Introduction
Understanding Portuguese demonstratives is essential for clear communication, especially when pointing to people, things, or ideas in conversation. This article explains the three main demonstratives used in Brazilian Portuguese: este, esse, and aquele, including gender and number agreement, common uses, differences in meaning, and natural example sentences to help you use them correctly.
- What are demonstratives in Portuguese?
- Basic differences: este vs. esse vs. aquele
- Gender and number agreement
- Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
- Demonstratives and time
- Esse as a discourse marker
- Este and esse: subtle differences in nuance
- Aquele used for emphasis or emotion
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Examples in everyday conversation
- Cultural and pragmatic notes
- Recap: quick decision guide
- Conclusion
What are demonstratives in Portuguese?
Demonstratives are words that indicate the location of something relative to the speaker and listener, or that identify which item is being discussed. In Portuguese, the core demonstratives are este, esse, and aquele. They change form for gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural):
este, esta, estes, estas
esse, essa, esses, essas
aquele, aquela, aqueles, aquelas
Basic differences: este vs. esse vs. aquele
The simplest way to distinguish them is by position relative to speaker and listener.
Este refers to something close to the speaker. Use it when the item is physically or temporally near the person who is speaking.
Esse refers to something near the listener or something mentioned recently in the conversation. It often conveys proximity to the person you are talking to or a previous idea.
Aquele points to something farther away from both speaker and listener, either physically distant or conceptually remote. It can also mark contrast or a more distant moment in time.
Simple spatial examples
Speaker is holding a book:
Eu gosto deste livro.
Speaker points to a book near the listener:
Você pode pegar esse livro?
Speaker points to a book across the room:
Aquele livro é antigo.
Gender and number agreement
Like adjectives and articles, demonstratives agree with the noun they modify. Always match gender and number.
Examples with masculine/feminine and singular/plural:
este carro / esta casa
estes carros / estas casas
esse carro / essa casa
esses carros / essas casas
aquele carro / aquela casa
aqueles carros / aquelas casas
When to use each form
If you are referring to a plural group nearby, use estes or estas. If referring to multiple items closer to the listener, use esses or essas. For distant plural items, use aqueles or aquelas.
Example plural sentences:
Estes sapatos são confortáveis.
Essas cadeiras são novas.
Aquelas nuvens parecem pesadas.
Demonstrative pronouns vs demonstrative adjectives
Demonstratives can act as adjectives (modifying a noun) or as pronouns (replacing a noun). When they modify a noun, they sit before it like an adjective. When they replace a noun, they stand alone.
As adjectives:
Este filme é ótimo.
Aquela casa é grande.
As pronouns (noun omitted):
Prefiro este.
Não gosto daquela.
Pronouns with prepositions
Demonstrative pronouns can follow prepositions. Note the forms used after prepositions can be slightly different historically (com este vs. com isso etc.), but modern Brazilian Portuguese commonly uses the standard forms with prepositions.
Examples:
Eu concordo com este ponto.
Eles falaram sobre aqueles problemas.
Demonstratives and time
Demonstratives also mark temporal relationships. Use este for the present period (this week, today), esse for a recent past or a period related to the listener, and aquele for a distant past or future event that is seen as remote.
Examples:
Este ano estou estudando muito. (the current year)
Esse mês você trabalhou muito. (the month the listener experienced)
Aquele dia mudou tudo. (a distant or memorable past day)
Esse as a discourse marker
In Brazilian Portuguese, esse is frequently used as a discourse marker to refer to something already mentioned or to introduce an idea tied to the listener’s perspective. It can also soften statements and create conversational continuity.
Example of referring back:
Ela comprou um carro novo. Esse carro é vermelho.
Example as a conversational link:
Eu vi um filme ontem. Esse filme tinha cenas engraçadas.
Este and esse: subtle differences in nuance
When both speaker and listener see or share access to the referent, choosing between este and esse depends on emphasis. Use este to stress your closeness or ownership; use esse when highlighting the listener’s proximity or previously mentioned information.
Contrast examples:
Este telefone é meu. (I hold it or it’s mine.)
Esse telefone é seu? (Is that the one near you?)
Regional and colloquial notes
In everyday Brazilian speech, esse is often used more broadly, sometimes overlapping with este. In formal writing or careful speech, the distinctions are more consistently observed. Also, in spoken Portuguese, contractions and reduced forms make context important: esse can sound like isse in rapid speech.
Aquele used for emphasis or emotion
Aquele often carries an emotional distance or emphasis, useful when telling stories, recalling memories, or indicating clear separation. It can imply nostalgia, disdain, or admiration depending on tone and context.
Examples:
Aquele verão foi inesquecível. (nostalgic)
Não quero me envolver com aquele problema. (emotional distance)
Demonstratives with relative pronouns
You will often see demonstratives followed by relative clauses, which add information about the referent. Use the appropriate demonstrative to signal distance before the clause.
Examples:
Este é o livro que comprei ontem.
Aquela é a casa onde cresci.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Beginners often mix up este and esse. Ask yourself: who is closer to the item—me or you? If the answer is me, lean to este. If it is you or a previously mentioned idea, use esse. For distant objects or times, use aquele.
Remember to match gender and number. Practice by describing objects around you using each demonstrative to build the habit.
Pronunciation tips
Pronounce este with a clear initial e sound: es-te. Esse often reduces to a softer s sound between vowels in rapid speech. Aquele stresses the second syllable: a-QUE-le. Listening to native speakers in context helps internalize natural rhythms.
Examples in everyday conversation
Short dialogues showing typical uses:
1) At a market:
Você quer esta maçã?
Não, prefiro aquela ali.
2) Making plans:
Podemos nos encontrar esta tarde?
Prefiro esse sábado à tarde.
3) Telling a story:
Lembra daquele restaurante na praia?
Aquele lugar tinha a melhor moqueca.
Useful phrases that learners often encounter
Demonstratives appear in fixed expressions that are good to memorize:
este momento (this moment)
essa ideia (that idea/that thought)
aquele dia (that day back then)
Cultural and pragmatic notes
Brazilian Portuguese values contextual cues like gestures and eye contact when using demonstratives. Native speakers often accompany este, esse, or aquele with a pointing gesture or head movement to clarify meaning. In formal writing, the precise distinctions are more important than in casual conversation.
Also, when speaking to someone respectfully, pair demonstratives with polite phrasing. Demonstratives are neutral grammatically, but tone and context shape politeness.
Recap: quick decision guide
If you need a fast rule of thumb:
Use este for things close to you or the present moment.
Use esse for things close to the listener or mentioned earlier.
Use aquele for things far from both or in a distant time.
Conclusion
Mastering este, esse, and aquele will make your Portuguese clearer and more natural. Focus on position relative to speaker and listener, match gender and number, and pay attention to context and tone. With practice and exposure to real Brazilian Portuguese sentences, you will start choosing the right demonstrative instinctively.
