aqueles

The Portuguese word 'aqueles' is a demonstrative determiner and pronoun that translates to 'those' in English. It is specifically used to refer to masculine, plural nouns that are physically or conceptually distant from both the speaker and the listener. Understanding 'aqueles' requires grasping the three-tiered spatial system of Portuguese demonstratives. Unlike English, which uses a two-tiered system ('this/these' for near, 'that/those' for far), Portuguese divides space into three distinct zones: near the speaker ('estes'), near the listener ('esses'), and far from both ('aqueles'). When you use 'aqueles', you are essentially pointing to something that is 'over there', completely removed from the immediate physical sphere of the conversation. This spatial distance is often accompanied by the adverbs 'ali' (there) or 'lá' (over there). For instance, if you and a friend are looking at a distant mountain range and you want to point out specific peaks, you would use 'aqueles'. The word is formed by the base 'aquele' (that, masculine singular) with the addition of the plural marker 's'. It is crucial to remember that 'aqueles' must always agree in gender (masculine) and number (plural) with the noun it modifies or replaces. If the noun were feminine, you would use 'aquelas'. If it were singular, you would use 'aquele'. This strict agreement is a cornerstone of Portuguese grammar and a frequent stumbling block for learners transitioning from English, where 'those' is gender-neutral. Beyond physical distance, 'aqueles' can also indicate temporal distance, referring to a time far in the past, such as 'aqueles dias' (those days). This temporal usage evokes a sense of nostalgia or historical separation. Furthermore, 'aqueles' can be used in a psychological or emotional sense to distance oneself from a subject, sometimes carrying a pejorative or dismissive undertone, as in 'aqueles problemas' (those problems), implying they are not the speaker's concern. Mastering 'aqueles' is essential for achieving fluency, as it allows for precise spatial, temporal, and emotional navigation in Portuguese discourse. The mastery of this word unlocks a deeper understanding of how Portuguese speakers perceive and categorize the world around them, reflecting a worldview where the relative position of objects and people is constantly monitored and linguistically encoded.

Spatial Distance

Refers to objects or people far from both the speaker and the person being spoken to, equivalent to 'those over there'.

Temporal Distance

Used to refer to a period of time in the distant past, often evoking nostalgia or historical context.

Grammatical Agreement

Must strictly agree with masculine, plural nouns. Cannot be used with feminine or singular nouns under any circumstance.

Using 'aqueles' correctly involves mastering its role as both a determiner and a pronoun, as well as understanding its crucial contractions with common prepositions. As a determiner, 'aqueles' directly precedes a noun to specify which items are being discussed (e.g., 'aqueles carros' - those cars). In this role, it acts much like an adjective, providing essential context about the noun's location relative to the speakers. As a pronoun, 'aqueles' stands alone, replacing a previously mentioned noun to avoid repetition (e.g., 'Quais carros? Aqueles.' - Which cars? Those.). The most complex and uniquely Portuguese aspect of using 'aqueles' is its interaction with prepositions. When the prepositions 'de' (of/from), 'em' (in/on), 'a' (to/at), or 'por' (by/through) precede 'aqueles', they physically merge to form a single word. This is not optional; it is a mandatory grammatical rule. 'De' + 'aqueles' becomes 'daqueles' (of/from those). 'Em' + 'aqueles' becomes 'naqueles' (in/on those). 'A' + 'aqueles' becomes 'àqueles' (to those - note the grave accent indicating the crasis). 'Por' + 'aqueles' historically became 'peraqueles', but in modern Portuguese, it is usually expressed as 'por aqueles' without contraction, though older texts might show variations. These contractions are ubiquitous in spoken and written Portuguese. For example, instead of saying 'Eu gosto de aqueles livros', you must say 'Eu gosto daqueles livros'. Failure to contract these words sounds highly unnatural to native speakers. Furthermore, 'aqueles' is often used in comparative structures, such as 'Estes sapatos são mais caros do que aqueles' (These shoes are more expensive than those). It is also frequently employed in relative clauses, such as 'Aqueles que estudam, passam' (Those who study, pass). In this context, 'aqueles' acts as the antecedent for the relative pronoun 'que'. Understanding these syntactic roles and mandatory contractions is vital for anyone aiming to speak Portuguese naturally and accurately. The fluidity of Portuguese speech relies heavily on these merged sounds, making the mastery of 'daqueles', 'naqueles', and 'àqueles' just as important as the base word itself.

As a Determiner

Placed directly before a masculine plural noun to specify distance.

As a Pronoun

Stands alone to replace a noun that is understood from context.

With Preposition 'De'

Mandatory contraction forming 'daqueles'.

