Introduction
Demonstratives are small words that point to people, things, and places. In Portuguese they shape clarity and meaning in everyday conversation. This guide explains how to use demonstratives in Brazilian Portuguese with clear rules, example sentences, and cultural notes so you can start using them confidently in real-life situations.
- What are demonstratives in Portuguese?
- Basic demonstratives: este, esse, aquele
- Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
- Neuter demonstratives: isto, isso, aquilo
- Demonstratives with verbs and word order
- Demonstratives with prepositions
- Agreement and contractions
- Demonstratives in spoken Brazilian Portuguese
- Demonstratives with demonstrative pronoun compounds
- Using demonstratives to link ideas
- Common pitfalls and tips
- Practical phrases for everyday conversation
- Regional and stylistic notes
- Step-by-step method to practice using demonstratives
- Common expressions that use demonstratives
- Examples in short dialogues
- Quick reference table (summary)
- Conclusion
What are demonstratives in Portuguese?
Demonstratives indicate proximity, distance, or identity relative to the speaker and listener. The main Portuguese demonstratives function as adjectives, pronouns, and adverbs. They change form depending on gender, number, and sometimes certainty or emphasis. Learning them helps you say which object you mean, talk about location, and refer back to previously mentioned ideas.
Basic demonstratives: este, esse, aquele
The three core demonstratives used in Brazilian Portuguese are este, esse, and aquele. Each one has gender and number variants.
Masculine singular: este, esse, aquele
Feminine singular: esta, essa, aquela
Masculine plural: estes, esses, aqueles
Feminine plural: estas, essas, aquelas
When to use este
Este refers to something close to the speaker in time or space, or to the idea currently being expressed. Use este when the object is near you or when you are introducing something immediate.
Example:
Este livro é meu. (This book is mine.)
Example with time:
Este ano vamos viajar para o Nordeste. (This year we will travel to the Northeast.)
When to use esse
Esse usually indicates something near the listener or something already mentioned in conversation. It can mark slight distance from the speaker or refer back to previously introduced information.
Example:
Você pode pegar esse lápis? (Can you take that pencil?)
Referential example:
Eu li um artigo ontem. Esse artigo falava sobre educação. (I read an article yesterday. That article talked about education.)
When to use aquele
Aquele points to something far from both speaker and listener or to something in the distant past or future. It can emphasize distance or contrast.
Example:
Aquele prédio no centro é antigo. (That building downtown is old.)
Temporal example:
Naquele dia choveu o dia todo. (On that day it rained all day.)
Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
Demonstratives can modify nouns (adjectival use) or replace them (pronominal use). The form is the same; context determines function.
Adjectival use
When a demonstrative directly precedes a noun, it acts as an adjective. It must match gender and number with the noun.
Example:
Essa casa é bonita. (That house is beautiful.)
Pronominal use
When the demonstrative stands alone, it replaces a noun and functions as a pronoun.
Example:
Prefiro esta. (I prefer this one.)
Neuter demonstratives: isto, isso, aquilo
Portuguese has neuter forms used when referring to ideas, clauses, or unknown things. These forms do not change for gender or number.
isto — something close to the speaker (this, referring to a situation or idea)
isso — something near the listener or previously said (that idea)
aquilo — something distant or abstract (that over there, that idea)
Examples:
Isto é importante. (This is important.)
Você disse isso ontem. (You said that yesterday.)
Aquilo foi um erro. (That was a mistake.)
Demonstratives with verbs and word order
Demonstratives commonly come before the noun in Portuguese, but can appear after for emphasis or in colloquial speech. When used pronominally, they often appear alone or after the verb.
Before noun:
Este carro é novo. (This car is new.)
After noun for emphasis:
O carro este é meu. (The car, this one, is mine.) — less common, literary or emphatic
Pronominal after verb:
Eu quero esse. (I want that one.)
Demonstratives with prepositions
When demonstratives follow prepositions, the neuter forms cannot be used because prepositions require a noun or pronoun with gender and number. Use the matching adjective/pronoun form.
Example:
Vou falar sobre esse assunto. (I will talk about that subject.)
Ela veio com esta mochila. (She came with this backpack.)
Agreement and contractions
Demonstratives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. They do not contract with prepositions the way articles do (por + este stays por este, not peloeste), but Portuguese commonly contracts prepositions with articles and pronouns; demonstratives remain separate.
