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esto

ESS-tohˈesto

“esto” means “this” in Spanish (referring to an object, idea, or situation).

this

Also: this thing, this matter
A person pointing to a mysterious, glowing box on a table, questioning what it is.

📝 In Action

¿Qué es esto?

A1

What is this?

Esto es para ti.

A1

This is for you.

No entiendo esto.

A2

I don't understand this.

Todo esto me parece muy extraño.

B1

All of this seems very strange to me.

Word Connections

Antonyms

  • eso (that (thing/idea))
  • aquello (that (thing/idea) over there)

Common Collocations

  • por esto – because of this / for this reason
  • con esto – with this
  • además de esto – besides this / in addition to this

Idioms & Expressions

  • y esto y lo otro – and this and that; etcetera

🔀 Commonly Confused With

Translate to Spanish

Words that translate to "esto" in Spanish:

this→this matter→this thing→

✏️ Quick Practice

Quick Quiz: esto

Question 1 of 2

You see a strange object on the ground and don't know what it is. You point and ask your friend: '¿Qué es ____?'

📚 More Resources

👥 Word Family▼
🎵 Rhymes▼
📚 Etymology▼

Comes from the Latin word 'iste', which meant 'this' or 'that one near you'. The '-o' ending in 'esto' is a special form in Spanish for things that are neutral or abstract.

First recorded: Used since the earliest forms of Spanish.

Cognates (Related words)

Italian: questoPortuguese: istoRomanian: acest

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Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between 'esto', 'eso', and 'aquello'?

They all refer to things or ideas, but it depends on distance. 'Esto' is for something close to you (this). 'Eso' is for something a bit further away, maybe closer to the person you're talking to (that). 'Aquello' is for something far away from both of you (that over there).

Can I ever say 'esto coche'?

No, never. 'Esto' is a pronoun, which means it stands alone and replaces a noun. When you want to describe a noun like 'coche' (which is masculine), you must use the matching form 'este': 'este coche'.