ese
“ese” means “that” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
that
📝 In Action
Pásame ese libro, por favor.
A1Pass me that book, please.
Ese coche rojo es de mi hermano.
A1That red car belongs to my brother.
¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?
A2Do you know that man over there?
that one
Also: that
📝 In Action
¿Cuál prefieres? —Prefiero ese.
A1Which one do you prefer? —I prefer that one.
No me gusta este, me gusta más ese.
A2I don't like this one, I like that one more.
De todos los candidatos, ese parece el mejor.
B1Of all the candidates, that one seems the best.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
Translate to Spanish
✏️ 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▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ipse', which meant 'self' or 'that very one'. Over time, its meaning shifted in Spanish to become a simple 'pointing' word.
First recorded: 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'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.