Pronouns: This & That

01

Close to the Speaker: 'This' and 'These'

Use este, esta, estos, and estas for objects that are physically close to you, the speaker. This is equivalent to saying "this here" or "these here".

• este (masculine singular)
• esta (feminine singular)
• estos (masculine plural)
• estas (feminine plural)

These words can be used as adjectives before a noun, or as pronouns to replace a noun.

• Me gusta este suéter.

  I like this sweater.

• Esta silla es muy cómoda.

  This chair is very comfortable.

• ¿Puedes pasarme estos platos?

  Can you pass me these plates?

• No quiero ese, quiero este.

  I don't want that one, I want this one.

02

Close to the Listener or Nearby: 'That' and 'Those'

Use ese, esa, esos, and esas for objects that are not right next to you, but are closer to the person you are talking to, or are at a medium distance from both of you.

• ese (masculine singular)
• esa (feminine singular)
• esos (masculine plural)
• esas (feminine plural)

• ¿Cuánto cuesta ese vestido?

  How much does that dress cost?

• Esa idea es muy buena.

  That idea is very good.

• Esos zapatos que traes son nuevos.

  Those shoes you're wearing are new.

• Pásame esa, por favor.

  Pass me that one, please.

03

Far from Both: 'That Over There' and 'Those Over There'

Use aquel, aquella, aquellos, and aquellas for objects that are far away from both the speaker and the listener. This can also be used to refer to things that are distant in time, such as in the remote past.

• aquel (masculine singular)
• aquella (feminine singular)
• aquellos (masculine plural)
• aquellas (feminine plural)

• Mira aquel edificio a lo lejos.

  Look at that building in the distance.

• Aquella época fue muy diferente.

  That era was very different.

• ¿Recuerdas aquellos días en la playa?

  Do you remember those days at the beach?

In everyday Mexican Spanish, it is very common to use the ese forms even for distant objects, with aquel and its variations often being reserved for more formal or literary contexts, or to emphasize extreme distance in space or time.

04

Neuter Forms: Esto, Eso, Aquello

The neuter forms esto, eso, and aquello are used to refer to abstract ideas, situations, or objects whose gender is unknown or irrelevant. They are always pronouns, meaning they stand alone and never accompany a noun. They do not have plural forms.

Esto (this thing/idea/situation)

• ¿Qué es esto?

  What is this?

• Esto es inaceptable.

  This is unacceptable.

Eso (that thing/idea/situation)

• No creo eso.

  I don't believe that.

• Eso es exactamente lo que pensé.

  That is exactly what I thought.

Aquello (that distant thing/idea/situation)

• Aquello que pasó nos cambió a todos.

  That thing that happened changed us all.

• Después de aquello, no volvimos a hablar.

  After that (event in the past), we never spoke again.