este
/ES-teh/
Just like pointing, 'este' singles out a specific masculine thing that is close to you.
este (Adjective)
📝 In Action
Este libro es muy interesante.
A1This book is very interesting.
¿Te gusta este coche?
A1Do you like this car?
Voy a comprar este pantalón.
A2I'm going to buy this pair of pants.
💡 Grammar Points
Pointing Out Masculine Things
'Este' goes before a masculine word (like 'libro' or 'coche') to point out something close to you. Think of it as the 'this' for 'he' words.
Stays Close
Use 'este' for things that are physically or metaphorically close to you, the speaker. If it's closer to the person you're talking to, you'd use 'ese'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing Up Genders
Mistake: "Using 'este' with a feminine word: "este casa es bonita"."
Correction: Match the gender! Use 'esta' for feminine words: "esta casa es bonita". 'Este' is only for masculine words.
⭐ Usage Tips
Check the Noun's Ending
Not sure if a noun is masculine? Many (but not all!) masculine nouns end in -o, -e, or a consonant. For example, 'el coche', 'el hombre', 'el papel'.
When you don't need to say the noun again, 'este' can mean 'this one'.
este (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
No me gusta ese sombrero, prefiero este.
A1I don't like that hat, I prefer this one.
¿Cuál es tu coche? Es este.
A2Which one is your car? It's this one.
De todos los cuadros, este es mi favorito.
B1Of all the paintings, this one is my favorite.
💡 Grammar Points
Replacing the Noun
When everyone knows what masculine thing you're talking about, you can use 'este' by itself to mean 'this one'. It saves you from repeating the word.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Confusing 'este' and 'esto'
Mistake: "When asked '¿Qué es eso?', replying with 'Este es un teléfono'."
Correction: Use 'esto' (the neutral form) to identify unknown things or general ideas: 'Esto es un teléfono'. Use 'este' only when you're replacing a specific, known masculine noun: '¿Qué teléfono te gusta? Me gusta este.'
⭐ Usage Tips
The Tilde is Gone!
You might see old books write this word as 'éste' with an accent mark when it means 'this one'. Good news! This rule was officially dropped, so you don't need the accent anymore.
As a noun, 'el este' simply means the direction east, where the sun rises.
este (Noun)
📝 In Action
El sol siempre sale por el este.
B1The sun always rises in the east.
Mi ventana mira hacia el este.
B1My window faces east.
💡 Grammar Points
Always with 'el'
When 'este' means 'east', it's a masculine noun and is almost always used with 'el' right before it: 'el este'.
Sometimes, 'este' is just a filler word, like saying 'um' or 'uh' when you need a moment to think.
este (Interjection)
📝 In Action
Quería decirte que... este... lo siento.
B1I wanted to tell you that... um... I'm sorry.
Dame un segundo, este... no me acuerdo.
B1Give me a second, uh... I don't remember.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural
Using 'este' as a filler word can make your spoken Spanish sound more natural and less like you're reading from a textbook. It's a little sign that you're comfortable with the language.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: este
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses a form of 'este'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'este', 'ese', and 'aquel'?
It's all about distance from the speaker! Use 'este' for something close to you ('this book in my hand'). Use 'ese' for something a bit further away, maybe close to the person you're talking to ('that chair you're sitting on'). Use 'aquel' for something far away from both of you ('that mountain over there').
Why do I sometimes hear 'esto' instead of 'este'?
'Este' points to a specific masculine thing ('este libro'). 'Esto' is neutral; you use it to talk about an idea, a situation, or something you don't know the name or gender of. For example, '¿Qué es esto?' ('What is this?') or 'Esto es increíble' ('This is incredible').