esa
“esa” means “that” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
📝 In Action
¿Me pasas esa silla, por favor?
A1Can you pass me that chair, please?
Esa idea es muy interesante.
A1That idea is very interesting.
No conozco a esa mujer.
A2I don't know that woman.
📝 In Action
—¿Qué falda te gusta más? —Me gusta esa.
A1—Which skirt do you like more? —I like that one.
No quiero esta manzana, prefiero esa.
A2I don't want this apple, I prefer that one.
De todas las ideas que propusiste, esa es mi favorita.
B1Of all the ideas you proposed, that one is my favorite.
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: esa
Question 1 of 1
You are talking to a friend. You want to refer to a book that your friend is holding. Which sentence is correct?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ipsa', which meant 'herself' or 'that very one'. Over time, it softened its meaning in Spanish to simply become 'that'.
First recorded: Used in early forms of Spanish, around the 10th century.
Cognates (Related words)
💡 Master Spanish
Take your Spanish to the next level. Read 200+ illustrated and narrated Spanish stories tailored to your level with the Inklingo app!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the real difference between 'esa', 'esta', and 'aquella'?
It's all about distance from the speaker! Use 'esta' for something right here, close to you ('this'). Use 'esa' for something a little further away, maybe close to the person you're talking to ('that'). Use 'aquella' for something far away from both of you ('that over there').
Is 'eso' the same as 'ese' or 'esa'?
Not quite. 'Ese' and 'esa' point to specific masculine or feminine things ('ese coche', 'esa casa'). 'Eso' is neutral and refers to an idea, a situation, or something unknown. You'd say '¿Qué es eso?' ('What is that?') when you don't know what the thing is.