ese

/EH-seh/

A person pointing to a specific blue book on a bookshelf that is a medium distance away.

Here, 'ese' is used to point out 'that' specific thing, which is not right next to you, but not too far away either.

ese (Adjective)

mA1

that?Used before a masculine noun

📝 In Action

Pásame ese libro, por favor.

Pass me that book, please.

Ese coche rojo es de mi hermano.

That red car belongs to my brother.

¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?

Do you know that man over there?

Related Words

Antonyms

este (this)
aquel (that (over there))

Common Collocations

ese día – that day
en ese momento – at that moment

💡 Grammar Points

Pointing Things Out: The Three Distances

Spanish has three 'pointing' words. Use 'este' for things right here (close to you), 'ese' for things over there (often closer to the listener), and 'aquel' for things way over there (far from both of you).

Matching the Noun

'Ese' is for masculine things. If the thing you're describing is feminine, use 'esa'. For plural things, use 'esos' (masculine) or 'esas' (feminine).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Mixing up 'This' and 'That'

Mistake: "Quiero comprar ese suéter que tengo en la mano."

Correction: Quiero comprar este suéter que tengo en la mano. Use 'este' for something you are touching or is right next to you. Use 'ese' for something a little further away.

⭐ Usage Tips

The 'Listener's Zone'

A good rule of thumb is to use 'ese' for things that are closer to the person you're talking to than they are to you. It's the 'that by you' word.

A person in a bakery pointing to a specific croissant in a display case, indicating 'that one'.

'Ese' can also replace a word. Instead of 'that croissant,' you can just point and say 'that one' ('ese').

ese (Pronoun)

mA1

that one?Replaces a masculine noun

Also:that?e.g., 'That is my car'

📝 In Action

¿Cuál prefieres? —Prefiero ese.

Which one do you prefer? —I prefer that one.

No me gusta este, me gusta más ese.

I don't like this one, I like that one more.

De todos los candidatos, ese parece el mejor.

Of all the candidates, that one seems the best.

Related Words

Antonyms

este (this one)
aquel (that one (over there))

Common Collocations

en ese caso – in that case

Idioms & Expressions

por ese entonces – Around that time, back then

💡 Grammar Points

A Handy Shortcut

Use 'ese' to avoid repeating a masculine noun that's already been mentioned or is obvious. It's like saying 'that one' instead of 'that car' again.

❌ Common Pitfalls

The Old Accent Mark

Mistake: "Thinking you must write 'ése' with an accent when it's a pronoun."

Correction: The official rule changed in 2010. You no longer need an accent on 'ese' (or 'este'/'aquel'). The same word works for both meanings. You might still see the old accent in older books, but it's not needed today.

⭐ Usage Tips

Use with a Gesture

This form of 'ese' is very common when you're pointing or looking at something. Your gesture makes it clear which 'one' you're talking about.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ese

Question 1 of 1

You and a friend are looking at two shirts. You are holding a blue one, and your friend is holding a red one. How do you say 'I prefer that red one'?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

esa(that, that one (feminine)) - Adjective, Pronoun

esos(those, those ones (masculine)) - Adjective, Pronoun

esas(those, those ones (feminine)) - Adjective, Pronoun

eso(that (neuter, refers to ideas or unknown things)) - Pronoun

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'ese' and 'eso'?

'Ese' refers to a specific masculine thing you can name, like 'ese coche' (that car). 'Eso' is used for abstract ideas, situations, or unknown things, like '¿Qué es eso?' (What is that?). You never use 'eso' directly before a noun.

Do I ever need to write 'ése' with an accent mark?

Not anymore! The Royal Spanish Academy removed the requirement for this accent in 2010. 'Ese' without an accent is now correct for both 'that book' and 'that one'. You might see the old version ('ése') in older texts, but you don't need to use it.