Demonstrative adjectives locate a noun in space, time, or discourse and indicate which referent is in focus. They accompany the noun and agree with it in gender and number, as is also the case in Adjective Agreement. In Portuguese, the central system contrasts este, esse and aquele, as well as their feminine and plural forms.

Demonstrative forms vary to agree with the noun they determine. When they accompany a masculine singular noun, they use este, esse or aquele; for feminine singular, esta, essa or aquela; for masculine plural, estes, esses or aqueles; and for feminine plural, estas, essas or aquelas. The opposition of forms is part of Adjective Formation and helps mark relation, distance, and reference.

IdeiaIdea	ExemploExample
Masculino singular usa este, esse ou aquele.Masculine singular uses este, esse or aquele.	Este livro está aberto.This book is open.
Feminino singular usa esta, essa ou aquela.Feminine singular uses esta, essa or aquela.	Essa caneta é azul.That pen is blue.
Masculino plural usa estes, esses ou aqueles.Masculine plural uses estes, esses or aqueles.	Aqueles sapatos são novos.Those shoes are new.
Feminino plural usa estas, essas ou aquelas.Feminine plural uses estas, essas or aquelas.	Estas cadeiras estão vazias.These chairs are empty.

Agreement is mandatory in gender and number with the noun, and the demonstrative form changes whenever the noun changes. This rule reinforces the syntactic relationship between determiner and noun head, as in Position of the Adjective and in other adjectival constructions. When the noun is masculine singular, the form ends in e; when feminine singular, the form ends in a; when plural, it takes the corresponding number marker.

IdeiaIdea	ExemploExample
O demonstrativo concorda com substantivos masculinos singulares.The demonstrative agrees with masculine singular nouns.	Este contrato é claro.This contract is clear.
O demonstrativo concorda com substantivos femininos singulares.The demonstrative agrees with feminine singular nouns.	Essa mesa é antiga.That table is old.
O demonstrativo concorda com substantivos masculinos plurais.The demonstrative agrees with masculine plural nouns.	Aqueles alunos chegaram cedo.Those students arrived early.
O demonstrativo concorda com substantivos femininos plurais.The demonstrative agrees with feminine plural nouns.	Estas casas foram pintadas.These houses were painted.

Demonstrative adjectives normally precede the noun, as in este amigo and aquela ideia, maintaining the reading of determination before the noun. In stylistic or emphatic uses, the position can be altered to give emphasis, and this shift affects the emphasis of the enunciado without erasing the demonstrative function. This behavior aligns with the general structure described in Position of the Adjective.

IdeiaIdea	ExemploExample
A posição neutra costuma vir antes do substantivo.The neutral position typically comes before the noun.	Este filme impressiona.This film is impressive.
A posição final pode aparecer para ênfase ou estilo.The final position can appear for emphasis or style.	Poesia, aquela.Poetry, that one.
A ordem escolhida pode mudar o foco da frase.The chosen order can change the focus of the sentence.	Aquela proposta chamou atenção.That proposal drew attention.

This indicates the speaker's proximity, that indicates the listener's proximity, and that over there indicates a greater distance relative to both. In the temporal plane, this can refer back to information already mentioned, while that often points to something more distant in time or in discourse. This referential logic is also essential for understanding Demonstrative Pronouns.

IdeiaIdea	ExemploExample
Este marca proximidade do falante.This marks the speaker's proximity.	Este caderno está comigo.This notebook is with me.
Esse marca proximidade do ouvinte.That marks the listener's proximity.	Essa chave é sua.That key is yours.
Aquele marca maior distância espacial.That marks the greater spatial distance.	Aquele morro fica longe.That hill is far away.
Esse retoma informação anterior.That refers to previously mentioned information.	Esse assunto já apareceu.That topic has already appeared.
Aquele indica distância temporal ou discursiva.That indicates temporal or discursive distance.	Aqueles tempos eram diferentes.Those times were different.

This, that and that over there do not accompany nouns, because they function as pronouns and not as adjectives. Therefore, they substitute the noun rather than determining it, as seen also in [Demonstrative Pronouns]. The distinction between adjective and pronoun is central: the adjectival demonstrative requires an explicit noun, while the neuter occupies the referential position on its own.

IdeiaIdea	ExemploExample
Isto substitui uma ideia próxima do falante.This substitutes a concept near the speaker.	Isto é importante.This is important.
Isso substitui uma ideia próxima do ouvinte ou já mencionada.That substitutes a concept near the listener or already mentioned.	Isso resolve o problema.That solves the problem.
Aquilo substitui uma ideia distante.That over there substitutes a distant concept.	Aquilo parecia impossível.That seemed impossible.

After a preposition, some demonstratives undergo contraction and maintain agreement with the noun they refer to. With 'a', you use àquele, àquela, àqueles and àquelas; with 'de', you use daquele, daquela, daqueles and daquelas. These forms appear especially when the syntactic relation requires a preposition before the demonstrative, and their use strengthens the grammatical link between the prepositional requirement and agreement.

IdeiaIdea	ExampleExample
a mais aquele produz àquele.The more that that one produces to that one.	Fui àquele bairro.I went to that neighborhood.
a mais aquela produz àquela.The more that that one produces to that one.	Voltei àquela rua.I returned to that street.
de mais aqueles produz daqueles.The more those produce from those.	Gosto daqueles livros.I like those books.
de mais aquelas produz daquelas.The more those produce from those.	Lembro daquelas paisagens.I remember those landscapes.

In Brazilian and European Portuguese, the use of este and esse can vary according to local standard and discursive habit. In colloquial registers, aquele can gain affectionate, ironic, or even pejorative value, showing that the demonstrative can also carry the speaker's attitude in addition to location. These nuances do not alter agreement, but they can change the pragmatic effect of the sentence.

RegiãoRegion	Palavra ou ExpressãoWord or Expression	Definição RegionalRegional Definition	ExemploExample
BrasilBrazil	estethis	Em muitas variedades brasileiras, este tende a ser usado para proximidade do falante e esse é muito frequente para referência discursiva.In many Brazilian varieties, this tends to be used to indicate proximity of the speaker, and esse is very common for discursive reference.	Este aqui é meu, e esse assunto já foi dito.This here is mine, and that topic has already been stated.
PortugalPortugal	essethat	Em muitas variedades portuguesas, esse pode aparecer para proximidade do ouvinte e para retomada de referência já conhecida.In many Portuguese varieties, esse can appear to indicate the listener's proximity and to refer back to already known reference.	Esse livro é teu, e essa ideia ficou clara.That book is yours, and that idea became clear.
ColoquialColloquial	aquelethat over there	Na fala coloquial, aquele pode transmitir distância afetiva, reprovação ou intensidade emocional.In colloquial speech, aquele can convey affectionate distance, irony, or pejorative intensity.	Aquele tipo me irrita, e eu nem escondo.That guy irritates me, and I don't even hide it.

Demonstratives organize nominal reference by indicating proximity, distance, and refer back in discourse. Their forms vary in gender and number, they usually appear before the noun and differentiate adjectival use from pronominal use. Thus, este, esse and daquele form a complete system of localization and cohesion that connects directly to [Qualifying Adjectives] and to [Indefinite Adjectives].