You will hear 'aqueles' in virtually every context of Portuguese daily life, as spatial referencing is a fundamental part of human communication. In commercial settings, such as markets, clothing stores, or car dealerships, 'aqueles' is constantly used by customers pointing to items on high shelves, in display windows, or across the lot. A customer might say, 'Pode me mostrar aqueles óculos lá em cima?' (Can you show me those glasses up there?). In social situations, it is used to subtly or directly point out groups of people across a room or street: 'Você conhece aqueles caras?' (Do you know those guys?). In educational environments, teachers use it to refer to diagrams on a distant board or groups of students in the back row. Beyond physical pointing, 'aqueles' is highly prevalent in storytelling and historical narratives. When recounting past events, speakers frequently use phrases like 'naqueles dias' (in those days) or 'naqueles tempos' (in those times) to establish a setting that is temporally distant from the present moment. This usage is common in literature, news reports discussing history, and everyday nostalgic conversations among older generations. Furthermore, 'aqueles' appears in idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms. For instance, in Brazilian Portuguese, describing someone as 'um daqueles' (one of those) can be a shorthand way of saying they are difficult, peculiar, or fit a specific, unspoken stereotype. You will also hear it in academic and formal discourse when contrasting two distinct groups or concepts previously mentioned in a text, similar to 'the former' and 'the latter' in English, though 'aqueles' specifically refers to the more distant (former) referent. Whether you are watching a Portuguese soap opera (novela), listening to a news broadcast, or chatting with friends at a café, 'aqueles' is an unavoidable and essential piece of vocabulary that anchors the conversation in physical and temporal reality.

Shopping and Retail

Used to ask for items that are out of immediate reach, often behind a counter or on a high shelf.

Social Observation

Used to draw attention to people or events happening at a distance.

Storytelling

Setting the scene in the distant past.

The most prevalent mistake learners make with 'aqueles' is confusing it with the other demonstratives, 'estes' (these) and 'esses' (those near you). Because English only has 'these' and 'those', English speakers often use 'esses' and 'aqueles' interchangeably. However, in Portuguese, using 'esses' when pointing to something far away sounds confusing, and using 'aqueles' for something the listener is holding is incorrect. 'Aqueles' is strictly for items far from BOTH people in the conversation. Another major error is failing to agree the demonstrative with the noun in gender and number. Learners might say 'aqueles casas' (incorrect, should be 'aquelas casas') or 'aqueles livro' (incorrect, should be 'aquele livro'). The gender and number must match perfectly. The third most common, and perhaps most glaring mistake to native ears, is ignoring the mandatory prepositions contractions. A learner might translate 'I like those cars' word-for-word as 'Eu gosto de aqueles carros'. This is grammatically incorrect in Portuguese; it must be contracted to 'Eu gosto daqueles carros'. Similarly, 'in those days' must be 'naqueles dias', never 'em aqueles dias'. These contractions are not optional stylistic choices; they are rigid rules of the language. Furthermore, learners sometimes confuse 'aqueles' with the neuter demonstrative pronoun 'aquilo' (that thing over there). 'Aqueles' is used for specific, identifiable masculine plural nouns (those cars, those men), whereas 'aquilo' is used for abstract concepts, unknown objects, or entire situations (What is that thing over there? = O que é aquilo?). You cannot say 'aquilo carros'. Finally, pronunciation can be a minor stumbling block. The 'qu' in 'aqueles' is pronounced like a 'k', not 'kw'. It is /a'kelis/ in Brazil and /a'kelɨʃ/ in Portugal, never /a'kwelis/. Overcoming these mistakes requires conscious practice of the three-way spatial system, rigorous attention to gender/number agreement, and rote memorization of the prepositional contractions until they become second nature.

Distance Confusion

Using 'aqueles' for things near the listener (which should be 'esses').

Missing Contractions

Failing to merge prepositions like 'de' and 'em' with 'aqueles'.

Gender Mismatch

Using 'aqueles' with feminine nouns instead of 'aquelas'.

To fully grasp 'aqueles', it must be understood in contrast to its immediate linguistic neighbors within the Portuguese demonstrative system. The most closely related words are its morphological siblings: 'aquele' (masculine singular), 'aquelas' (feminine plural), and 'aquela' (feminine singular). These all share the exact same spatial meaning (far from both speaker and listener) but differ only in gender and number agreement. Choosing between them is purely a matter of matching the noun they modify. The more complex comparisons lie with the other distance tiers. 'Estes' (these) is used for masculine plural items near the speaker (associated with 'aqui' - here). 'Esses' (those) is used for masculine plural items near the listener, or items just mentioned in conversation (associated with 'aí' - there). While English translates both 'esses' and 'aqueles' as 'those', Portuguese maintains a strict distinction. If a friend is holding a pair of shoes, you say 'esses sapatos'. If the shoes are across the street in a window display, you say 'aqueles sapatos'. Another crucial distinction is with the invariable, neuter pronoun 'aquilo'. While 'aqueles' refers to specific, known masculine plural nouns (those specific things), 'aquilo' translates to 'that' in an abstract sense, referring to an unknown object, a general situation, or an abstract concept. You point to a distant, unidentifiable shape and ask 'O que é aquilo?' (What is that?). Once you identify it as a group of cars, you say 'Ah, são aqueles carros' (Ah, they are those cars). Understanding these distinctions is not just about vocabulary; it is about adopting the Portuguese spatial mindset. It requires the speaker to constantly evaluate the physical and conversational distance between themselves, their interlocutor, and the objects being discussed. This tri-partite system (estes/esses/aqueles) is a beautiful, logical structure derived directly from Latin (iste/ipse/ille), and mastering it provides a profound sense of fluency and naturalness in spoken Portuguese.

Esses vs. Aqueles

'Esses' is near the listener; 'aqueles' is far from both.

Estes vs. Aqueles

'Estes' is near the speaker (here); 'aqueles' is far away (over there).

Aquilo vs. Aqueles

'Aquilo' is for unknown/abstract things; 'aqueles' is for specific masculine plural nouns.