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You're at a bustling market in Madrid, one of many fascinating places in the city. You want to buy the delicious-looking pastry right in front of you, but there are dozens on the tray. How do you tell the vendor you want this one and not that one?
Welcome to the world of Spanish demonstrative adjectives! These are the "pointing words" we use every day, like "this," "that," "these," and "those." In Spanish, the most common pair you'll encounter is este and ese.
Mastering the difference between them is a huge step toward sounding more natural. By the end of this guide, you'll be able to point things out with confidence. ¡Vamos!
The Golden Rule: It's All About Distance
The single most important thing to understand about demonstrative adjectives is proximity. Where is the object in relation to you, the speaker?
- Este (and its forms) means "this". It's used for things that are close to you.
- Ese (and its forms) means "that". It's used for things that are a bit further away, or perhaps closer to the person you're talking to.
Think of it as the difference between "here" and "there."
The 'T-H' Rule: A Simple Memory Trick
Here’s a fantastic way to remember the basics: Words for "This" and "These" have a T in them.
- este
- esta
- estos
- estas
Words for "That" and "Those" do not.
- ese
- esa
- esos
- esas
Getting Close with "Este" (This & These)
When something is within your reach, or in your personal space, you'll use a form of este.
Just like other Spanish adjectives, it must agree with the noun it describes in both gender and number. This gives us four forms:
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | este (this) | estos (these) |
| Feminine | esta (this) | estas (these) |
Let's see them in action:
- Este ordenadorcomputer es muy rápido. (This computer is very fast.)
- Me encanta esta canciónsong. (I love this song.)
- Estos pantalonespants son nuevos. (These pants are new.)
- Estas floresflowers huelen genial. (These flowers smell great.)
Put It Together!
Ready for a quick challenge? Unscramble the sentence below.
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
Keeping Your Distance with "Ese" (That & Those)
Now, let's talk about things that aren't right next to you. If an object is a short distance away, or maybe in the hands of the person you're speaking with, you'll need ese.
Like este, it also has four forms that must match the noun's gender and number.
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | ese (that) | esos (those) |
| Feminine | esa (that) | esas (those) |
Check out these examples:
- ¿Ves ese pájarobird? (Do you see that bird?)
- Pásame esa botellabottle, por favor. (Pass me that bottle, please.)
- Esos niñoschildren están jugando. (Those children are playing.)
- Esas montañasmountains son preciosas. (Those mountains are beautiful.)
Time to Test Your Knowledge
Imagine you're at a café. The barista is holding a cup of coffee that's for you. How would you refer to it?
You would say: 'Gracias por ___ café.'
Side-by-Side: Visualizing the Difference
Sometimes, seeing the two in a direct comparison makes it all click. The only thing that changes in the sentence is the speaker's perspective on where the object is.
Drag the handle to compare
In the first example, you're likely touching or holding the coat. In the second, you're probably pointing to it on a rack across the aisle.
What About "Aquel"? That Thing Way Over There
You might have also heard of aquel. Think of it as the "super far" version of "that." You use aquel (and its forms: aquella, aquellos, aquellas) for things that are far away from both you and the person you're talking to.
Ejemplo: ¿Recuerdas aquel díaday que fuimos a la playa? (Do you remember that day we went to the beach?)
The day is distant in time, so aquel fits perfectly. This use of demonstratives for time is related to how we choose between past tenses like the preterite and imperfect.
Don't Stress About Aquel
While aquel is grammatically correct for distant objects, in everyday conversation, native speakers often just use ese. If you're ever in doubt, ese is usually a safe bet. Focus on mastering este vs. ese first!
One Last Challenge
Let's check your understanding one more time.
You are sitting on a park bench, and you see a dog chasing a ball on the other side of the park. You say:
Key Takeaways
You've got this! Just remember these core ideas:
- Este / Esta / Estos / Estas: For things close to you (This/These). Remember the "T"!
- Ese / Esa / Esos / Esas: For things a bit further away, or close to the listener (That/Those).
- Aquel / Aquella / Aquellos / Aquellas: For things very far away from everyone (That/Those over there).
- Always match the gender and number of the noun!
The more you listen to and speak Spanish, the more intuitive this will become. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be pointing things out without a second thought. Reading our collection of short stories in Spanish is a great way to see these words in real-world contexts.