Portuguese Phrase
É o John.
Meaning
Literally “It is the John,” the phrase is used to identify or point out a person named John. It conveys a simple, factual identification, similar to English “It’s John.”
When to use
Use this sentence when someone asks who a person is, when you’re introducing John, or when you need to point him out in a crowd. It works best in informal or neutral contexts.
✦Grammar Breakdown
ÉoJohn
Ser (é)
É is the third‑person singular present of ser, used for permanent identification.
Definite article before proper names
In Brazilian Portuguese, masculine names are often preceded by the article o, which adds emphasis or familiarity.
Pronunciation of o (article)
The article o is unstressed and pronounced /u/.
🗨In Conversation
Quem é?
Who is it?
É o John.
It’s John.
✕Common Mistakes
É John.
The article o is required in Brazilian Portuguese when naming a male person.
É a John.
The article must agree with gender; John is masculine, so use o, not a.
É o John.
Use a rising intonation only when asking a question, e.g., “É o John?” meaning “Is it John?” Not as a statement.
↔Alternatives
É o John mesmo.
It’s John himself.
É o John aqui.
It’s John here.
É o John que eu te falei.
It’s the John I told you about.
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, the article o (masculine) or a (feminine) is commonly placed before a person’s first name – e.g., o João, a Maria – to show familiarity or emphasis. In Portugal this practice is far less common, so you’ll hear “É o John” mainly from Brazilian speakers.