“Aquele” vs “Esse” in Portuguese: How to Point to Things Clearly

Introduction

Understanding how to point to things in Portuguese goes beyond simple translation. Two demonstratives, aquele and esse, often confuse English speakers because both can mean that or those. This article explains the differences, gives clear rules, and shows natural Brazilian Portuguese examples so you can point to people, objects, ideas, and memories with confidence.

What are demonstratives in Portuguese?

Demonstratives are words that indicate location or time relative to the speaker and listener. In Brazilian Portuguese the three main demonstrative families are este/esta (near the speaker), esse/essa (near the listener or connected to the conversation), and aquele/aquela (far from both, or emotionally/temporally distant).

Each demonstrative agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies: este/esta/estes/estas, esse/essa/esses/essas, aquele/aquela/aqueles/aquelas.

Core difference: proximity and perspective

The simplest rule is spatial and conversational perspective. Use este when the item is close to the speaker. Use esse when the item is close to the listener or is part of the listener’s context. Use aquele when the item is far from both speaker and listener, or when referring to something in the past or generally distant.

Examples with physical proximity:

Este livro é meu. (book near me)
Esse livro é seu. (book near you)
Aquele livro lá é deles. (book over there, far from both)

When to prefer esse

Esse is very common in Brazilian Portuguese. Use it in these situations:

1. The object is near the listener or already in the listener’s possession.
2. The object has just been mentioned in the conversation (anaphoric use).
3. To point to ideas, statements, or things in the immediate discourse.

Examples:

Você tem esse caderno? (Is that notebook near you or that one you have?)
Eu li um artigo ontem. Esse artigo era muito bom. (I read an article yesterday. That article was very good.)

When to prefer aquele

Aquele indicates distance in space or time, and it often implies something removed from the current interaction. Use aquele when:

1. The object is physically far from both speaker and listener.
2. You refer to a moment in the past or to an event separated from the present conversation.
3. You want to add emotional or rhetorical distance.

Examples:

Lembra daquele restaurante em que jantamos no verão passado? (Remember that restaurant we ate at last summer?)
Aquele prédio ao fundo é um museu. (That building over there is a museum.)

Anaphoric vs cataphoric use: talking within conversation

Portuguese demonstratives can point backward or forward in a text or conversation. When a demonstrative refers back to something already mentioned, it is an anaphor. When it anticipates something to be said, it is cataphor.

Esse is frequently anaphoric: it refers to something just mentioned. Aquele is often used for both anaphoric and cataphoric references when a sense of distance or formality is intended.

Example of anaphoric use with esse:

Ela encontrou uma solução. Esse plano resolveu o problema. (She found a solution. That plan solved the problem.)

Example of cataphoric use with aquele:

Aquele que chegar atrasado não participa. (He who arrives late does not participate.)

Temporal distance: past vs present

Demonstratives also mark time. Use esse to talk about recent, relevant events connected to the present conversation. Use aquele to talk about events further in the past or distant periods.

Examples:

Você viu o jogo ontem? Esse jogo foi emocionante. (Did you see the game yesterday? That game was exciting.)
Naquela época, as coisas eram diferentes. Aquele tempo era complicado. (At that time, things were different. That period was complicated.)

Gesture and pointing: body language matters

When speaking face to face Brazilians combine demonstratives with gestures. Point close to yourself when using este, point to the listener when using esse, and point further away when using aquele. In many casual situations, though, Brazilians often prefer esse even for objects slightly farther away, because the conversational link matters more than strict physical distance.

Example in a store:

Vendedor: Quer pagar com cartão ou dinheiro?
Cliente: Com cartão. Posso ver aquele relógio ali? (Vendor: Do you want to pay by card or cash? Customer: With card. Can I see that watch over there?)

Demonstrative pronouns vs adjectives

Demonstratives can act as adjectives (modifying nouns) or pronouns (replacing nouns). The form remains the same but the role changes.