Agreement example:
Aquelas músicas são clássicas. (Those songs are classics.)
Demonstratives in spoken Brazilian Portuguese
In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, usage of demonstratives can vary by region and context. Many speakers use esse colloquially for both near and slightly distant objects, especially when the distinction between este and esse is not crucial. However, in formal writing and careful speech, maintaining the differences helps clarity.
Colloquial example:
Me passa esse? (Pass me that? — used even for items near the speaker in casual speech)
Demonstratives with demonstrative pronoun compounds
Portuguese forms compounds like dele or deste when combining demonstratives with prepositions and pronouns, but the key compounds for demonstratives themselves are less common. Instead, possessive-like expressions and combinations convey relationship or emphasis.
Example with reference:
Gosto deste. (I like this one.)
Não lembro daquele. (I do not remember that one.)
Using demonstratives to link ideas
Demonstratives are essential for discourse cohesion. They refer back to previous sentences, signal a new topic, or show contrast. Using them correctly makes your speech or writing flow more naturally.
Refer back:
Comprei um presente. Esse presente é para minha mãe. (I bought a gift. That gift is for my mother.)
Contrast:
Este plano é mais barato, mas aquele é mais rápido. (This plan is cheaper, but that one is faster.)
Common pitfalls and tips
1. Confusing este and esse: Remember este is nearer to the speaker; esse nearer to the listener or already mentioned.
2. Using neuter incorrectly: Use isto, isso, aquilo only for ideas or undefined things, not before nouns.
3. Agreement errors: Match gender and number; esta with feminine nouns, estes with plural masculine nouns.
4. Overusing one demonstrative: Vary your demonstratives to reflect spatial and temporal distinctions; native speakers do so naturally.
Practical phrases for everyday conversation
Here are common phrases that use demonstratives in everyday Brazilian contexts.
Posso usar este telefone? (Can I use this phone?)
Você viu esse filme novo? (Did you see that new movie?)
Aquela loja fecha cedo. (That shop closes early.)
Isto não faz sentido. (This does not make sense.)
Lembra disso? (Do you remember that?)
Não gostei daquilo. (I did not like that.)
Regional and stylistic notes
In Brazil, many speakers favor esse in conversational speech when distinguishing proximity is not important. In Portugal, distinctions can be more rigid, and forms like isto, isso, aquilo might be used with slightly different nuance. For learners focusing on Brazilian Portuguese, listening to native speakers from different regions helps you adapt to common patterns and informal shortcuts.
Step-by-step method to practice using demonstratives
1. Start by labeling objects around you using este for items you touch or hold, esse for items near the listener, and aquele for distant items.
2. Describe recent actions with neuter forms: use isto for what you just said, isso for what someone else said, and aquilo for past events.
3. Build short sentences and read them aloud: keep gender and number agreement in mind.
4. Listen to Brazilian conversations and note demonstratives: shadow the sentences to mimic natural rhythm.
Common expressions that use demonstratives
Brazilian Portuguese has many idiomatic phrases with demonstratives that are useful to recognize.
depois disso — after that
antes disso — before that
daquele jeito — in that way
deste tipo — of this kind
daqui a pouco — shortly, soon (literally from here in a bit)
Examples in short dialogues
Dialogue 1:
A: Você quer este suco ou aquele? (Do you want this juice or that one?)
B: Vou pegar este. (I’ll take this one.)
Dialogue 2:
A: Você viu a notícia? (Did you see the news?)
B: Vi. Isso foi surpreendente. (I saw it. That was surprising.)
Quick reference table (summary)
Use this short summary to remember forms and typical uses.
Adjectival/pronominal:
este / esta / estes / estas — near speaker
esse / essa / esses / essas — near listener or previously mentioned
aquele / aquela / aqueles / aquelas — distant from both, or distant time
Neuter forms for abstract ideas:
isto — this (near speaker, abstract)
isso — that (near listener or mentioned)
aquilo — that (distant, abstract)
Conclusion
Mastering Portuguese demonstratives unlocks clearer, more natural speech. Focus on proximity (speaker vs listener), gender and number agreement, and the neuter forms for ideas. Practice with everyday objects and short dialogues, listen to Brazilian speakers, and over time these small but powerful words will become second nature in your conversations.
