How to Say "that" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “that” is “eso” — use 'eso' when 'that' refers to a general idea, an abstract concept, a situation, or an unspecified object, often at the beginning of a sentence or as a direct object..
eso
/eh-so//'eso/
Examples
¿Qué es eso?
What is that?
No me gusta eso.
I don't like that.
Eso es muy interesante.
That is very interesting.
Pointing Out Ideas or Things
'Eso' means 'that' and is used to talk about things that are a medium distance away from you, or to refer to a situation or idea you just mentioned.
'Esto', 'Eso', & 'Aquello'
Think of them as levels of distance: 'esto' is for 'this' (close to me), 'eso' is for 'that' (a bit further away), and 'aquello' is for 'that over there' (far away).
The 'Neutral' Pointer Word
'Eso' is special because it doesn't change for masculine or feminine things. Use it for unknown objects, abstract ideas, or whole situations.
Using 'Eso' for Specific Nouns
Mistake: “Me gusta eso coche.”
Correction: Use 'ese' for masculine things ('ese coche') and 'esa' for feminine things ('esa casa'). 'Eso' is for when you don't know the gender or are talking about an idea, not a specific noun.
ese
/EH-seh//'ese/
Examples
Pásame ese libro, por favor.
Pass me that book, please.
Ese coche rojo es de mi hermano.
That red car belongs to my brother.
¿Conoces a ese hombre de allí?
Do you know that man over there?
¿Cuál prefieres? —Prefiero ese.
Which one do you prefer? —I prefer that one.
Pointing Things Out: The Three Distances
Spanish has three 'pointing' words. Use 'este' for things right here (close to you), 'ese' for things over there (often closer to the listener), and 'aquel' for things way over there (far from both of you).
Matching the Noun
'Ese' is for masculine things. If the thing you're describing is feminine, use 'esa'. For plural things, use 'esos' (masculine) or 'esas' (feminine).
A Handy Shortcut
Use 'ese' to avoid repeating a masculine noun that's already been mentioned or is obvious. It's like saying 'that one' instead of 'that car' again.
Mixing up 'This' and 'That'
Mistake: “Quiero comprar ese suéter que tengo en la mano.”
Correction: Quiero comprar este suéter que tengo en la mano. Use 'este' for something you are touching or is right next to you. Use 'ese' for something a little further away.
The Old Accent Mark
Mistake: “Thinking you must write 'ése' with an accent when it's a pronoun.”
Correction: The official rule changed in 2010. You no longer need an accent on 'ese' (or 'este'/'aquel'). The same word works for both meanings. You might still see the old accent in older books, but it's not needed today.
esa
/EH-sah//'esa/
Examples
¿Me pasas esa silla, por favor?
Can you pass me that chair, please?
Esa idea es muy interesante.
That idea is very interesting.
No conozco a esa mujer.
I don't know that woman.
—¿Qué falda te gusta más? —Me gusta esa.
—Which skirt do you like more? —I like that one.
Pointing Out Feminine Nouns
Use 'esa' right before a feminine noun (like 'casa' or 'mesa') to point it out. It must match the noun in gender; for masculine nouns, you'd use 'ese'.
The Three Distances in Spanish
'Esa' is for things that are a medium distance away, often closer to the person you're talking to. Use 'esta' for things right here by you, and 'aquella' for things far away from both of you.
Replacing a Noun
When everyone already knows what you're talking about, you can use 'esa' by itself to mean 'that one'. It saves you from repeating the noun.
Mixing up Gender
Mistake: “Quiero ese casa.”
Correction: Quiero esa casa. The word 'casa' is feminine, so you need the feminine pointer 'esa' to match it.
The Old Accent Mark
Mistake: “Sometimes you'll see 'ésa' written in older books.”
Correction: You don't need the accent mark anymore! The official rule since 2010 is to write 'esa' without an accent, whether it's an adjective or a pronoun. It makes life simpler!
que
/keh//ke/
Examples
El libro que leo es interesante.
The book that I'm reading is interesting.
La casa que tiene el techo rojo es mía.
The house that has the red roof is mine.
Espero que vengas a la fiesta.
I hope that you come to the party.
The Ultimate Connector
Use 'que' to add extra information about a person or thing you just mentioned. It's like 'that', 'which', or 'who' in English all rolled into one.
Don't Forget 'Que'
Mistake: “English often drops 'that' (e.g., 'I think he is nice').”
Correction: In Spanish, you almost always need to keep the 'que': 'Creo que es simpático.'
aquel
ah-KEHL/aˈkel/
Examples
Mira aquel edificio azul en la cima de la colina.
Look at that blue building on the top of the hill.
Aquel señor con bigote es mi tío.
That man with the mustache (way over there) is my uncle.
