estes

The Portuguese word estes is a demonstrative determiner that translates to 'these' in English. It is specifically the masculine plural form. In the complex landscape of Portuguese grammar, demonstratives are used to point out specific objects or people in relation to the speaker and the listener. The word estes is categorized as a proximal demonstrative, meaning it refers to items that are physically close to the person speaking, or items that the speaker is currently holding or touching. Understanding the spatial logic of Portuguese is crucial for using estes correctly, as the language distinguishes between three degrees of distance, whereas English primarily uses two ('this/these' vs 'that/those').

Grammatical Gender and Number

The word estes must always agree with the noun it modifies. Since it is masculine plural, it must be paired with masculine plural nouns such as livros (books), carros (cars), or problemas (problems). If you were talking about feminine items, you would use estas.

Spatial Proximity

In strict grammatical terms, estes is used for things in the speaker's 'sphere.' If you are holding two pens, you say estes canetas (wait, caneta is feminine, so estas canetas; let's use estes lápis for pencils). If the pencils were near the person you are talking to, you would use esses. If they were far from both of you, you would use aqueles.

Temporal Use

Beyond physical space, estes is used to refer to the present time. For example, estes dias refers to 'these days' (the current period). It anchors the conversation in the immediate 'now' of the speaker.

When you use estes, you are creating a psychological connection between yourself and the objects. It implies a sense of ownership or immediate presence. For instance, in a presentation, a speaker might say 'Estes gráficos mostram...' (These charts show...), referring to the slides currently visible right next to them. It is a word of precision. If you were to use esses in that context, it might imply the charts are on the audience's screens rather than the speaker's main display. This nuance is one of the beauties of the Portuguese language, allowing for a high degree of spatial clarity without needing extra descriptive words. Furthermore, estes can be combined with prepositions. For example, destes (de + estes) means 'of these' or 'from these'. This contraction is mandatory in Portuguese, making the language flow more naturally. Whether you are shopping for groceries and pointing at 'estes tomates' or discussing 'estes documentos' in a business meeting, mastering this word is a fundamental step for any A1 learner aiming for fluency.

Using estes correctly requires a two-step mental check: first, is the noun masculine and plural? Second, is the object close to me (the speaker)? If both answers are yes, estes is your go-to word. It functions as an adjective-like determiner, meaning it sits right before the noun it describes. Unlike English, where 'these' is gender-neutral, Portuguese demands this specific form for masculine groups. If you have a mixed group of masculine and feminine items, the masculine plural estes is used as the default.

Direct Modification

The most common use is placing it directly before a noun. Example: Estes meninos são meus filhos (These boys are my sons). Here, estes points directly to the boys standing near the speaker.

As a Pronoun

While estes is primarily a determiner, it can also function as a demonstrative pronoun when the noun is implied. Example: Eu não quero aqueles livros, eu quero estes (I don't want those books, I want these). In this case, estes stands in for 'these books'.

One of the most important aspects of using estes is its interaction with prepositions. In Portuguese, demonstratives often merge with the prepositions de (of/from) and em (in/on). When de meets estes, it becomes destes. When em meets estes, it becomes nestes. For example, Eu gosto do sabor destes frutos (I like the flavor of these fruits) or Eu não confio nestes resultados (I don't trust [in] these results). This is a mandatory contraction that learners must memorize early on. Failure to contract sounds very unnatural to native speakers.

In academic or formal writing, estes serves a specific cohesive function. It is used to refer back to the most recently mentioned items in a list. For instance: 'Estudamos o clima e o solo; estes são fundamentais para a agricultura.' Here, estes refers specifically to 'o solo' (the soil) because it was the last item mentioned. This precision helps avoid ambiguity in complex sentences. For English speakers, this might feel overly technical, but it is a hallmark of sophisticated Portuguese prose. By practicing with common masculine plural nouns like trabalhos, projetos, and momentos, you will quickly find estes becoming a natural part of your vocabulary.

The frequency and usage of estes can vary significantly depending on whether you are in Lisbon, Luanda, or Rio de Janeiro. In European Portuguese (Portugal) and African Portuguese (Angola, Mozambique), the distinction between estes (near me) and esses (near you) is strictly observed in daily speech. If a shopkeeper in Lisbon holds up two shirts, they will say, 'Gosta destes?' (Do you like these?). If you are holding the shirts, they will ask, 'Gosta desses?' (Do you like those [near you]?). This spatial accuracy is deeply ingrained in the culture.

In the Brazilian Context

In Brazil, the spoken language has undergone a simplification. Most Brazilians use esses for both 'near me' and 'near you.' You will hear estes much less frequently in the streets of São Paulo than in the streets of Porto. However, estes remains the standard for formal speeches, television news, and written literature in Brazil. If you want to sound educated or are writing an email, you must use estes for things near you.

