Introduction
Pointing to people and things is one of the first functions you need in conversational Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches simple words, demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, gestures, common phrases, and beginner tips so you can identify objects and people clearly in everyday settings like shops, streets, restaurants, and classrooms.
- Basic demonstratives: core words you must know
- Using demonstratives as pronouns
- Pointing to people: polite and natural phrases
- Practical vocabulary for pointing in everyday settings
- Gestures and cultural notes
- Common mistakes beginners make
- Practice drills and mini-dialogues
- Signs, menus and forms: quick reading tips
- Helpful beginner resources and next steps
- Conclusion
Basic demonstratives: core words you must know
Start with three core demonstratives that show location relative to speaker and listener. Learn these as adjectives used before nouns and as pronouns used alone.
este / esta — near the speaker (this)
esse / essa — near the listener or previously mentioned (that)
aquele / aquela — far from both (that over there)
Gender and number basics
Portuguese nouns have gender (masculine, feminine) and number (singular, plural). Demonstratives agree with the noun. For example:
Este livro — este with masculine singular noun livro (this book).
Esta cadeira — esta with feminine singular cadeira (this chair).
Esses sapatos — esses with masculine plural sapatos (those shoes).
Aquelas janelas — aquelas with feminine plural janelas (those windows over there).
Using demonstratives as pronouns
Demonstratives can replace a noun when the object is clear from context. This is useful when pointing and answering questions.
Onde está o meu copo? — Está aqui. Este é seu?
Sim, este.
Qual é o seu? — Prefiro esse.
Você vê aquela? — Não, não vejo aquela.
Common short phrases for pointing in conversation
Use short phrases when pointing to people or things in natural speech. These are often combined with a gesture.
Olha isto — Look at this (neutral, often for objects near the speaker).
Olha isso — Look at that (near the listener or mentioned item).
Olha aquilo — Look at that over there (distant).
Aqui está — Here it is.
Lá está — There it is.
Pointing to people: polite and natural phrases
When pointing to people, you often use demonstratives with titles or names. Use polite forms in formal situations and casual forms among friends.
Este é o senhor Silva. — This is Mr. Silva (introducing someone close to you).
Essa é a Maria? — Is that Maria? (pointing to someone the listener may recognize).
Aquela é a professora? — Is that the teacher over there? (pointing to a person at a distance).
Introducing people and showing photos
When showing a photo or a contact on your phone, use pronouns and demonstratives to clarify who you mean.
Esse é meu irmão. — That is my brother.
Esta é minha amiga, Paula. — This is my friend Paula (photo in hand).
Aquele cara é meu colega de trabalho. — That guy over there is my coworker.
Practical vocabulary for pointing in everyday settings
Here are useful nouns and short phrases you will point to frequently. Learn them with gender so you can use correct demonstratives.
o carro — the car
a porta — the door
a mesa — the table
o banco — the bench
o banheiro — the bathroom
a fila — the line
o ingresso — the ticket
o cardápio — the menu
a senha — the number/token (used in queues)
Examples in common contexts
At a café: Onde está o cardápio? — O cardápio está ali.
Posso ver esse? — Sim, pode pegar esse que está na mesa.
In a store: Eu quero esseeste ou aquele?
Prefiro esse.
On public transport: Cadê o meu assento? — O seu assento é ali no fundo.
Gestures and cultural notes
Brazilian Portuguese speakers commonly combine words with gestures. Pointing with the index finger is normal for objects and people. To be polite, avoid pointing directly at a person’s face for too long; instead gesture subtly or use their name.
When indicating distance, sweep your hand toward the object when using aquele/aquela, or tap the object or surface for este/esta.
Using aqui and aí for locations
These adverbs help describe where something is relative to you and the listener.
aqui — here (close to speaker)
aí — there (close to listener)
lá — there over there (far from both)
Examples: O documento está aqui. — The document is here.
O seu casaco está aí com você. — Your coat is there with you.
A chave ficou lá na porta. — The key stayed over there at the door.
Common mistakes beginners make
Beginner learners often confuse este and esse. Use este when the item is with you or just mentioned, and esse when the item is near the listener or already part of the conversation.
Another frequent error is gender agreement. Always check the noun: este livro but esta revista. Wrong gender sounds unnatural.
Beginners sometimes overuse apontar (to point) verbally. It is more natural to use demonstratives and short phrases with a gesture than to say eu aponto para aquilo every time.
Quick tip: minimal, natural phrases
Use short, clear phrases. Native-like examples:
Quero aquele. — I want that one.
É este aqui. — It is this one here.
Você viu essa? — Did you see that?
Practice drills and mini-dialogues
Practice these simple drills aloud and with gestures. Change nouns to practice agreement and placement.
Drill 1: Point to an object near you and say:
Este é o meu telefone.
Drill 2: Ask a friend to pick between two items:
Você prefere este ou esse?
Drill 3: Find someone across the room and ask:
Aquela pessoa é sua amiga?
Mini-dialogue example at a café:
Cliente: Onde está o cardápio?
Atendente: Está ali na mesa.
Cliente: Posso pegar esse?
Atendente: Claro, é seu.
Signs, menus and forms: quick reading tips
Public signs and menus often use demonstratives and location words. Learn to spot aqui, aí, lá, and demonstratives to follow directions.
Example on a sign at a clinic:
Retire sua senha aqui. — Take your number here.
Example on a menu:
Prato do dia: arroz, feijão e bife — peça este prato com salada. — Order this plate with salad.
Helpful beginner resources and next steps
To reinforce pointing skills, use flashcards with photos labeled with demonstratives, record short dialogues, and practice with a language partner using real objects at hand. Focus on gender agreement and the nearby/there/over there distinction.
Keep a small notebook with lists like este/esta examples, esse/essa examples, and aquele/aquela examples to review quickly before conversations.
Conclusion
Mastering how to point to people and things in Brazilian Portuguese gives you a practical edge in everyday interactions. Focus on the demonstratives este, esse, and aquele, match gender and number, use simple phrases with gestures, and practice realistic mini-dialogues to build confidence quickly.
