aquel

/ah-KEHL/

that

A colorful illustration of a person standing on a grassy hill, pointing across a wide valley towards a small, distant stone castle.

As an adjective, aquel means 'that,' modifying a masculine singular noun that is far away, such as 'that castle.'

aquel(adjective)

mA1

that

modifying a masculine singular noun that is far away

Also:

yonder

archaic or very poetic way of saying 'that one way over there'

📝 In Action

Mira aquel edificio azul en la cima de la colina.

Look at that blue building on the top of the hill.

Aquel señor con bigote es mi tío.

That man with the mustache (way over there) is my uncle.

💡 Grammar Points

Demonstrative Adjectives

Use 'aquel' when the thing you are talking about is far away from both you and the person you are talking to. It means 'that (one) way over there'.

Matching the Noun

Since 'aquel' is an adjective, it must match the noun it modifies. 'Aquel' is used for masculine singular nouns (e.g., aquel perro, aquel día).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Distance Confusion

Mistake: "Using 'aquel' when the object is close to the listener ('ese')."

Correction: Use 'aquel' only for things far from everyone. If it's close to the person you are speaking to, use 'ese'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Historical Context

You will sometimes hear 'aquellos días' (those days) to refer to a time far in the past, giving a sense of distance in time, not just space.

A colorful illustration showing a hand pointing across the water at a distant, solitary lighthouse standing on a rocky island.

When aquel is used as a pronoun, it means 'that one,' replacing a masculine singular noun that is far away.

aquel(pronoun)

mA2

that one

replacing a masculine singular noun far away

Also:

the former

referring to the first of two things previously mentioned

📝 In Action

¿Ves mi mochila? No, no esa, aquel es la mía.

Do you see my backpack? No, not that one (close by), that one (way over there) is mine.

Prefiero aquel a este.

I prefer that one (far away) to this one (close to me).

Word Connections

Common Collocations

aquel y este – the former and the latter
desde aquel momento – since that moment (far in the past)

💡 Grammar Points

Replacing the Noun

When 'aquel' stands alone and replaces a previously mentioned masculine singular noun, it acts as a pronoun. It means 'that thing/person that is far away'.

Optional Accent Mark

In older books, you might see 'aquél' with an accent mark to show it's a pronoun. Today, the Spanish Royal Academy says the accent is usually unnecessary, so just use 'aquel'.

⭐ Usage Tips

Referring to the Past

As a pronoun, 'aquel' is often used to refer to a time or event in the distant past. Example: 'En aquel tiempo...' (In that time...).

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: aquel

Question 1 of 2

Which Spanish word would you use to describe a car parked two blocks away from both you and your friend?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aquella(that (feminine singular)) - adjective/pronoun

aquellos(those (masculine plural)) - adjective/pronoun

aquello(that thing/concept (neuter)) - pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'aquel' and 'ese'?

'Ese' means 'that' and refers to things at a medium distance, often close to the person you are talking to. 'Aquel' means 'that one way over there' and refers to things far away from both of you.

When do I use 'aquel' instead of 'aquellos'?

Use 'aquel' when talking about one masculine thing (singular). Use 'aquellos' when talking about two or more masculine things (plural).