este ano

The phrase este ano is one of the most fundamental temporal markers in the Portuguese language, functioning as a noun phrase that denotes the current calendar year. To understand its usage, one must first grasp the mechanics of Portuguese demonstrative pronouns. The word este is the masculine singular demonstrative meaning 'this' (referring to something close to the speaker in space or time), while ano is the masculine noun for 'year'. Together, they create a specific temporal window that encompasses everything from January 1st to December 31st of the year in which the speaker is currently situated. Unlike some other languages where 'this year' might loosely refer to the last twelve months, in Portuguese, este ano almost exclusively refers to the current calendar cycle. It is used in nearly every register of speech, from the most informal dinner conversations to high-level economic forecasts. When a speaker says este ano, they are drawing a boundary around the present, separating it from the memories of o ano passado (last year) and the expectations of o próximo ano (next year).

Temporal Specificity

Refers strictly to the calendar year currently in progress, regardless of the current month.

Grammatical Gender

Since 'ano' is masculine, 'este' must match it. Using 'esta ano' is a common beginner error.

In professional contexts, este ano is the standard way to discuss fiscal targets, project deadlines, and annual performance reviews. For example, a manager might say, 'Precisamos atingir as metas este ano' (We need to reach the goals this year). In social contexts, it is the cornerstone of New Year's resolutions and planning. People use it to talk about vacations, weddings, or personal growth. The phrase carries an inherent sense of urgency or relevance because it deals with the immediate reality of the speaker. It is also important to note the slight regional variation in pronunciation: in Portugal, the 'e' in 'este' is often more closed, while in Brazil, it might be more open, and the 'o' in 'ano' often reduces to a 'u' sound at the end of words.

Furthermore, the phrase is often preceded by the preposition 'em' (in), which contracts with 'este' to form neste ano. While este ano can function as an adverbial phrase on its own, neste ano is frequently used when the year is being treated more as a container for specific events. However, in most conversational settings, the simple este ano is preferred for its directness. When discussing trends, one might say 'Este ano está sendo muito quente' (This year is being very hot), highlighting the ongoing nature of the experience. It serves as a psychological anchor, helping speakers organize their life narrative into discrete annual chapters.

The cultural weight of este ano cannot be overstated. In Lusophone cultures, the transition between years is marked by significant rituals, and the phrase becomes a mantra for renewal. Whether it is the 'pular sete ondas' (jumping seven waves) in Brazil or the 'comer doze passas' (eating twelve raisins) in Portugal, the focus is always on what will happen este ano. It is a phrase of hope, planning, and reflection. By mastering this simple two-word combination, a learner gains the ability to ground their conversations in the most relevant timeframe possible: the now.

Sociolinguistic Note

The distinction between 'este' and 'esse' is narrowing in many dialects, but 'este' remains the formal standard for the current time.

Using este ano correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of how it interacts with different verb tenses. Because it refers to the present year, it is most commonly paired with the present indicative, the present perfect (pretérito perfeito composto), the simple past (pretérito perfeito simples), and the future. Each tense changes the nuance of the phrase. For instance, when used with the present indicative, it describes a current state or habit: 'Eu trabalho muito este ano' (I am working a lot this year). This suggests a continuous action that characterizes the current period.

With the Present Tense

Describes ongoing situations or general truths about the current year. 'O clima está estranho este ano.'

When paired with the pretérito perfeito simples, este ano refers to a completed action that took place within the current year. This is slightly different from English, where we often prefer the present perfect for 'this year'. In Portuguese, 'Eu viajei para a Europa este ano' is perfectly standard and means 'I traveled to Europe this year.' The action is finished, but the timeframe (the year) is not. In European Portuguese, however, the pretérito perfeito composto (tenho + participle) is frequently used to describe actions that have been happening repeatedly or continuously up to the present: 'Tenho estudado muito este ano' (I have been studying a lot this year).

