aquél
“aquél” means “that one (over there)” in Spanish (referring to a masculine person or thing far from both people speaking).
that one (over there)
Also: the former
📝 In Action
No quiero este coche, prefiero aquél.
A2I don't want this car; I prefer that one (over there).
Había dos hombres: Juan y Luis; aquél era médico y este era profesor.
B2There were two men: Juan and Luis; the former (Juan) was a doctor and this one (Luis) was a teacher.
Aquél que gane recibirá un premio.
B1The one who wins will receive a prize.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: aquél
Question 1 of 2
If you are talking about two objects far away across the street, which word should you use?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin 'ecce' (look/behold) combined with 'illum' (that one).
First recorded: 12th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is the accent on 'aquél' mandatory?
According to the latest rules from the Real Academia Española (RAE), the accent is generally optional and only required if the sentence would be confusing without it. However, it is still very common in formal writing.
What is the difference between 'aquél' and 'aquello'?
'Aquél' refers to a specific masculine noun (like a book or a man), while 'aquello' is neutral and refers to an abstract idea, a situation, or an unknown object.