estos
/ess-tohs/
these
As an adjective, 'estos' modifies masculine plural nouns, like pointing out 'these cars' that are right here.
📝 In Action
Estos libros son muy interesantes.
A1These books are very interesting.
¿Cuánto cuestan estos zapatos?
A1How much do these shoes cost?
Todos estos problemas tienen solución.
A2All these problems have a solution.
💡 Grammar Points
Pointing Out Masculine Things (Plural)
Use 'estos' right before a group of masculine things to point them out, especially when they are close to you. It always has to match the things you're describing: both must be masculine and plural.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Mixing up 'estos' and 'estes'
Mistake: "Me gustan estes pantalones."
Correction: Me gustan estos pantalones. A common mistake for learners is to say 'estes', but this word doesn't exist in standard Spanish. The correct masculine plural form is always 'estos'.
Gender Mix-up
Mistake: "Estos casas son grandes."
Correction: Estas casas son grandes. 'Casa' is a feminine word, so you need to use the feminine form 'estas'. 'Estos' is only for masculine words like 'libros' or 'chicos'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Proximity is Key
'Estos' implies the things you're talking about are near you. For things a little further away, use 'esos' (those). For things very far away, use 'aquellos' (those over there).
Used as a pronoun, 'estos' stands alone to refer to 'these ones' (the blue caps), replacing the noun and indicating proximity.
estos(Pronoun)
📝 In Action
-¿Qué pantalones te gustan más? -Me gustan estos.
A1-Which pants do you like more? -I like these.
No uses esos vasos, usa estos.
A2Don't use those glasses, use these ones.
De todos los candidatos, estos son los mejores.
B1Of all the candidates, these are the best.
💡 Grammar Points
Replacing Masculine Nouns
When you've already mentioned some masculine, plural things, you can use 'estos' by itself to avoid repeating the noun. It's a handy shortcut.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using the Old Accent Mark
Mistake: "Quiero éstos."
Correction: Quiero estos. You might see 'éstos' written in older texts, but since 2010, the official rule is that it no longer needs an accent mark. So, you don't need to worry about it!
⭐ Usage Tips
Answering 'Which ones?'
'Estos' is a perfect one-word answer to a question like '¿Cuáles?' (Which ones?) when you're pointing to or holding some masculine items.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: estos
Question 1 of 2
You are at a store looking at some masculine plural items right in front of you. How would you say 'I want these'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'estos' and 'estas'?
It's all about gender! Use 'estos' for a group of masculine things (estos libros - these books) and 'estas' for a group of feminine things (estas sillas - these chairs). They both mean 'these'.
I've seen 'éstos' with an accent. Do I need to write it?
No, you don't! In the past, an accent was used on 'éstos' when it was a pronoun (replacing a noun) to distinguish it from the adjective. However, the official rule was changed in 2010, and the accent is no longer required. It's simpler now!
When do I use 'estos' vs. 'esos'?
It depends on distance. Use 'estos' for things that are close to you, the speaker ('these here'). Use 'esos' for things that are a bit further away, perhaps closer to the person you're talking to ('those there').