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Portuguese Phrase

É por aqui?

/ɛ poɾ aˈki/
Meaning"Is it this way? / Is it around here?"
💡

Meaning

A short, informal question used to confirm whether a place, direction, or object is located nearby or if the correct way to go is this way. It can be heard when someone is looking for a shop, a street, or a specific spot and wants to know if they are on the right path.

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When to use

Use it when you’re in a city or neighborhood and need to verify a direction, when a local points you somewhere and you want to confirm, or when you’re unsure if a place you’re looking for is close by. It’s common in casual conversation and works well with friends, shopkeepers, or strangers on the street.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Époraqui?

1

É (ser)

The verb 'ser' in present indicative, third‑person singular, used for identity, characteristics, or location in a more permanent sense.

2

por (preposition)

The preposition 'por' can mean 'by', 'through', or 'along'. In this phrase it signals a route or direction.

3

aqui (adverb)

A demonstrative adverb meaning 'here', referring to the speaker’s immediate vicinity.

🗨In Conversation

A

É por aqui?

Is it this way?

Sim, é por aqui. Siga em frente e vire à esquerda.

Yes, it’s this way. Go straight and turn left.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • É aqui?

    ‘É aqui?’ asks if something is exactly at the speaker’s spot, not whether the route is correct.

  • É por aí?

    ‘Por aí’ means ‘over there’ and changes the meaning to ‘Is it over there?’, which is less appropriate when confirming a direction.

  • É por aqui!

    Using an exclamation turns the question into a statement; keep the question mark to retain the interrogative tone.

↔Alternatives

  • É aqui?

    Is it here?

  • Fica por aqui?

    Is it around here?

  • É por esse caminho?

    Is it this way (by this road)?

pt

Cultural Tip

In Brazil and Portugal the phrase is very informal; you’ll hear it more often in spoken Portuguese than in written form. When speaking to strangers, adding a polite ‘por favor’ before or after the question (e.g., ‘É por aqui, por favor?’) softens the request. In the north of Portugal, people sometimes replace ‘por aqui’ with ‘por cá’ which carries the same meaning but sounds more regional.