In Professional Settings

In a business meeting, you will hear estes constantly. 'Estes relatórios' (these reports), 'estes prazos' (these deadlines), 'estes objetivos' (these objectives). It provides a professional tone of immediacy and focus.

You will also encounter estes in the titles of news articles or social media posts. A headline might read: 'Estes são os 10 melhores destinos para o verão' (These are the 10 best destinations for summer). Here, the word acts as a hook, pointing the reader directly to the content that follows. In music, particularly in Fado or older Bossa Nova, estes is used to evoke a sense of intimacy. A singer might lament about 'estes olhos' (these eyes) or 'estes caminhos' (these paths), bringing the listener into their personal emotional space.

Finally, in legal and administrative contexts, estes is indispensable. Contracts will refer to 'estes termos e condições' (these terms and conditions). In this domain, the word is not just a pointer but a legal anchor, ensuring that the document refers specifically to the text contained within it and not some other external set of rules. For a learner, hearing estes is a signal that the speaker is focusing on something immediate, tangible, or very recently mentioned, making it a key word for following the thread of any conversation.

The most frequent mistake English speakers make with estes is failing to account for gender and number agreement. In English, 'these' works for everything—these boys, these girls, these cars, these houses. In Portuguese, you must constantly pivot. Using estes with a feminine noun like casas (houses) is a glaring error that immediately marks you as a beginner. You must say estas casas but estes prédios (these buildings).

The 'Estes' vs 'Esses' Confusion

This is the 'final boss' of Portuguese demonstratives. Many learners use estes when they should use esses. Remember: Estes = Near ME. Esses = Near YOU. If you are pointing at something the other person is holding and you say estes, it sounds like you think you are holding it too. It breaks the spatial logic of the conversation.

Forgetting Contractions

Saying de estes or em estes is technically understandable but sounds extremely 'clunky.' Native speakers will always say destes and nestes. It is like saying 'do not' instead of 'don't' in English, but even more mandatory for natural flow.

Another subtle mistake involves the use of estes in writing. As mentioned before, estes refers to the last thing mentioned in a list. If you have a sentence like 'O João e o Pedro foram ao parque; este correu muito,' the word este (singular of estes) refers to Pedro. If you meant João, you would use aquele. Learners often use estes generically to refer to the whole group, which can lead to confusion about who did what. Precision in demonstratives is the key to clear Portuguese writing.

Lastly, learners sometimes over-rely on estes when a simple definite article would suffice. In English, we say 'Look at these birds!' but in Portuguese, if the birds are obvious, a native might just say 'Olha os pássaros!' Using estes adds a layer of emphasis. If you use it for every single noun, your speech will sound overly 'pointy' and repetitive. Balance is key. Use estes when you specifically want to distinguish these items from those ones, or when you are introducing them for the first time in the conversation.

To truly master estes, you must understand its place within the family of demonstratives. Portuguese is a language of symmetry, and for every demonstrative, there is a counterpart for gender, number, and distance. Comparing estes to its siblings is the best way to solidify your understanding of when to use it and when to reach for an alternative.

Estes vs. Estas

The only difference here is gender. Estes is for masculine nouns (estes livros), and estas is for feminine nouns (estas canetas). If you have a mixed group, the masculine estes takes precedence.

Estes vs. Esses

This is the distance distinction. Estes is 'here' (near the speaker). Esses is 'there' (near the listener). Think of it as: Estes = My space. Esses = Your space.

Estes vs. Aqueles

Aqueles is for things far from both the speaker and the listener. It translates to 'those over there.' If estes is 'right here,' aqueles is 'way over there.'

In some contexts, you might use the word tais (such). While not a direct demonstrative, it can replace estes when you are referring to a type of thing rather than specific physical objects. For example, 'Estes problemas são difíceis' (These specific problems are hard) vs 'Tais problemas são difíceis' (Such problems [of this type] are hard). Tais is more formal and abstract. Another alternative in very informal Brazilian Portuguese is to use the word esses for everything, but as a learner, it is better to learn the correct forms first to ensure you can navigate both formal and informal environments.

Finally, consider the singular form este. It follows the same rules but for one item. Many learners accidentally pluralize the noun but forget to pluralize the demonstrative, saying 'este livros' instead of 'estes livros.' Always check that the 's' at the end of your noun is matched by the 's' at the end of estes. This rhythmic agreement is one of the most distinctive sounds of the Portuguese language. By comparing estes with its counterparts, you build a mental map of the Portuguese spatial and grammatical world, allowing you to point, describe, and interact with your surroundings with confidence and accuracy.