The future tense is perhaps the most common companion for este ano when discussing plans or predictions. You can use the simple future ('Eu viajarei este ano') or the more common periphrastic future with 'ir' ('Eu vou viajar este ano'). This usage is essential for goal setting and scheduling. It is also common to see este ano at the beginning or end of a sentence for emphasis. 'Este ano, tudo vai mudar' (This year, everything will change) places a strong focus on the timeframe as a catalyst for transformation.

In more complex sentence structures, este ano can be part of a subordinate clause. For example: 'Embora este ano tenha sido difícil, aprendemos muito' (Although this year has been difficult, we learned a lot). Here, the phrase is integrated into a concessive structure, showing how the timeframe provides a context for the overall message. It can also be modified by adjectives or other adverbs: 'Este ano letivo' (this school year), 'Este ano fiscal' (this fiscal year), or 'Este ano em particular' (this year in particular). These variations allow for greater precision in professional and academic writing.

Negative Sentences

'Ainda não choveu este ano' (It hasn't rained yet this year). Note how 'ainda não' works with the phrase to indicate lack of occurrence.

Finally, consider the use of este ano in questions. It is a standard way to inquire about someone's status or plans. 'Você vai tirar férias este ano?' (Are you taking a vacation this year?). In these instances, the phrase acts as a temporal bound that makes the question specific and answerable. Without it, the question 'Você vai tirar férias?' would be too vague. By adding este ano, the speaker clarifies that they are interested in the immediate future within the current cycle.

You will encounter este ano in a vast array of real-world situations, ranging from casual street talk to the most formal news broadcasts. One of the most common places to hear it is in the media. News anchors frequently use it to frame reports on annual statistics, such as 'A inflação este ano subiu dois por cento' (Inflation this year rose two percent). In this context, it serves as a critical benchmark for comparing the current state of the nation or the world with previous periods. It provides the necessary context for the viewer to understand whether the data being presented is a new development or a continuation of a trend.

In the News

Used for statistics, weather reports, and political updates. 'Este ano teremos eleições municipais.'

In the workplace, este ano is ubiquitous during meetings and performance reviews. It is the standard timeframe for goal setting. You might hear a colleague say, 'Precisamos terminar este projeto ainda este ano' (We need to finish this project still this year). This use of 'ainda' (still/yet) with este ano adds a layer of urgency, implying that the deadline is approaching as the year progresses. It is also the language of budgets and financial planning: 'O orçamento para este ano foi reduzido' (The budget for this year was reduced).

Socially, the phrase is a staple of 'small talk'. When meeting an acquaintance, it is common to ask about their life using this timeframe: 'Como estão as coisas este ano?' (How are things this year?). It is also the language of celebrations. During birthdays, anniversaries, or holidays, people often reflect on their experiences within the current year. On New Year's Eve, the phrase is everywhere, usually in the form of 'O que você quer para este ano?' (What do you want for this year?), as people look forward to the 365 days ahead. In Brazil, during the Carnival season, you'll hear people discussing the 'enredo' (theme) of the samba schools este ano.

Educational settings also rely heavily on this phrase. Teachers and students use it to refer to the current grade or academic cycle. 'Este ano, vamos focar em gramática' (This year, we are going to focus on grammar). It helps define the scope of the curriculum and the expectations for the students. In sports, commentators and fans use it to talk about the current season: 'O time está jogando muito bem este ano' (The team is playing very well this year). Whether it is the World Cup, a local league, or the Olympics, este ano is the primary way to designate the current competitive period.

Advertising

Used to create a sense of novelty and immediate availability for products and services.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when learning Portuguese is the confusion between the demonstratives este, esse, and aquele. While English often uses 'this' and 'that' somewhat flexibly, Portuguese has a three-way distinction (though it is simplifying in some dialects). In formal grammar, este ano refers to the current year (the one we are in), esse ano refers to a year close to the listener or a year just mentioned, and aquele ano refers to a distant year in the past. However, in Brazil, many speakers use esse ano to mean 'this year' in casual speech. For a learner, it is safest to stick to este ano for the present year to ensure grammatical accuracy in all contexts.

