"I like this cup."

Translation: Eu gosto desta xícara.

[GiacomoT]

This is annoying.

Copo is cup , and so is xicara.

I used the masculine cup, which requires deste, but it wanted me to use xicara which required the fem desta.

They are both correct!

So discouraging.

[sadhi]

isn't copo a glass?

[alinasue]

"cálice" doesn't work in this case?

[MayraCarde]

I used 'taça' and it didn't accept it. Why? 'Eu gosto desta taça' seems correct based on previous lessons. desta (fem) + taça (fem).

[petee0518]

Why is "Gosto dessa xícara" not a correct translation?

[MT00]

Esta = this, essa = that

[morganisabelle]

This helped me a TON. I've been so confused

[Iamaweirdo]

Why desta and not nesta?

[petee0518]

desta - 'of this' ... nesta - 'in/on/at this'

Gostar (to like) is always followed by "de" - eu gosto de [esta xícara]. I like to think of "eu gosto de" as "I am fond of" to help remember this rule.

"de esta" contracts to "desta"

[Iamaweirdo]

Thank you! You explained it very well, have ten lingots. =) So helpful! Can you tell me what the esse means in desse and nesse, por favor?

[petee0518]

Basically:

isto,este,esta / estes,estas = this / these

isso,esse,essa / esses,essas = that / those (close)

aquilo,aquele,aquela / aqueles,aquelas = that / those (far)

From what I've read, in Brazil "isso" is also used as "this" sometimes, but is more colloquial than correct.

Here's a good explanation that goes into more detail:
https://www.duolingo.com/comment/745813

[Iamaweirdo]

Thank you so much man! You are a great help! If you have any other amazing things that are important for the comprehension of this language, I am all ears? =)

[petee0518]

No specific tips on Portuguese really, but for Duolingo in general, I always try to read the discussions while going through each lesson. It helps me understand the things that aren't really "explained" like isso/isto/aquilo and contractions.

[MfonUdoiny]

What's the difference between nesta and desta, nisto and disto, etc. It's all so confusing

[blaidd_drwg31]

-em esse (masc singular)/essa (fem singular)/esses (masc plural)/essas (fem plural)/isso (neuter)=nesse/nessa, etc... meaning on that, in that, at that
for example: sou bom nisso=i am good at that
-em este, esta, estes, estas, isto=neste, etc... meaning on this, in this, at this
for example: ela está nisto= she is on this
-em aquele, aquela, aqueles, aquelas, aquilo=naquele, etc... meaning the same as nesse
for example:você dorme naquela cama=you sleep on that bed

-de esse/essa/esses/essas/isso=desse and so on meaning about that, of that
for example: é o carro desse homem=it is that man's car

-de este/esta/estes/estas/isto=deste, etc... meaning about this, of this
for example: eu falo deste livro=i talk about this book
-de aquele/aquela/aqueles/aquelas/aquilo= daquele, etc... meaning the same as desse
for example: nós pensamos daquela cama= we think about that bed
-a aquele/aquela/aqueles/aquelas/aquilo=áquele, etc... meaning to that
for example: ela dá água áquele cavalo=she gives water to this horse

neuter forms (isso,isto, aquilo) are not followed by a noun whereas feminine and masculine ones (the others) can be followed by a noun but not always

hope that helps