentioned in the conversation. Use aquele to point to something farther away from both speaker and listener, or to refer back to something more remote in time or narrative.
Spatial contrast
When pointing physically, Brazilians often use these contrasts:
Use esse when the object is near the listener or in the immediate context of the conversation.
Use aquele when the object is farther from both people, for example across the room or outside the speaker’s immediate reach.
Examples:
Onde está essa caneta? — Where is that pen (near you)?
Veja aquele prédio ali. — Look at that building over there (farther away).
Discourse and temporal contrast
Beyond physical distance, these words also express closeness in conversation or memory. Esse often refers to something just mentioned or something the listener knows about. Aquele can indicate something mentioned earlier, something in the past, or something emotionally distant.
Examples:
Eu comprei um livro ontem. Esse livro é muito bom. — I bought a book yesterday. That book is very good. (book just mentioned)
Lembra daquele filme que vimos no ano passado? Aquele final me surpreendeu. — Remember that movie we saw last year? That ending surprised me. (film mentioned earlier)
Demonstrative adjectives vs pronouns
Demonstratives can act as adjectives (modifying a noun) or as pronouns (replacing a noun). The forms are the same, but the role in the sentence changes.
As adjectives
When used directly before a noun, they are adjectives and must match gender and number.
Examples:
Essa cadeira é confortável. — That chair is comfortable.
Aqueles sapatos são caros. — Those shoes are expensive.
As pronouns
When they stand alone replacing the noun, they function as pronouns. Context makes clear what they refer to.
Examples:
Prefere este ou esse? — Do you prefer this one or that one?
Eu não gosto de aquilo. — I don’t like that (over there / that thing we talked about).
Short forms and contractions
Portuguese also uses contracted forms when demonstratives combine with prepositions. Commonly used contractions with aquele are:
com + aquele = com aquele
de + aquele = daquele
em + aquele = naquele
Examples:
Eu falei com aquele professor. — I spoke with that professor.
O livro é daquele escritor. — The book is by that writer.
Eles moram naquele bairro. — They live in that neighborhood.
Note that esse also contracts with prepositions: de + esse = desse; em + esse = nesse.
Special uses and nuances
Referring to ideas or abstract concepts
Demonstratives often refer to ideas, statements, or parts of a conversation. The choice between esse and aquele shades meaning.
Use esse for an idea just expressed or for something the listener is thinking about. Use aquele for an idea farther back in the conversation or an earlier opinion.
Examples:
Você disse que não gosta de viajar; esse argumento me surpreende. — You said you don’t like to travel; that argument surprises me. (argument just mentioned)
Na reunião de ontem ele criticou o projeto. Aquilo deixou todo mundo preocupado. — At yesterday’s meeting he criticized the project. That caused everyone to be worried. (refers to the criticism mentioned earlier)
Expressing contrast or emphasis
Portuguese speakers sometimes use esse and aquele to create contrast or emphasize distance in feelings or opinions.
Examples:
Eu gosto deste, você prefere esse, e ela escolheu aquele. — I like this one, you prefer that one, and she picked that one over there.
Ele falou com calma sobre o problema; isso não resolveu nada, mas aquilo foi pior. — He talked calmly about the problem; that didn’t solve anything, but that other thing was worse. (using demonstratives to separate two issues)
Pronoun forms like isto, isso, aquilo
Alongside adjectives, Portuguese has demonstrative pronouns without direct noun reference: isto, isso, and aquilo. These are neutral and do not change with gender or number. They are used to talk about ideas, situations, or unspecified things.
Use isso for something close to the listener or previously mentioned. Use aquilo for something distant or less immediate in the discourse.
Examples:
O que é isso? — What is that?
Aquilo me lembra a infância. — That reminds me of childhood. (something more remote or in the past)
Common mistakes and tips to avoid them
Beginners often confuse esse and aquele by using them interchangeably. Here are practical tips:
– Think spatially and temporally: is it near the listener or near both/distant? Use esse for near the listener and aquele for farther away.
– Consider discourse: if you just mentioned something, esse is usually right. If the reference is to an earlier point or a distant memory, choose aquele.
– Match gender and number: always change the form to agree with the noun, for example essa casa, esses livros, aquela ideia.
– Watch contractions: preposition + demonstrative often merges (deste, desse, daquele, naquele), so listen to native speech to internalize patterns.
Regional and conversational notes
In Brazilian Portuguese, spoken usage can be flexible. In some contexts, speakers use esse even if something is not physically near the listener but is part of a recent conversation. In fast speech, contractions and neutral pronouns like isso are very common.
Also note that Brazilians sometimes use aquele with a slightly dramatic or distancing tone to emphasize separation from an idea or event, similar to saying that thing over there in English.
Examples in short dialogues
Dialogue 1
A: Você viu aquele filme novo no cinema?
B: Não, vi só esse trailer ontem. — A: Did you see that new movie at the cinema? B: No, I only saw that trailer yesterday.
Dialogue 2
A: Onde está essa mochila?
B: Está na sala, ao lado de aquela janela. — A: Where is that backpack? B: It’s in the living room, next to that window over there.
Dialogue 3
A: Lembra da festa da semana passada?
B: Sim, aquilo foi muito divertido. — A: Remember last week’s party? B: Yes, that was a lot of fun.
How to practice naturally
To internalize these demonstratives, listen to Brazilian conversations, news, and telenovelas and pay attention to how speakers use esse, aquele, isso, and aquilo. Notice whether they are talking about physical location, recent mention, or past events. Shadow short phrases and try to reproduce contractions in natural speech. Over time you will feel the distance and discourse cues that determine the correct choice.
Conclusion
Understanding the differences between esse and aquele will improve your clarity and fluency in Portuguese. Remember to match gender and number, consider physical and discourse distance, and use pronoun forms like isso and aquilo for abstract references. With exposure to native speech and regular use, choosing the right demonstrative becomes intuitive.