Este vs. Esse

Mistaking 'esse' for 'este' is common. Remember: 'Este' for the speaker's present time.

Another common error is gender agreement. Because the word ano ends in 'o', it is masculine. Beginners often mistakenly say 'esta ano' because they might be thinking of 'esta semana' (this week) or 'esta época' (this time), which are feminine. It is crucial to internalize that ano is masculine, thus requiring este. A related mistake involves the plural. If you are talking about multiple years including the current one, you might say 'estes anos' (these years), but often learners forget to pluralize the demonstrative, leading to 'este anos', which is incorrect.

Prepositional contraction is another area where mistakes occur. While este ano is often used alone as an adverbial phrase, if you need to say 'in this year', you must contract 'em' and 'este' to form neste. Learners often say 'em este ano', which sounds unnatural to native speakers. Similarly, 'of this year' becomes deste ano (de + este). Forgetting these contractions is a hallmark of an intermediate learner who hasn't yet fully integrated the phonetic flow of the language. For example, 'Os lucros deste ano' (The profits of this year) is the correct way to show possession or origin.

Finally, learners sometimes confuse este ano with atualmente (currently) or hoje em dia (nowadays). While they are related, este ano is much more specific. If you say 'Este ano as pessoas usam smartphones', it sounds like people only started using them on January 1st of this year. To talk about general modern trends, use 'hoje em dia'. Use este ano only when the event or state is specifically tied to the current 365-day cycle. Misusing these can lead to confusion about whether you are talking about a specific timeframe or a general era.

Temporal Overlap

Don't use 'este ano' when you mean 'recently' (recentemente) or 'lately' (ultimamente).

While este ano is the most direct way to refer to the current year, the Portuguese language offers several alternatives depending on the desired level of formality or the specific nuance of the message. In formal writing, particularly in legal, academic, or business documents, you might encounter o presente ano or o ano em curso. These phrases literally mean 'the present year' and 'the year in progress', respectively. They provide a more professional tone than the standard este ano and are frequently used in reports and official correspondence.

O Ano em Curso

Very formal. Used in contracts and official government documents to denote the current fiscal or legal period.

O Presente Ano

Standard formal alternative. Common in academic papers or formal letters.

Another alternative is neste ano. As discussed previously, this is the contracted form of 'em' + 'este'. While often interchangeable with este ano, neste ano is slightly more emphatic about the year acting as a specific point in time. For instance, 'Neste ano, celebramos o centenário...' (In this year, we celebrate the centenary...). If you want to refer to the current year as part of a sequence, you might use o ano atual (the current year). This is common in digital interfaces, forms, and technical contexts where 'current' is a relative term in a database or system.

When comparing the current year to the previous one, you might use o ano que corre (the year that runs/is running). This is a more literary or old-fashioned way of saying 'this year' and is often found in older literature or journalistic pieces that strive for a more sophisticated style. Conversely, in very informal Brazilian Portuguese, you might hear esse ano aqui, where the addition of 'aqui' (here) emphasizes the 'this' aspect of the demonstrative, even though 'esse' is used. This is highly colloquial and should be avoided in writing.

If the focus is not on the calendar year but on a 12-month period starting from now, you would use nos próximos doze meses (in the next twelve months). This is an important distinction, as este ano will always end on December 31st, whereas 'the next twelve months' is a rolling window. Similarly, atualmente (currently) or no presente (in the present) are broader terms that don't restrict the timeframe to a specific year. Using these alternatives correctly allows you to control the scope and tone of your Portuguese communication with much greater finesse.

Comparisons

Este ano: Neutral/Standard.
O ano corrente: Professional/Technical.
Nesta anuidade: Highly formal/Legal (referring to annual payments).