Original post by HelpfulDuo | Archived post
If you are new to Portuguese, you may wonder what's the difference between the pronouns esse/essa and este/esta. In truth, even native speakers of the language often confuse these pronouns and use them interchangeably.
So let's take a closer look at them:
male pronoun | female pronoun | use | example |
---|---|---|---|
este | esta | used to designate someone / something that is near the speaker | Este é o meu lápis favorito. This is my favorite pencil. |
esse | essa | used to designate someone / something that is near the person being spoken to | Onde você achou esse lápis? Where did you find that pencil? |
NOTE: If the object is NOT near the speaker nor the listener, then the pronoun used is aquele/aquela.
The table above sums up the majority of the situations in which you'll have to choose between using este/esta or esse/essa. However, depending on the context, these other rules may also apply:
context | pronouns | use | example |
---|---|---|---|
in discourse | este / esta | used to refer to what will be mentioned after | Estes são os nossos valores: persistência e trabalho duro. These are our values: persistence and hard work. |
in discourse | esse / essa | used to refer to what was previously mentioned | Persistência e trabalho duro; esses são os nossos valores. Persistence and hard work; these are our values. |
referring to point in time | este / esta | used when referring to a moment in the present | Este é o momento certo para investir na empresa. This is the right moment to invest in the company. |
referring to point in time | este / esta | used when referring to a moment in the past or future | Essa⁺⁺ foi a melhor fase da minha vida. That was the best phase of my life. |
⁺⁺The pronoun aquele/aquela can also be used here, particularly when referring to a distant past.
NOTE: Be careful not to confuse the female pronoun esta with está, which is the present simple form of the verb estar (to be — i.e.: Meu pé está doendo [My foot is hurting]).
Practice your Portuguese!
Fill in the blanks with este(s), esta(s), esse(s), or essa(s) and share your answers in the comments section.
1) Quem te deu ___ caneta? (Who gave you that pen?)
2) Não sei onde colocar ___ mala pesada. (I don't know where to put this heavy bag.)
3) ___ seus olhos são tão lindos! (Those eyes of yours are so beautiful!)
4) Quebrei ___ dedo jogando basquete. (I broke this finger playing basketball.)