How to use “Esse” and “Aquele” in simple Portuguese phrases

Introduction

Understanding demonstrative words is essential for basic Brazilian Portuguese. This article explains how to use esse and aquele in simple phrases, with clear rules, vocabulary, common examples, and useful beginner tips to help you speak and understand everyday conversations.

What are demonstratives and why they matter

Demonstratives point to people, objects, places, or ideas. In English, we use this, that, these, those. In Brazilian Portuguese, demonstratives help specify which item we mean and show the speaker’s relationship to it. For beginners, learning esse and aquele first is practical because they appear in simple dialogues, menus, signs, and messages.

Basic forms and short explanation

Portuguese demonstratives change by gender and number. For beginners, focus on masculine singular forms first: esse and aquele. Use esses for masculine plural, essa for feminine singular, essas for feminine plural, and aquela/aquelas for feminine distant forms. But this article emphasizes how to use esse and aquele in common beginner contexts.

Quick reference: when to use each

Use esse when referring to something near the listener or recently mentioned in the conversation.

Use aquele when referring to something farther away from both speaker and listener, or when pointing to something remote in time or memory.

How location and context change meaning

Demonstratives depend on physical distance and conversational distance. Physical distance: if the object is by the listener, choose esse; if far from both, choose aquele. Conversational distance: objects mentioned earlier often become esse because they are close in the dialogue. Objects in the past or a story can become aquele.

Examples with everyday objects

Imagine you and a friend are in a store. The friend points to a shirt near them. You say:

Essa camisa é bonita.

Translation: That shirt is pretty. Here essa refers to a shirt close to the listener.

If the shirt is on a distant shelf you point and say:

Aquela camisa lá é mais barata.

Translation: That shirt over there is cheaper. Aquela shows distance from both people.

Using esses and aqueles with plural nouns

Examples for plural objects you might see:

Esses sapatos estão na promoção.

Translation: Those shoes are on sale. Shoes are near the listener or just mentioned.

Aqueles livros são antigos.

Translation: Those books over there are old. Books are farther away or refer to a different place.

Demonstratives with people

Portuguese speakers use demonstratives with people naturally. Use esse for someone near the listener or recently mentioned, and aquele for someone at a distance or in the past.

Examples

Você conhece aquele homem ali?

Translation: Do you know that man over there? Here aquele points to someone far away.

Esse é o meu amigo João.

Translation: This/That is my friend João. Use esse if presenting someone near the listener or already discussed.

Time and memory: using esse vs aquele

Demonstratives can refer to time. Use esse for recent time periods mentioned in conversation, and aquele for distant past events or periods you want to separate from the current discussion.

Time examples

Essa semana estou ocupado.

Translation: This week I am busy. Essa refers to the current or recent week.

Aquele verão foi inesquecível.

Translation: That summer was unforgettable. Aquele refers to a past summer, more distant in memory.

Practical short phrases and situations

Here are common short phrases useful for beginners in shops, restaurants, and daily life. Notice the demonstratives and their context.

Quanto custa esse suco?

Translation: How much is that juice? Use when the juice is near the listener or just pointed at.

Posso experimentar aquela jaqueta?

Translation: Can I try on that jacket over there? Use when the jacket is farther away.

Esse prato é típico daqui?

Translation: Is this/that dish typical here? Useful in restaurants when asking about a dish close to the menu or table.

Aquele banco fecha às cinco.

Translation: That bank closes at five. Use when mentioning a specific bank not nearby or in a prior conversation.

Short dialogue examples beginners can practice

Dialogue 1 — At a café:

Cliente: Quanto custa esse café?
Barista: Esse café custa cinco reais.

Dialogue 2 — At a store:

Cliente: Você prefere aquele tênis ou esse?
Vendedor: Eu gosto mais daquele, é mais confortável.

Dialogue 3 — Asking directions:

Turista: Onde fica aquele restaurante?
Local: Aquele restaurante fica duas quadras daqui.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Beginners often mix up esse and aquele. Here are common errors and fixes.

Mistake: Using esse for something clearly far away. Fix: Think about physical distance. If both people see it and it is far, use aquele.

Mistake: Using aquele for something just mentioned in the conversation. Fix: If it was mentioned recently and remains relevant, use esse instead.

Mistake: Forgetting gender and number. Fix: Match the demonstrative to the noun: camisa (feminine) => essa/essaquela; carro (masculine) => esse/aquele; livros (plural) => esses/aqueles.

Beginner tips for fast learning

Tip 1: Pair demonstratives with real objects while learning. Point and say the phrase out loud: Esse livro; Aquela janela.

Tip 2: Practice short dialogues with a partner or language app. Use everyday contexts like cafés, shops, and directions.

Tip 3: Label items at home with sticky notes: esse copo, essa caneca, esses sapatos. Move notes to practice distance contrast.

Tip 4: Listen to simple Brazilian Portuguese audio and note when speakers use esse or aquele. Pause and repeat the phrases.

Useful vocabulary to memorize

essa camisa — that shirt (near listener)

aquela camisa — that shirt over there (far)

esse livro — that book (recently mentioned)

aquele livro — that book over there (distant)

esse mês — this/that month (current or recent)

aquele mês — that month (past or distant)

Mini practice exercise

Look around you and choose three objects. For each, make two sentences: one using esse/essa and one using aquele/aquela. Example:

Objeto: cadeira perto de você
Frases: Essa cadeira é confortável.
Aquela cadeira no canto parece antiga.

When to learn the other demonstratives

After you are comfortable with esse and aquele, add este (used for items very close to the speaker) and the full set of gender/number forms. But for most beginner daily situations, mastering esse and aquele is enough to communicate clearly.

Conclusion

Learning the difference between esse and aquele helps you point out objects, refer to people, and talk about time in simple, natural Brazilian Portuguese. Practice with real objects, short dialogues, and the vocabulary examples here to gain confidence in everyday situations. With a few minutes of daily practice you will start choosing the right demonstrative more naturally.