Demonstratives are words we use to point out a person or object, including their location relative to the speaker and listener.

Portuguese demonstratives work much like those in English: they indicate whether something is near or far, either in time or space:

Esta mesa aqui é de vidro; essa aí é de madeira.
This table here is made of glass; that one is made of wood.

Estes tempos de agora são mais complicados do que aqueles de outrora.
These present times are more complex than those of the past.

Portuguese demonstratives are nonetheless more nuanced than their English counterparts. They must agree in gender and number with the nouns they refer to (though there’s also a neuter form that ignores both).

Additionally, Portuguese features a third demonstrative variant to indicate an object that is distant from both the speaker and the listener, a nuance that English lacks.

And finally, contractions: demonstratives in Portuguese merge with certain prepositions. This means you’ll encounter more morphological variations than you would in English.

Let’s dive in.

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Lessons

Blanks

Mesmo estando a chover…

Complete the sentences so that they make sense.

Fill in the blanks

Esta chave aqui é tua

Fill in the blanks with the missing demonstratives.

Fill in the blanks

Variable vs. invariable demonstratives

In Portuguese, demonstratives come in two flavors: variable and invariable (neuter).

Variable demonstratives adjust to the number and gender of the noun.

Invariable demonstratives do not adjust and are more generic.

🔎 Learn more about gender and number agreement in Portuguese.

Variable Demonstratives

Variable demonstratives change their endings to agree with the noun they refer to:

Singular/Feminine

Esta pera é saborosa. (a pera) 
This pear is tasty.

Plural/Masculine

Estes melões são saborosos. (os melões)
These melons are tasty.

They can be used either as:

Determiners (before a noun)

Estas maçãs não prestam!
These apples are no good!

Pronouns (standing alone)

Estas não prestam!
These are no good!

Invariable Demonstratives

Invariable demonstratives don’t change with gender or number. They are always used as pronouns and typically sound more abstract or general:

Isto é saboroso.
This is tasty.

We often use them to either speak concisely or in more abstract terms. Compare with variable demonstratives:

More abstract vs. less abstract

Isto é teu vs. Esta caneta é tua 
This is yours vs. This pen is yours

Leva isto contigo vs. Leva estes livros contigo
Take this with you vs. Take these books with you 

Isto é complicado vs. Esta situação é complicada
This is complicated vs. This situation is complicated

Demonstratives and Space

Portuguese uses three spatial categories, based on proximity to the speaker and listener.

1. Near the Speaker

These match English “this/these.”

Aqui

The sense of proximity to the speaker conveyed by these demonstratives is often reinforced by the adverb of place aqui (here):

Este navio aqui
This ship here

Isto aqui
This here

Contractions

These demonstratives merge with the prepositions de and em:

Here are a few examples:

🔎 Learn more about Portuguese prepositions and contractions.

2. Near the Hearer 

These match English “that/those.”

Aí

The sense of proximity to the hearer conveyed by these demonstratives is often reinforced by the adverb of place aí (next to you):

Esse copo aí
That glass (next to you)

Isso aí
That thing (next to you)

Contractions

These demonstratives also merge with the prepositions de and em:

A few examples:

3. Far from Both

Used for something distant from both speaker and listener. English just uses “that/those” again, leaving context to clarify.

Ali

The sense of distance from both the speaker and hearer conveyed by these demonstratives is often reinforced by the adverb of place ali (over there):

aquele quadro ali
that painting over there

aquilo ali
that over there

Contractions

These demonstratives merge with the prepositions de,  em and a:

A few examples:

Demonstratives and Time

Demonstratives aren’t just spatial—they also relate to time.

For instance, este(s), estas(s), and isto often imply the present time:

Estes tempos são difíceis.
These are challenging times.

Conversely, esse(s), essa(s), isso and aquele(s), aquela(s), aquilo refer to the past time:

Esses tempos foram difíceis.
Aqueles tempos foram difíceis
Those were challenging times.

The difference between using esse or aquele when talking about the past can be subtle. If someone just mentioned an event, you’d likely use esse. If you’re referring to a more distant or previously unmentioned event, aquele might be more appropriate.