este
“este” means “this” in Spanish. It has 4 different meanings depending on context:
this
📝 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.
this one
📝 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.
east
📝 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.
um
Also: uh, er
📝 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.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: este
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence correctly uses a form of 'este'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'iste', which meant 'that one near you'. Over time, its meaning shifted in Spanish to mean 'this one near me'.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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').