Introduction
Learning how to point and describe locations is one of the first practical skills for beginners in Brazilian Portuguese. This article teaches essential pointing words, prepositions of place, simple phrases for asking and giving directions, and realistic examples you can use right away.
- Why pointing and location words matter for beginners
- Common prepositions of place
- Useful question words for asking directions
- Basic direction and location phrases you will use
- Practical vocabulary for pointing at objects and places
- Common signs and labels you will see
- Beginner tips and common mistakes
- Practice exercises for beginners
- How to build confidence quickly
- Conclusion
Why pointing and location words matter for beginners
Pointing and location vocabulary lets you handle everyday situations: finding a café, following directions in a city, identifying items on a menu or form, and talking to friends or service staff. These words are high-utility and appear early in language exchanges, signage, and maps.
Core pointing words and demonstratives
Start with demonstratives. They help you indicate objects relative to speaker and listener.
este – this (near me, masculine)
esta – this (near me, feminine)
esse – that (near you or previously mentioned, masculine)
essa – that (near you or previously mentioned, feminine)
aquele – that over there (far from both, masculine)
aquela – that over there (far from both, feminine)
Quick notes on demonstratives for beginners
Use este/esta when the object is close to you. Use esse/essa when the object is closer to the person you are speaking to or was mentioned before. Use aquele/aquela for something far from both of you or out of sight.
Common prepositions of place
Prepositions tell where something is relative to something else. Memorize a few and pair them with demonstratives for clear statements.
em – in/on/at
em cima de – on top of
embaixo de – under/below
ao lado de – next to/side of
perto de – near/close to
longe de – far from
entre – between
à esquerda de – to the left of
à direita de – to the right of
Examples of prepositions in short phrases
Combine demonstratives with prepositions to make clear descriptions.
Onde está o banco?
O banco está perto da igreja.
O restaurante está ao lado da padaria.
A chave está em cima da mesa.
O cachorro está embaixo da cadeira.
O ônibus para à esquerda do supermercado.
Useful question words for asking directions
Beginners should learn simple question words to ask where things are and to request directions.
Onde – where
Como – how
Quanto – how much (not location but common)
Para onde – to where
Por onde – through where/which way
Simple beginner questions
These questions are short, clear, and frequently used.
Onde fica a estação?
Como eu chego ao supermercado?
Para onde vai este ônibus?
Por onde eu passo para ir ao centro?
Basic direction and location phrases you will use
Memorize a handful of short reply patterns. They let you respond to or follow directions confidently.
Vá em frente – Go straight
Vire à direita – Turn right
Vire à esquerda – Turn left
Siga até o sinal – Follow until the sign
Vire na segunda rua – Turn at the second street
É ao lado – It is next door
Fica perto – It is nearby
Fica longe – It is far
Conversations: Asking and giving directions (beginner level)
Example 1: Asking at a kiosk
Pessoa: Olá, onde fica o banheiro?
Atendente: O banheiro está ao fundo, à direita.
Example 2: On the street
Turista: Como eu chego ao museu?
Morador: Siga em frente, vire à esquerda na praça, o museu fica à sua direita.
Practical vocabulary for pointing at objects and places
Everyday nouns commonly used with pointing words and prepositions. Learn them with their articles to practice gender agreement.
o mapa – the map
a rua – the street
o prédio – the building
a praça – the square
o mercado – the market
a estação – the station
o banco – the bank
a padaria – the bakery
o ponto de ônibus – the bus stop
a entrada – the entrance
Example sentences combining vocabulary and pointing
O mapa está na mesa.
O ponto de ônibus fica em frente ao mercado.
O hotel está perto da praça principal.
A entrada do parque é à direita do prédio azul.
Common signs and labels you will see
Recognizing signs helps you navigate quickly. Here are common short signs and their meanings in English.
Entrada – Entrance
Saída – Exit
Banheiro – Restroom
Estacionamento – Parking
Aberto – Open
Fechado – Closed
Parada – Stop (often on buses)
Realistic examples for reading signs
Na rua você vê: Estacionamento à esquerda.
Na loja: Aberto das 9h às 18h.
Na praça: Placa com Entrada e seta apontando para a direita.
Beginner tips and common mistakes
Short, actionable tips to avoid frequent beginner errors and speak more naturally.
Tip 1: Match gender and number. If the noun is feminine use esta/essa/aquela and feminine articles like a or da.
Tip 2: Use em + article contractions: em + o = no, em + a = na. Example: na estação, no banco.
Tip 3: Demonstratives change with distance. Avoid mixing este and aquele incorrectly; point and say it out loud.
Common mistake: Saying como eu chego em ao supermercado. Correct: Como eu chego ao supermercado or Como chego no supermercado.
Common mistake: Forgetting preposition before place names. Instead of dizer Mercado Central, say no Mercado Central or ao Mercado Central when appropriate.
Practice exercises for beginners
Short practice tasks you can do alone or with a partner. Use a map, a room, or a street to practice.
Exercise 1: Point to three objects and say: Esta caneta está em cima da mesa; Esse copo está ao lado do prato; Aquela bolsa está na cadeira.
Exercise 2: Ask for directions: Onde fica a farmácia? Then follow a realistic reply and repeat it back.
Exercise 3: Read signs you see during the day and say them aloud: Entrada, Saída, Banheiro. Practice prepositions with each: A entrada fica à direita; O banheiro está no fundo.
Short role-play scripts
Script 1: Tourist and shop assistant
Turista: Onde fica a farmácia?
Assistente: Vai em frente, depois vire à direita, a farmácia fica ao lado da livraria.
Script 2: Asking a friend about an object
Você: Esta caneta é sua?
Amigo: Não, essa é da Maria. A minha está embaixo da mochila.
How to build confidence quickly
Practical ways to improve: focus on short, useful phrases, use gestures when speaking, listen to native Brazilian speakers in short videos, and practice with real-life tasks like reading menus or following a bus route. Confidence comes from using language in realistic, low-pressure situations.
Conclusion
Pointing and location words are foundational for everyday communication in Brazilian Portuguese. Learn demonstratives, prepositions, a core set of nouns, and a few ready-made phrases. Practice with short exercises, read signs, and use the example dialogues to build confidence for real conversations.
