“Naquele” vs “Nesse” in Portuguese: Distance, Context, and Reference

Introduction

Learning demonstratives is essential for speaking Portuguese naturally. This article explains the difference between Naquele and Nesse in Brazilian Portuguese, focusing on distance, context, and reference. Clear rules, examples, and usage notes will help English-speaking learners choose the right form in conversation and writing.

What are demonstratives in Portuguese?

Demonstratives are words that point to people, objects, places, ideas, or moments in time. In English we use this, that, these, and those. Portuguese has a richer set of demonstratives that encode spatial, temporal, and discourse-based relationships. Examples include este/esta, esse/essa, and aquele/aquela, and their contracted forms with prepositions like de, em, and a.

Key demonstratives to know

Nesse and Naquele are compound forms made from a preposition plus a demonstrative. Specifically, naquele = em + aquele and nesse = em + esse. They combine a location preposition with the demonstrative to refer to positions, contexts, or parts of a conversation.

Basic distance and perspective: near, mid, far

One simple way to understand difference is spatial distance and speaker/listener perspective.

Speaker-centered near: Use neste or nesta (em + este) to refer to something close to the speaker. Example: estou neste lugar.

Listener-centered or recent context: Use nesse to indicate something close to the listener or something introduced earlier in conversation. Example: você deixou o livro nesse sofá.

Far or away from both: Use naquele to indicate something far from both speaker and listener, or a more remote time or idea. Example: lembro do verão naquele ano.

Spatial examples

Use real-world spatial scenarios to see the contrast.

Mesa perto de mim:

Estou nesta mesa, pegue o caderno aqui.

Mesa perto de você:

O caderno está nesse lugar onde você está sentado.

Mesa longe de ambos:

O caderno que usamos na festa está naquele armário lá no canto.

Temporal and discourse distance

Demonstratives also mark time and the flow of discourse. Temporal distance uses the same near-mid-far idea applied to moments rather than physical space.

Recent vs. remote events

Use nesse for events mentioned recently in conversation or for moments close to the present.

Example:

Eu estive no médico ontem. Nesse dia, recebi boas notícias.

Use naquele for events further in the past or perceived as remote from the current discussion.

Example:

Passei por uma fase difícil em 2010. Naquele ano, tudo mudou.

Reference and anaphora: pointing back in speech

In Portuguese, demonstratives function like anchors that link current sentences to previous information (anaphora) or prepare for upcoming information (cataphora). Choosing nesse or naquele can signal how close the referenced idea feels to the conversation.

Using nesse to refer back to recent mentions

When you want to refer to something just mentioned, nesse is a common choice.

Example:

Falei sobre um plano novo. Nesse plano, precisamos economizar mais.

Using naquele to refer back to something more distant in the narrative

If the referenced information is further back in the story, or if you want to emphasize distance or difference, naquele works well.

Example:

Ela contou uma história da infância. Naquele relato, havia uma lição importante.

Prepositions and contractions: why naquele and nesse look similar

Both naquele and nesse are contractions of the preposition em plus a demonstrative. That is why they look similar and why the prepositional meaning is built in.

Em + esse = nesse

Em + aquele = naquele

The contraction affects agreement: these words change when combined with feminine forms or plural. For example, em + essa = nessa and em + aquela = naquela. For plurals: em + esses = nesses and em + aqueles = naqueles.

Feminine and plural forms

Always match gender and number with the noun referenced.

Masculine singular:

nesse, naquele

Feminine singular:

nessa, naquela

Masculine plural:

nesses, naqueles

Feminine plural:

nessas, naquelas

Contextual nuances: emotional distance, contrast, and emphasis

Beyond physical distance, blank demonstratives can add emotional distance or rhetorical contrast. Using naquele may imply detachment, judgment, nostalgia, or emphasis on how different something was.

Emotional or evaluative distance

Example of emotional distance:

Gosto do meu trabalho atual, mas naquele emprego eu era muito estressado.

Here naquele suggests the previous job feels remote and distinct in the speaker’s life.

Contrast and highlighting differences

Using naquele can emphasize a contrast between past and present or between two different situations.

Example:

Tenho um carro novo agora, mas naquele que eu tinha, nada funcionava direito.

Common pitfalls for English speakers

Because English has fewer demonstrative distinctions, learners often confuse nesse and naquele. Here are common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Mistake 1: Using nesse for all past references

English speakers frequently choose nesse because it loosely maps to English that or the previously mentioned thing. But if the event or object is distant in space or time, or you intend to show contrast, prefer naquele.

Example wrong:

Eu viajei ao Japão. Nesse ano, visitei muitas cidades.

Better:

Eu viajei ao Japão. Naquele ano, visitei muitas cidades.

Mistake 2: Ignoring perspective (speaker vs listener)

Remember that nesse can indicate closeness to the listener or a context just introduced by the listener. If the thing is close to the listener or recently mentioned by them, nesse is usually right.

Example:

Você deixou a mala na sala.

Sim, vou pegar nessa mala.

Practical tips to choose between nesse and naquele

Here are simple decision rules to help you pick the correct form when speaking or writing.

1. Ask about physical distance.

If it is near the speaker, use este/neste; near the listener or just mentioned, use nesse; far from both, use naquele.

2. Consider temporal distance.

For recent moments or a moment close to now, prefer nesse. For remote past events or distant future points, prefer naquele.

3. Check discourse distance.

If the idea was introduced just a moment ago in the conversation, use nesse. If it refers back to earlier parts of the text or story, use naquele.

4. Think about tone.

Use naquele when you want to emphasize contrast, distance, or a change in feelings.

More example sentences with notes

Short examples help internalize usage. Each example includes a brief note about why the demonstrative fits.

1.

Coloque o vaso nesse canto da sala.

Note: the corner is near the listener or just pointed out.

2.

Lembro da festa da faculdade. Naquela noite choveu muito.

Note: the event is further back in memory, making naquela appropriate.

3.

Você falou sobre um plano hoje. Nesse plano, precisamos reduzir custos.

Note: the plan was just mentioned, so nesse links directly to it.

4.

Mostrei a foto para o grupo. Naquela foto, aparece meu avô.

Note: emphasizing a specific, previously referenced image, treated as remote in the narrative.

5.

Vou deixar as chaves nessa bolsa no balcão.

Note: keys are near or in a bag the listener can access; nessa fits.

6.

O livro que encontramos no sebo é daquele autor. Naquele volume há notas antigas.

Note: naquele points to a particular volume as distinct and somewhat removed.

Idiomatic and regional notes

Brazilian Portuguese varies by region. In casual speech, Brazilians may prefer simpler forms or use context instead of precise demonstratives, especially in fast conversation. Still, correct use of nesse and naquele signals nuance and fluency.

In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, intonation and gestures often accompany demonstratives. A gesture toward an object can override precise spatial wording, but in formal writing or clear storytelling, choosing the right demonstrative matters more.

Summary checklist

Quick checklist to decide between nesse and naquele:

– Is the referent close to the speaker, listener, or far from both?

– Was the referent mentioned just now or earlier in the conversation?

– Is the speaker signaling emotional or rhetorical distance?

– Match gender and number with the noun.

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between Naquele and Nesse helps you express spatial, temporal, and discourse relationships accurately in Brazilian Portuguese. Think about distance, reference point, and tone: use nesse for things close to the listener or recently mentioned, and naquele for more remote or contrasted items. With practice, choosing the right demonstrative will become intuitive and will improve both spoken and written fluency.