Demonstrative Adjectives
Use 'aquel' when the thing you are talking about is far away from both you and the person you are talking to. It means 'that (one) way over there'.
Matching the Noun
Since 'aquel' is an adjective, it must match the noun it modifies. 'Aquel' is used for masculine singular nouns (e.g., aquel perro, aquel día).
Distance Confusion
Mistake: “Using 'aquel' when the object is close to the listener ('ese').”
Correction: Use 'aquel' only for things far from everyone. If it's close to the person you are speaking to, use 'ese'.
aquello
ah-KEH-yoh/aˈkeʎo/
Examples
Aquello que dijiste me hizo pensar mucho.
That thing you said made me think a lot.
No quiero volver a hablar de aquello.
I don't want to talk about that (situation) again.
Aquello era la década de los ochenta, cuando las cosas eran diferentes.
That was the eighties, when things were different.
The Neutral Demonstrative
Aquello is the 'neutral' form. This means it doesn't refer to a specific masculine or feminine noun, but rather to an abstract idea, a concept, or an entire situation you just mentioned. It always stays the same (it’s invariable).
Distance in Time or Space
Like its gendered counterparts (aquel/aquella), 'aquello' is used to talk about things that are far away from both the speaker and the listener, often referring to a distant past or a vague memory.
Aquello vs. Aquel
Mistake: “Using 'Aquel' (the masculine form) when referring to a whole idea: 'Aquel fue un error.'”
Correction: Use 'Aquello' for abstract ideas: 'Aquello fue un error.' (That [whole situation] was a mistake.) Reserve 'aquel' for specific masculine nouns: 'Aquel libro es mío.' (That book is mine.)
Examples
Nunca he visto un pastel así de grande.
I've never seen a cake so big.
cual
/kwal//kwal/
Examples
Este es el puente bajo el cual pasamos.
This is the bridge under which we passed.
La reunión, durante la cual se discutieron temas importantes, duró tres horas.
The meeting, during which important topics were discussed, lasted three hours.
Hablé con los gerentes, los cuales confirmaron la decisión.
I spoke with the managers, who confirmed the decision.
The 'Which' That Needs a Buddy
Think of 'cual' as a more specific version of 'que' ('that/which'). It almost always needs a buddy word before it: 'el', 'la', 'los', or 'las'. This buddy has to match the person or thing you're talking about.
Perfect for Use After Short Words (Prepositions)
You'll often see 'cual' used after short connecting words like 'con' (with), 'en' (in), 'sin' (without), or 'por' (for). For example, 'la caja en la cual...' (the box in which...). This makes your sentence super clear.
Forgetting its Buddy Word
Mistake: “La casa en cual nací es azul.”
Correction: La casa en la cual nací es azul. Because 'casa' is feminine and singular ('la casa'), 'cual' needs 'la' as its buddy.
Using it When 'Que' is Better
Mistake: “El coche cual compré es rojo.”
Correction: El coche que compré es rojo. When you're just adding simple information and there's no little word like 'en' or 'con' before it, 'que' is usually the more natural choice.
ello
/EY-yo//'e.ʎo/
Examples
Hablamos de su renuncia y todo lo relacionado con ello.
We talked about his resignation and everything related to it.
No quiero pensar en ello ahora.
I don't want to think about it now.
Para ello, necesitamos más tiempo.
For that, we need more time.
The 'It' for Ideas, Not Things
Use 'ello' to refer back to a whole idea, situation, or concept you just mentioned, not a specific masculine or feminine object. Think of it as a formal way to say 'that whole thing'.
Best Friends with Prepositions
You'll almost always see 'ello' right after a short connecting word (a preposition) like 'de', 'con', 'por', or 'en'. For example, 'No me preocupo por ello' (I'm not worried about it).
Using 'Ello' for Objects
Mistake: “Vi el coche y ello era rojo.”
Correction: Vi el coche y era rojo. (Why: 'Ello' is for ideas. Since 'coche' is a masculine thing ('el coche'), you don't need a pronoun. Just say 'era rojo'.)
Overusing 'Ello' in Conversation
Mistake: “¿Te gustó el concierto? Ello fue increíble.”
Correction: ¿Te gustó el concierto? Eso fue increíble. (Why: In everyday chat, 'ello' sounds very formal. 'Eso' is the natural choice for referring to 'that' or 'it' when talking about an event or idea.)
tal
/tal//tal/
Examples
Nunca he dicho tal. Es una mentira.
I have never said such a thing. It's a lie.
Me pidió que le mintiera a mi jefe, pero no haré tal.
He asked me to lie to my boss, but I won't do such a thing.
'Tal' Standing Alone
When 'tal' is used by itself like this, it replaces a whole idea or noun that was just mentioned. It's a shortcut to avoid repeating yourself, but it can sound a bit formal.
Choosing between 'eso', 'ese', and 'esa'
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