esse

The Portuguese word esse is a fundamental demonstrative determiner and pronoun that every learner must master early in their journey. At its core, it translates to the English word that, but with a specific spatial and psychological nuance that is more precise than its English counterpart. In the traditional tripartite system of Portuguese demonstratives, esse is used to refer to something that is physically close to the person being spoken to (the listener), or something that has just been mentioned in a conversation. Understanding the distinction between este (near me), esse (near you), and aquele (far from both of us) is the key to sounding natural in Portuguese.

Spatial Reference

In a physical space, if you are talking to a friend who is holding a book, you would refer to it as esse livro because the book is in their space, not yours.

Beyond physical space, esse plays a crucial role in discourse. When you are telling a story and you mention a specific event or a person, and then you want to refer back to that specific entity in the next sentence, esse is your go-to word. It acts as a bridge, linking the current sentence to the immediate context provided by the interlocutor or the preceding text. This is known as anaphoric reference. For example, if your friend says, 'I bought a new car,' you might reply, 'Onde está esse carro?' (Where is that car?). You use esse because the car was introduced by the listener.

It is important to note the gender and number agreement. Esse is masculine singular. If you are referring to a feminine noun, you must use essa. If the nouns are plural, you use esses or essas. This grammatical harmony is non-negotiable in Portuguese. Furthermore, esse often contracts with prepositions. When combined with em (in/on), it becomes nesse. When combined with de (of/from), it becomes desse. These contractions are used constantly in both spoken and written Portuguese, making them essential for achieving fluency.

Temporal Usage

Esse is also used to refer to time. Specifically, it refers to a time period that is relatively close to the present, often the recent past or the very near future. For instance, 'nesse final de semana' usually refers to the upcoming weekend or the one that just passed.

In social interactions, esse can also carry a psychological distance. Sometimes, using esse instead of este can subtly indicate that the object belongs more to the listener's sphere of influence or responsibility. If a teacher says to a student, 'O que é esse barulho?', they are implying the noise is coming from the student's area. It is a word that defines boundaries and relationships between the speaker, the listener, and the world around them. Mastering esse is not just about learning a word; it is about learning how Portuguese speakers map their reality.

Abstract Reference

When discussing ideas, esse refers to the idea just mentioned by the other person. 'Esse seu argumento é muito válido' (That argument of yours is very valid).

Finally, the word esse is frequently used in idiomatic expressions and fixed phrases. Phrases like 'por essa eu não esperava' (I didn't expect that one) or 'nessa altura do campeonato' (at this stage of the game) show how deeply embedded this demonstrative is in the cultural fabric of the language. Whether you are pointing at a shirt in a store or referencing a complex philosophical point in a debate, esse provides the necessary specificity to ensure your listener knows exactly what you are talking about. It is a small word with a massive communicative load, acting as a pointer in the complex map of human interaction.

Using esse correctly requires an understanding of its grammatical role as both a determiner (accompanying a noun) and a pronoun (replacing a noun). As a determiner, it must always precede the noun it modifies and agree with it in gender and number. Since esse is masculine singular, it pairs with nouns like carro, livro, caminho, or problema. If the noun is feminine, like casa, you must switch to essa. This agreement is the most common hurdle for English speakers, as English 'that' is invariant.

Placement and Agreement

Always place esse before the noun. Example: Esse computador é rápido (That computer is fast). If you change the noun to plural, the determiner must follow: Esses computadores são rápidos.

One of the most distinctive features of Portuguese is the way demonstratives contract with prepositions. This is not optional in most contexts; it is the standard way of speaking and writing. The most common contractions are desse (de + esse) and nesse (em + esse). For example, instead of saying 'Eu gosto de esse livro' (which sounds incorrect), you must say 'Eu gosto desse livro'. Similarly, 'Eu moro em esse prédio' becomes 'Eu moro nesse prédio'. There is also the contraction aesse (a + esse), though it is much less common than the feminine àquela or àquela.

In terms of sentence structure, esse can appear at the beginning of a sentence as a subject, or within the predicate as an object. When used as a pronoun, it stands alone to represent a noun already mentioned. For example: 'Você viu o meu relógio? Esse aí?' (Did you see my watch? That one there?). Here, esse replaces the noun relógio. Note the addition of the adverb aí (there, near you), which often accompanies esse to reinforce the spatial relationship.

Interrogative Contexts

In questions, esse is used to ask about things in the listener's possession or vicinity. 'De quem é esse celular?' (Whose cell phone is that?).