As adjectives modify a noun: esse livro, aquele carro. As pronouns replace the noun: Esse é meu, Aquele não funciona.

Examples:

Adjective: Eu quero essa camisa. (I want that shirt.)
Pronoun: Essa é minha. (That one is mine.)

Nuances in meaning and register

Choosing between esse and aquele can change tone. Aquele can sound more formal, literary, or nostalgic; it creates distance. Esse feels more immediate, conversational, and neutral. Native speakers may also use regional variations and colloquial shortcuts: in informal speech you might hear ‘esse’ or even reductions depending on dialect and speed.

Example of nostalgic nuance:

Aquele verão ficou na minha memória. (That summer stayed in my memory.)

Common pitfalls for English speakers

English uses that and this less strictly than Portuguese, so learners often translate directly. Avoid these mistakes:

1. Using esse for everything that translates as that. Instead, consider proximity and conversational perspective.
2. Confusing temporal distance: use aquele for more distant past.
3. Forgetting agreement in gender and number: match the noun (aquele carro, aquela casa, aqueles livros, aquelas ideias).

Correct agreement examples:

Aquele carro é rápido.
Aquela casa é antiga.
Aqueles livros são interessantes.
Aquelas ideias são boas.

Practical tips to choose correctly

Here are simple mental checks you can use when speaking or writing:

1. Is the object near me? Use este/esta.
2. Is the object near you or just mentioned? Use esse/essa.
3. Is it far from both or in the past/distant context? Use aquele/aquela.
4. Match gender and number with the noun.
5. Use gestures in conversation to reinforce meaning.

Make these checks quick habits and you will sound more natural.

Examples in dialogue and narration

Short dialogues show natural use in context:

Amigo 1: Tem aquele filme que você recomendou?
Amigo 2: Qual?
Amigo 1: Aquele com o ator brasileiro famoso.
Amigo 2: Ah, esse! Eu adorei. Vamos assistir hoje?

Narrative example showing temporal distance:

Quando eu era criança, morávamos em uma cidade pequena. Aquela cidade tinha festas na praça e todos se conheciam. Hoje, essa

Cultural notes

In Brazil people often combine demonstratives with deixis (words that point) and gestures. Using the right demonstrative shows attention to social context. For instance, using aquele to refer to a person can sound dismissive or dramatic depending on tone. Be mindful of tone and politeness: if in doubt, use neutral phrasing or add clarifying context.

Example of possible tone issue:

Ele falou daquele chefe. (He spoke about that boss — neutral or descriptive.)
Ele falou daquele chefe, como se fosse um problema. (He spoke about that boss as if it were a problem — could sound critical.)

Quick reference table (simple rules)

Use this quick guide while learning:

Este/Esta — near speaker, present, immediate.
Esse/Essa — near listener or linked to the conversation, recent or mentioned.
Aquele/Aquela — far from both, distant in space or time, emotional or rhetorical distance.

Advanced note: demonstratives with particles and suffixes

Brazilian Portuguese sometimes uses forms like isto, isso, and aquilo as neutral pronouns for ideas (without gender). They follow similar proximity rules: isto for what is near the speaker, isso for what is near the listener or mentioned, aquilo for something far away or abstract.

Examples:

Isto é importante. (This, near speaker.)
Isso é interessante. (That, in the conversation.)
Aquilo pertence ao passado. (That, in the distant past.)

Summary of common phrases learners should memorize

Memorize a few stock phrases to feel more natural:

Onde está esse livro? (Where is that book?)
Veja aquele ali. (See that one over there.)
Estou falando desse assunto. (I am talking about that subject.)
Lembra daquele dia? (Remember that day?)

Conclusion

Mastering the difference between aquele and esse helps your Portuguese sound precise and natural. Focus on perspective (speaker vs listener), physical and temporal distance, agreement with nouns, and conversational context. Practice by listening to Brazilian Portuguese conversations and noting which demonstratives speakers prefer in each situation. With time, choosing the right demonstrative will become automatic and you will point to things clearly and confidently.