ésta
/ESS-tah/
📝 In Action
No me gusta esa falda, prefiero ésta.
A1I don't like that skirt, I prefer this one.
De todas las opciones, ésta es la mejor.
A2Of all the options, this one is the best.
¿Cuál es tu bicicleta? —Ésta.
A1Which one is your bicycle? —This one.
💡 Grammar Points
A Stand-in for a Feminine Thing
Use ésta to say 'this one' when you're talking about a feminine thing that's already been mentioned or is obvious. It saves you from repeating the noun. For example, instead of 'Me gusta esta flor' (I like this flower), you can just point and say 'Me gusta ésta'.
The Disappearing Accent Mark
Heads up! Since 2010, the official rule is to write this word without the accent (esta), even when it's a stand-in for a noun. However, you will see ésta with the accent all the time in books and articles. Many people still use it to make it extra clear they mean 'this one'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'this one' WITH the noun
Mistake: "Me gusta ésta casa."
Correction: Say `Me gusta esta casa` (I like this house). Use `esta` (without the accent) when it describes a noun that follows it. Use `ésta` (or the modern `esta`) when it stands completely alone, replacing the noun.
⭐ Usage Tips
Pointing with Words
Think of these words as pointing. Use ésta for something close to you, ésa for something a little further away, and aquélla for something far in the distance.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: ésta
Question 1 of 1
You are at a fruit stand looking at two watermelons ('sandías'). How would you say 'I prefer this one'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to use the accent on `ésta`? My spell-checker says it's not needed.
Your spell-checker is following the latest rules! The Real Academia Española (the official authority on Spanish) removed the requirement for the accent mark in 2010. You can now correctly write `esta` for both 'this' (`esta casa`) and 'this one' (`prefiero esta`). However, it's still very useful to recognize `ésta` with the accent because you will see it everywhere in writing.
What's the difference between `ésta` and `esto`?
Use `ésta` when you are replacing a specific feminine noun, like 'la mesa' (the table) -> 'ésta' (this one). Use `esto` for general ideas, unknown things, or situations. For example, if someone gives you a weird look, you might say '¿Y esto?' which means 'And what's this about?'.