Portuguese Phrase
Que tipo de festa é essa?
Meaning
Literally, ‘What kind of party is that?’ The speaker is asking for clarification about the nature of a party they are seeing or hearing about, such as whether it’s a birthday, a wedding, a carnival celebration, etc.
When to use
Use this question when you encounter a gathering you don’t recognize or when someone mentions a party and you need more details. It works in informal chats, at work events, or when traveling and you see locals celebrating.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Quetipodefestaéessa?
Que (interrogative)
Used to ask 'what' or 'which' about a noun; it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
tipo de (noun + preposition)
‘Tipo de’ forms a noun phrase meaning ‘type/kind of’; the noun after ‘de’ stays in its normal form.
é (ser, 3rd person singular)
The present‑tense form of the verb ‘ser’, used for identity, classification, or definition.
essa (demonstrative pronoun)
Points to something that is farther from the speaker but close to the listener; matches gender (feminine) and number (singular).
🗨In Conversation
Que tipo de festa é essa?
What kind of party is this?
É uma festa de aniversário surpresa para o João.
It’s a surprise birthday party for João.
✕Common Mistakes
Qual tipo de festa é essa?
‘Qual’ is used before a noun, not before ‘tipo de’. The correct structure is ‘Que tipo de…’
Que tipo de festa é essa?
If the party is physically close to you, use ‘esta’ instead of ‘essa’. ‘Essa’ points to something farther from the speaker.
↔Alternatives
Que tipo de festa é esta?
What kind of party is this? (using ‘esta’ for something closer to the speaker)
Que festa é essa?
What party is this?
Qual é o tipo de festa?
What is the type of party?
Cultural Tip
In Brazil, ‘festa’ can refer to anything from a small family gathering to a massive street carnival. When you’re unsure, Brazilians often ask for the theme or purpose of the celebration. Also, note the subtle difference between ‘essa’ (far from you, near the listener) and ‘esta’ (near the speaker). Choosing the right demonstrative shows you’re paying attention to the context.