Portuguese · Greetings & Essentials

"This" in Portuguese: isto / este, esta

isto / este, esta

Say it: EES-too / ES-chee / ES-tahpronoun/ˈis.tu/, /ˈes.tʃi/

Note: spoken BR: isso, esse/a

This in Portuguese is isto for a thing, or este/esta before a noun. Spoken Brazilian often uses isso and esse/essa—related, but keep isto/este/esta in your practice lines.

Showing a phone

Isto é o comprovante da reserva.
This is the reservation receipt.
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How to pronounce isto / este, esta

Say it

EES-too / ES-chee / ES-tah

/ˈis.tu/, /ˈes.tʃi/

EES-too / ES-chee / ES-tah

"This" in Portuguese: quick reference

PortugueseEnglish
istothis (thing)

Neuter pointer.

este / estathis (m/f noun)

Before nouns.

este aquithis one here

Emphasis.

isso / essethis/that (spoken BR)

Everyday speech; related.

How to use isto / este, esta in real life

  1. 1Showing a phone

    Isto é o comprovante da reserva.

    This is the reservation receipt.

    Isto.

  2. 2Clothes

    Este casaco fica melhor com a saia.

    This coat looks better with the skirt.

    Este + noun.

  3. 3Menu

    Esta sobremesa é a especialidade da casa.

    This dessert is the house specialty.

    Esta + noun.

Mistakes English speakers make with isto / este, esta

Incorrect: This é meu bilhete.

Correct: Isto é meu bilhete. / Este é meu bilhete.

Use isto/este/esta.

Incorrect: Esta livro é bom.

Correct: Este livro é bom.

Match gender: livro → este.

Good to know

Careful grammar teaches isto/este/esta; Brazilian speech often collapses toward isso/esse. Both are understood—practice the textbook forms here, then notice isso in real talk.

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Picking a souvenir

  1. ChatPal

    Isto combina com a sua coleção?

    Does this match your collection?

  2. You

    Este ímã é pequeno e leve.

    This magnet is small and light.

  3. ChatPal

    E esta caneca? Também é leve?

    And this mug? Is it light too?

  4. You

    Um pouco pesada. Levo o ímã.

    A bit heavy. I’ll take the magnet.

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"This" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "This" in Portuguese

This (thing)?

Isto.

This + noun?

Este (m) / esta (f).

Spoken BR?

Often isso / esse / essa.

That?

Aquilo / isso / aquele—see that.

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  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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