Introduction
Learning simple demonstratives in Brazilian Portuguese unlocks clearer conversation and better comprehension. This article explains how to use Isso and Aquilo, two basic words learners see immediately in dialogues, menus, signs, and messages. You will find clear rules, practical examples, common mistakes, and beginner tips to start using these words confidently in daily situations.
- What are Isso and Aquilo?
- Simple spatial guide
- Using Isso and Aquilo with ideas and speech
- Isso and Aquilo with verbs and questions
- Practical vocabulary and example sentences for beginners
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Useful beginner tips and practice exercises
- Mini reference: quick grammar points
- Real-world signs and messages where you will see these
- Quick practice list for the next 7 days
- Conclusion
What are Isso and Aquilo?
In Brazilian Portuguese, Isso and Aquilo are demonstrative pronouns and adverbs used to point to things, ideas, or moments. They help indicate location relative to the speaker and listener, and they can refer to something near the listener, something far from both, or something previously mentioned in conversation.
Basic distinctions: Isso vs Aquilo
Isso usually refers to something near the listener or to an idea just mentioned. Use it when the thing is not next to the speaker but is relevant to the conversation.
Aquilo refers to something far from both speaker and listener, or to something considered more distant in time or space. It is useful for pointing out things across the room, far away, or events mentioned as distant.
Simple spatial guide
Think of a three-point space: near the speaker, near the listener, and far from both. Brazilian Portuguese often uses these words in the middle and far positions.
Near the speaker: este/esta/isto (not the focus of this article)
Near the listener or just mentioned: isso
Far from both: aquilo
Examples in everyday spatial contexts
Imagine you are at a bakery with a friend. The friend points to a cake by the counter and asks about it. You would say:
Qual é isso?
Now imagine you both point to a billboard across the street. You would say:
O que é aquilo?
Using Isso and Aquilo with ideas and speech
Both words frequently refer to ideas, statements, or previously mentioned facts. They often replace a full noun so conversations sound natural and less repetitive.
Referring to what someone just said
When someone says something and you want to react to that exact idea, use isso. It is common in spoken Brazilian Portuguese.
Example:
Pessoa A: Eu cheguei tarde porque o trânsito estava péssimo.
Pessoa B: Entendi. Isso acontece muito aqui.
Translation note in English: Pessoa A says they arrived late due to bad traffic; Pessoa B responds that that happens often. The demonstrative isso refers to the previous statement.
Referring to something distant in time or abstract
Use aquilo to talk about something that happened long ago or a situation you consider removed from the present context.
Example:
Quando eu era criança, eu morava naquela casa. Aquilo era diferente.
English explanation: Aquilo here points to the past situation, implying distance from the current moment.
Isso and Aquilo with verbs and questions
These words appear in many question forms and short responses. They help learners form natural questions and replies without repeating nouns.
Common question phrases
Qual é isso? — What is that? (near the listener or just mentioned)
O que é aquilo? — What is that over there? (far away)
O que foi isso? — What was that? (what just happened)
Short answers and reactions
When reacting to information: isso pode ser bom, isso não é verdade.
When dismissing or pointing to something distant: aquilo não interessa, aquilo ficou para trás.
Practical vocabulary and example sentences for beginners
Below are realistic short phrases and sentences you might see on signs, in messages, or hear in simple conversations. Each line is a separate everyday example paired with an English explanation to help memorization.
Qual é isso? — Ask when you see an unfamiliar item.
Isso é para você. — Someone hands you something; they say this is for you.
O preço isso está errado. — A simple incorrect phrasing beginners might hear; correct would be O preço disso está errado. Use the correct form with disso when needed.
Eu vi aquilo ontem. — I saw that thing over there yesterday.
Aquilo é perigoso. — Warning sign or phrase about something far or abstract.
Você lembra da festa? Isso foi divertido. — Refers back to a recently mentioned event.
Short dialogues
Dialogue 1 — At a café:
Cliente: O que é isso?
Barista: É um bolo de cenoura com cobertura.
Cliente: Eu quero isso, por favor.
Dialogue 2 — On the street:
Pessoa A: Olha lá, o caminhão azul!
Pessoa B: Não vejo. Você quer dizer aquilo no semáforo?
Pessoa A: Sim, aquilo mesmo.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often confuse isso with aquilo or mix them with isto, este, esse. Here are clear tips.
Mistake 1: Using isso for something clearly far away. Fix: visualize distance; use aquilo for far items.
Mistake 2: Repeating nouns when demonstratives would be natural. Fix: Replace repeated nouns with isso or aquilo to sound more fluent.
Mistake 3: Wrong contraction with prepositions. Fix: When a demonstrative follows a preposition, use the contracted forms with de: disso (of that), daquilo (of that over there). Example: Tenho medo disso. Gosto daquilo.
Useful beginner tips and practice exercises
Tip 1: Use gestures. Point when practicing to link the demonstratives to physical distance: point near listener for isso and point farther away for aquilo.
Tip 2: Listen for isso and aquilo in Brazilian TV shows or simple podcasts. Pause and translate the phrase close to the speaker or far from both.
Tip 3: Make short flashcards. On one side write a simple scene description in English, on the other side practice the Portuguese phrase with isso or aquilo.
Exercise 1: Label objects in your room. Stand near your desk and say O que é isso? Then move to the door and point to a distant shelf and ask O que é aquilo?
Exercise 2: Short conversation practice. With a partner, have one person describe something they saw earlier and the other reacts using isso or aquilo.
Mini reference: quick grammar points
Isso and aquilo are invariable: they do not change with gender or number. However, when used with prepositions, combine: de + isso = disso, de + aquilo = daquilo.
Isto is a separate demonstrative used for something very close to the speaker. As a beginner, focus on isso and aquilo first, then add isto later.
Examples of contractions:
Falei sobre isso. — I talked about that.
Não gostei daquilo. — I did not like that over there / that (before).
Real-world signs and messages where you will see these
In stores: Isso é novo — point to a featured product near the cashier or labeled display.
On menus: Não temos isso hoje — staff may say we do not have that today when an item is unavailable.
In customer service: Sinto muito por isso — a polite apology referencing a previous complaint or issue.
Quick practice list for the next 7 days
Day 1: Say Qual é isso? when asking about three items near a friend.
Day 2: Identify two distant objects and say O que é aquilo?
Day 3: Replace repeated nouns in simple sentences with isso or aquilo.
Day 4: Listen to a short clip and note every time you hear isso or aquilo. Translate the sentence.
Day 5: Use contractions: write three sentences with disso and daquilo.
Day 6: Role-play a shop scenario using Qual é isso?, Eu quero isso, Não temos isso hoje.
Day 7: Record yourself saying three short dialogues using both words.
Conclusion
Mastering Isso and Aquilo gives beginners an immediate boost in understanding and speaking Brazilian Portuguese. Focus on the spatial and conversational differences: use isso for things near the listener or ideas just mentioned, and aquilo for things distant from both or removed in time. Practice short dialogues, listen to simple native speech, and use contractions like disso and daquilo to sound natural quickly.
