Demonstrative pronouns, are words we use when we are referring to objects, without naming them.

In English we would use ‘this, that and that over there’, See table 1

The Portuguese Demonstrative Pronouns are different. We have the variable and the invariable. See table 1.
The invariable do not change gender or number, (pretty much like English) and they are usually used to identify objects.

Invariable

O que é isto? – What is this?

O que é isso – what is that?

O que foi aquilo – What was that? (some thing heard, or seen at a distance)

When the object is identified and we want to draw attention to it we will use the variable. These are used with the noun and will change according to gender and number of the noun.

Feminine noun

Esta casa é grande – This house is big

Estas mesas são boas – These tables are good

Masculine noun

Este carro é meu – This car is mine

Estes livros são dela – These are her books

	Variable	Variable	Invariable
English	Masculine Singular	Feminine Singular
this	este	esta	isto
Plural	estes	estas
that	esse	essa	isso
Plural	esses	essas
that (over there)	aquele	aquela	aquilo
Plural	aqueles	aquelas

Below is a table that will help with orientation.

This – here (near to you) | isto – aqui

That – there (near to the person you speak to) | isso – aí

That over there (a similar distance from the both of you) | aquilo – ali

Invariable	Adverbs of Place
isto – this	aqui – here
isso – that	aí – there
aquilo – that over there	ali – over there

It can take a little getting used to, so I suggest you bookmark this page for future reference.

If you would like to learn more about the Portuguese Demonstrative Pronouns, you might like to try out the courses. Click here!