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
Isto, isso, and aquilo point without naming a noun: here, there by you, and farther away.
A reliable test is to identify the job of the word before translating from English.
What each word does
isto
this thing or idea
Use isto for an unidentified thing near the speaker or an idea being introduced.
isso
that thing or idea
Use isso for an unidentified thing near the listener or something already said.
aquilo
that thing over there
Use aquilo for an unidentified thing far from both people.
How to choose
- isto: Choose isto if the sentence points to an unidentified thing near the speaker or an idea being introduced.
- isso: Choose isso if the sentence points to an unidentified thing near the listener or something already said.
- aquilo: Choose aquilo if the sentence points to an unidentified thing far from both people.
Examples
O que é isto?
What is this?
Isso é verdade.
That is true.
Aquilo é uma igreja.
That over there is a church.
Common trap
These forms do not change for gender or number. Before a named noun, use este, esse, or aquele instead.
Practice it in context
Pick one sentence from your real life and write it twice: once with isto, then once with isso. 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.