A simplified drawing of a solitary figure standing on a grassy foreground, looking across a wide, empty field toward a distant, glowing, undefined shape on the horizon.

aquello

ah-KEH-yoh

pronounA2

that?referring to an abstract idea or general situation,that thing?referring to an unspecified object far away

Also:the whole thing?referring to a complex event or matter

📝 In Action

Aquello que dijiste me hizo pensar mucho.

That thing you said made me think a lot.

No quiero volver a hablar de aquello.

I don't want to talk about that (situation) again.

Aquello era la década de los ochenta, cuando las cosas eran diferentes.

That was the eighties, when things were different.

Word Connections

Synonyms

eso (that (closer or less abstract))

Common Collocations

por aquello de – because of that thing / for the sake of
recordar aquello – to remember that situation

💡 Grammar Points

The Neutral Demonstrative

Aquello is the 'neutral' form. This means it doesn't refer to a specific masculine or feminine noun, but rather to an abstract idea, a concept, or an entire situation you just mentioned. It always stays the same (it’s invariable).

Distance in Time or Space

Like its gendered counterparts (aquel/aquella), 'aquello' is used to talk about things that are far away from both the speaker and the listener, often referring to a distant past or a vague memory.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Aquello vs. Aquel

Mistake: "Using 'Aquel' (the masculine form) when referring to a whole idea: 'Aquel fue un error.'"

Correction: Use 'Aquello' for abstract ideas: 'Aquello fue un error.' (That [whole situation] was a mistake.) Reserve 'aquel' for specific masculine nouns: 'Aquel libro es mío.' (That book is mine.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Summarizing an Idea

Use 'aquello' when you want to quickly summarize everything someone just said or the general atmosphere of a situation. It’s a great verbal shortcut.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: aquello

Question 1 of 1

Which word is the best translation for 'That (entire situation) was wonderful!'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

aquel(that (masculine)) - adjective/pronoun

aquella(that (feminine)) - adjective/pronoun

aquí(here) - adverb

allí(there (farther)) - adverb

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'aquello' and 'eso'?

Both 'aquello' and 'eso' are neutral pronouns referring to abstract ideas. The main difference is distance: 'eso' refers to something closer or more recent (like 'that' right here), while 'aquello' refers to something farther away in time or space (like 'that' way over there, or 'that' memory from years ago).

Can 'aquello' be used to talk about a person?

No. 'Aquello' is strictly for abstract things, ideas, concepts, or whole situations. To refer to a specific distant person, you would use 'aquel' (masculine) or 'aquella' (feminine).