aquél
ah-KELL
📝 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.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'Invisible' Accent
The accent on 'aquél' doesn't change the sound; it's a 'visual' accent used to show the word is standing alone as a pronoun (that one) instead of describing a noun (that house).
The Distance Rule
Use 'aquél' for things that are physically or metaphorically far away from both you and the person you are talking to.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using it for nearby items
Mistake: "Using 'aquél' for something the person you're talking to is holding."
Correction: Use 'ése' for things near the listener, and 'aquél' only for things far from both of you.
⭐ Usage Tips
To Accent or Not?
Modern Spanish rules say you only need the accent if there's a risk of confusion, but many people still use it to be extra clear that they mean 'that one' rather than just 'that'.
✏️ 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
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.