How to use “Aquele lugar” and “Aquela pessoa” in Portuguese

Introduction

Learning how to point to places and people is one of the first steps in conversational Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to use Aquele lugar and Aquela pessoa, with clear grammar, vocabulary, everyday examples, and common mistakes for complete beginners.

What do Aquele lugar and Aquela pessoa mean?

In English these phrases roughly translate to that place and that person, but they convey distance or remoteness from the speaker. Use Aquele lugar when you point to a place that is farther away or already mentioned. Use Aquela pessoa to refer to a female person who is not near the speaker, or someone previously referenced.

Basic grammar and gender agreement

Portuguese nouns and demonstratives change with gender and number. Aquele and aquela are demonstrative pronouns/adjectives. Use Aquele for masculine singular nouns, Aquela for feminine singular nouns. For plural: Aqueles lugares (masculine plural) and Aquelas pessoas (feminine plural).

Examples:

Ele apontou para Aquele lugar no mapa.
He pointed to that place on the map.

Viu Aquela pessoa ali?
Did you see that person over there?

When to use aquEle vs. esse/isto

Portuguese has a three-way distinction similar to this/that/that over there in English. Use Aquele lugar for places farther from the speaker and listener or referenced earlier in conversation. Use Esse lugar for something closer to the listener. Use Este lugar for something very close to the speaker.

Quick comparisons:

Este livro — this book (near me)

Esse livro — that book (near you or just mentioned)

Aquele livro — that book over there or mentioned before (far)

Pronunciation tips

Aquele is pronounced a-KEH-le (stress on KE). Aquela is a-KEH-la. Practice by saying short phrases slowly, then naturally.

Beginner tip: Listen to native speakers and repeat short sentences: Eu quero ir para Aquele lugar. / Você viu Aquela pessoa?

Common everyday examples with translations

These are simple sentences you might hear or use in shops, on the street, or with friends. Each example uses Brazilian Portuguese vocabulary suitable for beginners.

Onde fica Aquele lugar no mapa?
Where is that place on the map?

Ele mora em Aquele lugar perto da praia.
He lives in that place near the beach.

Eu lembro de Aquela pessoa do trabalho.
I remember that person from work.

Aquela pessoa está esperando no banco.
That person is waiting on the bench.

Vamos encontrar Aquela pessoa às cinco.
Let’s meet that person at five.

Using the phrases in questions and commands

Beginners often ask for directions or point someone out. Use these structures for polite requests and commands.

Você conhece Aquela pessoa?
Do you know that person?

Mostre-me Aquele lugar no mapa.
Show me that place on the map.

Não vá para Aquele lugar sozinho.
Do not go to that place alone.

Short dialogues for practice

Dialogue 1 — asking about a shop

— Onde é a padaria?
— A padaria fica em Aquele lugar, na esquina.
— Where is the bakery? — The bakery is in that place, on the corner.

Dialogue 2 — talking about a person

— Quem é aquela mulher?
— Aquela pessoa é minha professora.
— Who is that woman? — That person is my teacher.

Useful vocabulary to pair with these phrases

lugar — place

pessoa — person

próximo — near

longe — far

esquina — corner

mapa — map

banquinho — small bench

Practical tips for learners

1. Start by memorizing the three demonstratives: este, esse, aquele. Associate each with a distance image: near me, near you, far.

2. Practice with maps or photos: point and describe using Aquele lugar for distant objects in the image.

3. Use gender agreement drills: replace lugar (masculine) with casa (feminine) to practice Aquela casa.

4. Record simple sentences on your phone and compare with native speaker audio.

Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake 1: Using aquele for nearby objects. Correction: Choose este or esse when the object is near you or the listener.

Mistake 2: Wrong gender agreement, e.g., aquele casa. Correction: Match gender: aquela casa, aquele lugar.

Mistake 3: Overusing aquele in all contexts. Correction: Reserve Aquele lugar and Aquela pessoa for clear distance or previously mentioned items.

Short practice exercises

Fill in the blank with the correct form (este/esse/aquele, and gender):

1. ____ lugar é bonito. (the place far away) Answer: Aquele lugar.

2. Você conhece ____ pessoa? (the woman over there) Answer: Aquela pessoa.

3. ____ casa é minha. (this house, near speaker) Answer: Esta casa or Essa casa depending on context.

How to ask follow-up questions naturally

If someone says they saw Aquela pessoa, you can ask who or where to get more details. Useful follow-ups in Brazilian Portuguese:

Que roupa ela estava usando?
What clothes was she wearing?

Onde você viu Aquela pessoa?
Where did you see that person?

Quando vocês encontraram Aquele lugar?
When did you find that place?

Context clues: when aquEle implies distance vs. past mention

Aquele often signals physical distance, but it can also refer back to something mentioned earlier in conversation. Pay attention to context: if someone starts a story and later says Aquela pessoa, they usually mean the person from the story rather than someone far away.

Example context usage:

Na festa, tinha uma cantora incrível.
Aquela pessoa cantou por duas horas.
At the party there was an amazing singer. That person sang for two hours.

Mini glossary for this lesson

Aquele — that (masculine, far)

Aquela — that (feminine, far)

Esse / Essa — that (near listener or just mentioned)

Este / Esta — this (near speaker)

More realistic situational sentences

At a train station: O trem para em Aquele lugar às 14h.
The train stops at that place at 2 PM.

At a cafe: Não, não é a gerente — é Aquela pessoa com o crachá.
No, it’s not the manager — it’s that person with the badge.

On a campus map: Biblioteca → Aquele lugar ao lado do prédio principal.
Library → that place next to the main building.

Practice schedule for beginners (quick)

Day 1: Learn demonstratives and gender forms with 10 example phrases.

Day 2: Record yourself saying the 10 phrases and compare with native audio.

Day 3: Use a photo or map to make 10 sentences using Aquele lugar and Aquela pessoa.

Conclusion

Mastering Aquele lugar and Aquela pessoa helps you point out people and places accurately in Brazilian Portuguese. Remember gender agreement, the three-way demonstrative distinction, and practice with real photos or dialogues. With short daily exercises and attention to context, these expressions will become natural tools in your beginner conversations.