How to use “Este”, “Esta”, “Esse”, and “Essa” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning demonstratives is one of the first steps to speak Brazilian Portuguese clearly. This guide explains when and how to use este, esta, esse, and essa for absolute beginners. Expect clear rules, helpful examples, and common mistakes so you can start using these words in simple conversations, signs, and messages right away.

What are demonstratives and why they matter

Demonstratives are words that point to things, people, places, or time. In English we say this, that, these, and those. In Brazilian Portuguese, este and esta usually match this, and esse and essa match that. Using them correctly helps listeners understand what you are talking about, especially in shops, at restaurants, or when giving directions.

Gender and number basics

Portuguese nouns have gender. Masculine nouns pair with este or esse. Feminine nouns pair with esta or essa. Also watch number: singular vs plural. For plural forms you will see estes, estas, esses, and essas.

Examples of gender and number:

O livro é este livro.
O livro – masculine singular

A caneta é esta caneta.
A caneta – feminine singular

Eu quero estes livros.
Livros – masculine plural

Eu quero estas canetas.
Canetas – feminine plural

Near vs farther: practical distinction

The simplest practical rule for beginners: este and esta point to something near the speaker. esse and essa point to something near the listener or something already mentioned. This rule works for everyday communication.

Examples in real situations:

In a store:
Eu quero esta camiseta.
You point to a t-shirt in your hand or very close to you.

Talking to someone holding something:
Você pode me emprestar essa caneta?
The other person has the pen, so you refer to something near them.

At a table:
Passa este sal, por favor.
The salt shaker is near you and you ask someone to pass it.

Using demonstratives with time and abstract ideas

Demonstratives also refer to time or ideas already spoken. For recent time or ideas introduced now, beginners can use este/esta. For something mentioned earlier in the conversation, or something you assume the listener knows, use esse/essa.

Time examples:

Esta semana eu tenho folga.
Refers to this week, the immediate week that includes the speaker.

Essa semana eu estava doente.
Refers to a week already discussed or a recent past week.

Idea reference:

Eu gosto dessa ideia.
Here dessa is a contraction of de + essa and refers to an idea the listener already knows about.

Short phrases and signs you will see often

Practical phrases for shopping and travel:

Quanto custa esta peça?
How much is this item you are touching or holding.

Tem essa cor?
Do you have that color? You refer to a color the shopkeeper or another customer mentioned or pointed at.

On menus and signs:

Especial do dia: este prato.
Sign pointing to the daily special near the counter.

Sala esta ao lado.
Short directional phrase meaning the room is right next to you.

Formal contraction and short forms beginners must know

In Portuguese you often see contractions combining prepositions with demonstratives. The most common are de + este/esta and de + esse/essa. Learn these forms because they are frequent in speech and writing.

Common contractions:

de + este = deste

de + esta = desta

de + esse = desse

de + essa = dessa

Examples in context:

Eu não lembro deste lugar.
I do not remember this place (place was just mentioned or is near the speaker).

Eu gosto dessa música.
I like that song (song the listener or someone else mentioned).

Practical dialogue examples for beginners

Simple conversation at a cafeteria:

– Você quer esta fatia de bolo?
– Não, eu quero essa que está perto da janela.
Here esta refers to a slice close to the speaker, essa to the one near the window or mentioned earlier.

At a bus stop:

– Este ônibus vai para o centro?
– Não, esse é expresso; o próximo é para o centro.
Esteesse to another bus seen by listener or previously mentioned.

Common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them

Mistake 1: Using esse/essa for things right next to you. If the object is physically with you, prefer este/esta.

Correction: If you are holding a cup say Eu quero esta caneca, not Eu quero essa caneca.

Mistake 2: Confusing contractions. Students sometimes say de esse instead of desse.

Correction: Practice the contracted forms: desse, dessa, deste, desta. Repeat short sentences aloud to build habit.

Mistake 3: Forgetting gender. Using este with a feminine noun or essa with a masculine noun is common.

Correction: Memorize article plus noun: o livro, a mesa. Then match demonstrative: este livro, esta mesa.

Quick tips and learning activities

Tip 1: Label items in your room. Use sticky notes with esta or essa as you place them close to you or near where visitors sit. This builds a physical sense of near vs near-to-listener.

Tip 2: Listen for contractions. On signs, social media, and menus, spot words like deste, dessa, deste and note where they refer to.

Tip 3: Practice with simple questions and answers. Make short dialogs and swap roles so you practice referring to items near you and near the partner.

Mini exercise:

Point to an item near you and say aloud Eu quero esta X. Then point to an item near another person and say Você pode me passar essa Y?

Extra examples: everyday situations

At a pharmacy:

Preciso de este remédio.
You hold the medicine and ask the pharmacist.

Tem essa marca em estoque?
You ask about a brand the pharmacist showed earlier.

On a message or simple text:

Cheguei. Estou na esta rua.
Short message indicating you are on this street (near you now).

See you soon. Use common short phrases in real conversations to internalize the pattern.

Why practice with Brazilian Portuguese specifically

Brazilian Portuguese is the spoken variety you will encounter in Brazil in shops, menus, apps, and daily life. Pronunciation and common contractions like dessa and deste appear frequently in Brazilian usage. Practicing with the realistic examples above prepares you for common interactions like ordering food, asking for directions, and shopping.

Resources for continued practice

Use simple Brazilian Portuguese apps, short dialogues in podcasts, and labeled images to reinforce near vs near-to-listener. Look for beginner-level texts and short YouTube videos in Brazilian Portuguese that show objects and point to them; shadow the speaker to imitate natural usage.

Focus on repeating short sentences rather than memorizing abstract rules; demonstratives are best learned through context and repetition.

Conclusion

Mastering este, esta, esse, and essa helps you communicate clearly in everyday Brazilian Portuguese. Remember the main rule: este/esta for things near the speaker, esse/essa for things near the listener or already mentioned. Practice with simple labels, dialogues, and contractions like deste and dessa to build confidence quickly.