Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.
Quick answer
Esta without an accent points to a feminine noun; está with an accent is a verb.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
esta
this, feminine
Use esta for an unaccented demonstrative accompanying or replacing a feminine noun.
está
is, present state
Use está for the third-person present form of estar.
How to choose
- esta: Choose esta if the sentence points to an unaccented demonstrative accompanying or replacing a feminine noun.
- está: Choose está if the sentence points to the third-person present form of estar.
Examples
Esta cadeira está livre.
This chair is free.
A cadeira está livre.
The chair is free.
Common trap
They can appear together: esta sala está vazia. The first selects the room; the second states its condition.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with esta, then once with está. If both versions feel possible, name the meaning shift.
Turn this distinction into automatic recall
Falando teaches Brazilian Portuguese through grammar, vocabulary, audio, examples, and spaced review, so confusing pairs stop feeling like guesses.