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Learn Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal): Este direito é importante. - This right is important.

Hardcore Portuguese (Portugal)
/Handling a household power cut
/Este direito é importante.

Este direito é importante.

Este direito é importante.

This right is important.

Breakdown of Este direito é importante.

a legal right or entitlement

Questions & Answers about Este direito é importante.

What does este mean here, and why is it used?

Este means this and agrees with the noun direito, which is masculine singular.

So:

este = this (masculine singular)
esta = this (feminine singular)
estes = these (masculine plural)
estas = these (feminine plural)

Because direito is masculine singular, este is the correct form.

What kind of word is direito in this sentence?

Here, direito is a noun, meaning right in the sense of an entitlement, claim, or legal/moral right.

For example, it can refer to things like:

o direito à educação = the right to education
os direitos humanos = human rights

Be careful: direito can also be an adjective in other contexts, meaning straight or right-hand. But in Este direito é importante, it is clearly a noun.

Why is there no o before direito?

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Portuguese often uses a demonstrative like este directly before a noun, without an article.

So you say:

este direito = this right

not:

o este direito

That would be incorrect.

This works the same way as in English: we say this right, not the this right.

Why is it é and not e?

É is the verb ser in the 3rd person singular present:

é = is

So:

Este direito é importante. = This right is important.

The accent matters because:

é = is
e = and

So the accent distinguishes two completely different words.

Why doesn’t importante change form?

Importante is an adjective, and it is one of many Portuguese adjectives that have the same form for masculine and feminine singular.

So you get:

Este direito é importante.
Esta lei é importante.

Both use importante unchanged.

Only the plural changes:

Este direito é importante.
Estes direitos são importantes.

How do I know direito is masculine?

You usually learn the gender together with the noun:

o direito = the right

Since it takes o, it is masculine.

That is why the sentence uses:

este direito

and not:

esta direito

Could I also say Esse direito é importante?

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

In European Portuguese, the main contrast is usually:

este = this, near the speaker
esse = that, near the listener or less close to the speaker
aquele = that over there, farther away from both

So:

Este direito é importante. = This right is important.
Esse direito é importante. = That right is important.

In real usage, demonstratives can also reflect what has just been mentioned, what the speaker is pointing to, or what feels psychologically close or distant.

What is the normal word order in this sentence?

The structure is very straightforward:

Este direito = subject
é = verb
importante = adjective/complement

So it follows the common pattern:

Subject + verb + adjective

Very similar to English:

This right is important.

How is this sentence pronounced in European Portuguese?

A simple approximate pronunciation is:

Esh-tuh dir-ay-too ehm-poor-TAN-tuh

A few useful notes for European Portuguese:

este often sounds closer to esht(e) than a clear English-style es-te
unstressed final -e is often a very reduced sound, like a weak uh or even barely heard
direito has the diphthong ei, sounding roughly like ay
importante has stress on tan

A more IPA-style version is approximately:

[ˈeʃtɨ diˈɾɐjtu ɛ ĩpuɾˈtɐ̃tɨ]

Exact pronunciation varies by region and speaking speed.

Can direito mean law too?

Yes. Direito can mean several related things depending on context, including:

right (entitlement)
law (the field of law)
straight
right-hand side

For example:

Tenho direito a férias. = I have the right to holidays.
Ela estuda Direito. = She studies Law.
Segue em frente, em linha direita. = Go straight ahead.

In Este direito é importante, the meaning is right, not law.

How would this change in the plural?

It becomes:

Estes direitos são importantes. = These rights are important.

Notice all the changes:

este → estes
direito → direitos
é → são
importante → importantes

This is a good example of agreement across the sentence.

Is ser the correct verb here, or could I use estar?

Here, ser is the natural choice.

ser is used for more permanent, essential, or defining qualities
estar is used more for temporary states or conditions

So:

Este direito é importante. = This right is important.

That sounds like a general statement about the importance of that right.

Using estar here would usually sound unnatural unless a very special context made important feel temporary or situational.

Would a European Portuguese speaker really say this?

Yes, it is perfectly natural and grammatical.

It sounds like a formal or neutral statement, especially in contexts such as:

politics
law
education
public discussion
human rights

For example, in a discussion about social policy, someone might say:

Este direito é importante para todos. = This right is important for everyone.

So the sentence is simple, correct, and realistic.

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