How to use “Este”, “Esse”, and “Aquele” in Portuguese simply

Introduction

Learning demonstrative pronouns can make Brazilian Portuguese sentences feel a lot more natural. This article explains simply how to use este, esse, and aquele, with clear rules, common phrases, and practical examples for beginners. You will learn when to use each word in everyday situations like shopping, travel, and conversations.

What are demonstratives and why they matter

Demonstratives point to people, objects, or ideas and show location or time relative to the speaker and listener. In Brazilian Portuguese, este, esse, and aquele are common words that change meaning depending on where something is located or how close it feels in conversation. Mastering them helps you avoid confusion and sound more natural.

Basic short definitions

este — near the speaker; used when the speaker has or is very close to the object or when referring to something just mentioned by the speaker.

esse — near the listener or near a previously mentioned item; used for something closer to the person you are talking to or when referring back to something in the conversation.

aquele — far from both speaker and listener; used for something at a distance in space or time, or something not present.

Simple spatial examples

These examples show physical location, the most common beginner use.

este livro está na minha mão
this book is in my hand — speaker holds the book, so use este

esse livro está na sua mesa
that book is on your table — near the listener, so use esse

aquele livro está na prateleira lá no fundo
that book over there is on the shelf in the back — far from both, so use aquele

Talking about people

When pointing out people, the same proximity idea applies. Use the masculine or feminine form to match the person.

este homem é meu amigo
this man is my friend — the man is with the speaker

essa mulher é a professora dele
that woman is his teacher — the woman is near the listener or part of the previous context

aquela menina mora na cidade vizinha
that girl lives in the neighboring town — the girl is not present or is far away

Time and conversation reference

Demonstratives also describe time: events close to the speaker, events close to the listener, and distant events.

este ano foi difícil para mim
this year was difficult for me — the speaker refers to the current year

esse mês eu viajei muito
that month I traveled a lot — perhaps referring to a month the listener mentioned

aquela época foi diferente
that time was different — a distant past or a period not current

Grammatical forms and agreement

These words change to match gender and number of the noun they modify. Remember the four basic forms for each demonstrative: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, feminine plural.

este, esta, estes, estas

esse, essa, esses, essas

aquele, aquela, aqueles, aquelas

Example: este carro, esta casa, esses livros, aquelas cadeiras

Practical dialogues for beginners

Short dialogues help you hear how Brazilians naturally use demonstratives in daily life.

A: Você trouxe o documento?
B: Sim, este documento é o contrato que assinei hoje
A: Você deixou o outro lá?
B: Sim, esse está no escritório
A: E o original antigo?
B: Aquele ficou na gaveta da casa dos meus pais

A: Qual suco você quer?
B: Quero este de laranja, por favor
A: Eu vou pegar esse de maçã então
B: Aquele de maracujá parece bom também, mas está longe

Common phrases and signs you will see

These short phrases appear on menus, signs, or in stores and are useful for beginners.

este produto em promoção — this product on sale

pague neste caixa — pay at this cashier

veja esse modelo na vitrine — see that model in the window

aquela entrada é somente para funcionários — that entrance is for staff only

Useful beginner tips

1. Visualize position: imagine where the object is in relation to you and the listener, then pick este for very near you, esse for near the listener or previously mentioned, and aquele for far away.

2. Match gender and number: check the noun. For casa use esta; for carros use estes.

3. When in doubt, use esse for conversational references: native speakers often use esse to refer back to something already mentioned, so it is a safe option in many dialogues.

4. Practice with real items: point at items around you and say sentences: este copo, essa cadeira, aquele quadro. This builds automatic use.

Common beginner mistakes and how to fix them

Mistake 1: Using este when speaking to someone about something near the listener. Correct by thinking whether the listener is closer; switch to esse if so.

Mistake 2: Forgetting agreement. If you say este mesa, correct to esta mesa because mesa is feminine.

Mistake 3: Overusing aquele for anything not present. Use aquele for things really distant or not part of the current scene; for recent mentions use esse.

Short practice exercises

Fill in the blank with the best demonstrative and the correct form (answer after each sentence).

1. _____ caneta é minha. (pen in my hand) — answer: esta caneta

2. _____ telefone é seu? (phone on the table in front of the listener) — answer: esse telefone

3. _____ prédios ao fundo são antigos. (buildings far away) — answer: aqueles prédios

4. _____ semana eu comecei um curso novo. (the current week) — answer: esta semana

5. Você lembra daquele filme? Não, mas _____ que você mencionou ontem parece bom. (the movie mentioned yesterday) — answer: esse que você mencionou ontem

Mini glossary for this lesson

caneta — pen

mesa — table

prédio — building

semana — week

filme — movie

Tips for moving beyond basics

Listen to short dialogues, podcasts, or language apps that use everyday speech. Notice which demonstrative appears when speakers mention objects or past events. In conversations, ask simple questions to force using demonstratives, for example: Onde está aquele livro? or Você quer este suco ou esse?

Conclusion

Este, esse, and aquele become easy when you link them to distance from the speaker and listener and remember gender and number agreement. Use the practical examples and short dialogues in this article to practice with real objects and everyday situations. With focused repetition and simple comparison, you will use demonstratives naturally in Brazilian Portuguese conversations.