Another advanced usage involves the 'demonstrative of identity.' Sometimes esse is used to emphasize a specific quality or to point out a particular person in a crowd. 'Ele é esse tipo de pessoa que sempre ajuda' (He is that type of person who always helps). Here, esse works with tipo to categorize a behavior. In narrative writing, esse is used to maintain cohesion. If you describe a problem in one paragraph, you might start the next with 'Para resolver esse problema...' (To solve that problem...). This ensures the reader knows exactly which problem is being discussed.

Comparison with 'Aquele'

Contrast esse with aquele. While esse is 'that' (near you), aquele is 'that' (over there, far from both). 'Pegue esse copo (near you) e não aquele (far away)'.

Finally, remember that esse can be used to express disdain or affection depending on the tone. 'Eu adoro esse menino!' (I love that boy!) vs. 'Eu não suporto esse sujeito' (I can't stand that guy). The demonstrative points the finger, and the context provides the emotion. By practicing these patterns—agreement, contraction, and spatial awareness—you will move from translating 'that' to truly thinking in Portuguese.

The word esse is ubiquitous in the Lusophone world, but its usage varies slightly between Portugal and Brazil, and between formal and informal registers. In everyday Brazilian Portuguese, esse is the workhorse of demonstratives. You will hear it in the supermarket when a customer asks for a specific product: 'Quanto custa esse queijo?' (How much is that cheese?). You will hear it on the bus when someone asks about a stop: 'Esse ônibus passa na Avenida Paulista?' (Does this/that bus pass on Paulista Avenue?). Interestingly, in Brazil, esse has almost entirely supplanted este in spoken language, even when referring to things close to the speaker.

In the Marketplace

When shopping, you'll hear: 'Vou levar esse aqui' (I'll take this one here) or 'Me dá esse, por favor' (Give me that one, please).

In Portugal, the distinction between este and esse is generally more strictly maintained in speech. A person in Lisbon is more likely to use este for something in their hand and esse for something in your hand. However, even in Portugal, esse remains the dominant word for referring back to something previously mentioned in a conversation. In professional settings, such as a business meeting in Luanda or Maputo, you will hear esse used to refer to specific points in a contract or a proposal: 'Esse ponto da pauta é prioritário' (That point on the agenda is a priority).

Social media and digital communication are filled with esse. On Twitter (X) or Instagram, users often comment on posts using esse to refer to the content they are looking at. Phrases like 'Amei esse look!' (Loved that look!) or 'Quem é esse no vídeo?' (Who is that in the video?) are standard. It serves as a digital pointer, connecting the user to the shared visual or textual content on the screen. In the world of Brazilian 'telenovelas', esse is often used with a dramatic flair to emphasize conflict: 'Eu não quero mais ver esse homem na minha frente!' (I don't want to see that man in front of me anymore!).

News and Media

Journalists use esse to refer to events or people mentioned in the previous sentence. 'O suspeito fugiu. Esse indivíduo ainda não foi localizado'.

In academic and legal contexts, esse is used with precision to refer to specific clauses or findings. In a university lecture, a professor might say, 'Observem esse gráfico' (Observe this/that graph), directing the students' attention to a specific visual aid. The word is a tool for focus. Whether it's the casual 'esse cara' (that guy) heard on the streets of Rio or the formal 'esse dispositivo legal' (that legal provision) in a courtroom in Coimbra, esse is the indispensable link between the speaker and the specific object of their attention. Listening for the contractions nesse and desse will also help you parse fast-moving conversations, as they often signal the transition between ideas.

Music and Lyrics

In Bossa Nova or Samba, esse is used to point to a feeling or a person: 'Esse meu olhar...' (This/that look of mine...).

Ultimately, esse is everywhere because human communication is inherently about pointing things out. It is the linguistic equivalent of a finger gesture. By paying attention to how native speakers use it, you'll notice it's not just a word for 'that'—it's a word for 'the thing we are both thinking about right now.' From the most casual slang to the most rigorous legal text, esse is the glue of Portuguese reference.

For English speakers, the most frequent mistake when using esse is failing to make it agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. In English, 'that' works for everything: that boy, that girl, that car, that house. In Portuguese, you must constantly adjust. Using esse with a feminine noun like mesa (table) is a glaring error. It must be essa mesa. Similarly, for plural masculine nouns, it must be esses. Beginners often default to the masculine singular esse as a universal 'that', which immediately marks them as non-native.

Gender Mismatch

Incorrect: esse pergunta. Correct: essa pergunta (that question). Always check the gender of the noun.

Another major pitfall is the confusion between esse and este. While Brazilian Portuguese is very lenient in speech, formal writing and European Portuguese are not. Este is for things near the speaker (me), and esse is for things near the listener (you). A common mistake is using esse to refer to something you are currently holding. If you are holding a pen, you should say 'Este caneta' (actually esta caneta, as it's feminine). If your friend is holding it, you say 'Essa caneta'. Confusing these can lead to spatial ambiguity in formal contexts.

The third common mistake involves the failure to use contractions. English speakers often try to translate word-for-word: 'of that' as 'de esse' or 'in that' as 'em esse'. While technically understandable, it sounds extremely robotic and unnatural. In Portuguese, these sounds must merge. 'Gosto desse' is the only natural way to say 'I like that'. Neglecting these contractions is one of the clearest signs of a learner who hasn't yet internalized the rhythm of the language.

Temporal Errors

Learners often use aquele for the recent past. Usually, esse is better for time periods close to the present. 'Nesse ano' (this year/that year recently) vs 'Aquele ano' (that year long ago).

Furthermore, learners sometimes forget that esse cannot be used as a relative pronoun like 'that' in 'the book that I read'. In that case, you must use que ('o livro que eu li'). Using esse as a connector between clauses is a direct translation error from English. Esse is strictly a demonstrative, not a relative connector. Finally, overusing esse in writing without varying your demonstratives can make your prose repetitive. Good writers balance este, esse, and aquele to create a clear sense of narrative distance and focus.

The 'Aí' Redundancy

While 'esse aí' is common in speech, using it in formal writing is often considered redundant or too colloquial. Stick to just esse in essays.

To avoid these mistakes, practice the 'pointing' rule: if it's near the person you're talking to, use esse. If you're writing, use esse to refer to the thing you just mentioned. And always, always check the gender of your noun before the word leaves your mouth. With time, the agreement and contractions will become second nature, and you'll stop 'translating' and start 'demonstrating' like a native.

To truly understand esse, you must see it as part of a family of demonstratives. Its closest relatives are este and aquele. While English often collapses these into 'this' and 'that', Portuguese maintains a three-tiered system of distance. Este (masculine singular) is for things close to the speaker. Esse is for things close to the listener. Aquele is for things far from both. Think of it as a gradient of proximity: Here (este), There near you (esse), and Over there (aquele).

Este vs. Esse

Este: Proximity to speaker (1st person).
Esse: Proximity to listener (2nd person).
In Brazil, esse often takes over both roles in speech.

Another crucial alternative is the neutral demonstrative isso. Unlike esse, which must agree with a masculine noun, isso is invariable. It is used for abstract concepts, unknown objects, or entire statements. If you point to a weird sound and ask 'What is that?', you say 'O que é isso?'. If you point to a specific masculine object like a hat, you say 'O que é esse chapéu?'. Understanding when to use the neutral form is vital for sounding natural. Isso is the 'that' of ideas; esse is the 'that' of masculine things.

There are also feminine counterparts: esta, essa, and aquela. These function exactly like their masculine versions but must be used with feminine nouns. For example, 'essa cadeira' (that chair) or 'aquela montanha' (that mountain). Plural forms also exist: estes/estas, esses/essas, and aqueles/aquelas. This creates a matrix of 12 demonstrative forms (plus the 3 neutral ones: isto, isso, aquilo) that a learner must navigate.

Esse vs. Aquele

Esse: Within reach or immediate context.
Aquele: Out of reach, distant in space or time (e.g., 'naquela época' - in those days long ago).

In some contexts, the definite article o can act as a demonstrative, especially before the relative pronoun que. For example, 'O que você disse' (That which you said) is often more natural than 'Esse que você disse'. However, esse is much more specific. Another similar word is tal, meaning 'such'. 'Esse homem' (that man) vs 'Tal homem' (such a man). Tal is more formal and used for categorization. By learning the nuances between esse, este, aquele, isso, and o, you gain the ability to point with precision in the Portuguese language.

Contraction Comparison

Nesse: In that.
Daquele: From that (far away).
Deste: From this (near me).

Mastering these alternatives allows you to describe the world in three dimensions. You aren't just saying 'that thing'; you are saying 'that thing right there by you,' 'that thing we just talked about,' or 'that thing way over there in the past.' This level of detail is what makes Portuguese such a rich and expressive language for describing human experience and spatial relationships.