Este vs Esta: Master Spanish Demonstratives in Spanish

Have you ever found yourself pointing at something in a Spanish-speaking country, unable to remember the word you need? Spanish demonstratives can be your lifeline in these moments.

Learning demonstrative adjectives and pronouns in Spanish isn't just about proper grammar—it's about equipping yourself with versatile tools that can help you communicate effectively even when vocabulary fails you.

Why Learning Spanish Demonstratives Will Save Your Conversations

Picture this: You're at a bustling tapas bar in Madrid. The display case is filled with delicious options, but you've forgotten how to say "Spanish omelet." Instead of panicking, you can simply point and say, "Este por favor" (this one, please). Crisis averted!

Demonstratives are those essential words like "this," "that," "these," and "those" that help us indicate specific objects or ideas. In Spanish, demonstratives have more variations than in English, adapting to both distance and gender—making them slightly more complex but incredibly useful once mastered.

Spanish Demonstratives at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here's what you need to know about demonstratives in Spanish:

Demonstrative adjectives accompany nouns (e.g., "este libro" - this book)
Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns entirely (e.g., "este" - this one)
Spanish demonstratives change according to:
Gender (masculine/feminine)
Number (singular/plural)
Distance (near/intermediate/far)

This three-level distance system is more nuanced than English's two-level system, giving you greater precision when referring to objects at varying distances.

Understanding Demonstrative Adjectives in Spanish

Demonstrative adjectives (adjetivos demostrativos) point to specific nouns and must agree with them in gender and number. They indicate the relative distance between the speaker and the object being referred to.

The Key Difference Between English and Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives

In English, we only distinguish between:

Singular vs. plural ("this"/"that" vs. "these"/"those")
Near vs. far ("this"/"these" vs. "that"/"those")

Spanish takes it further by adding:

Masculine vs. feminine forms
A third distance category for objects that are very far away

This means while English has just 4 demonstrative adjectives, Spanish has 12!

The Complete Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives System

Near (close to speaker):

Masculine Singular: Este
Feminine Singular: Esta
Masculine Plural: Estos
Feminine Plural: Estas

Intermediate (near listener):

Masculine Singular: Ese
Feminine Singular: Esa
Masculine Plural: Esos
Feminine Plural: Esas

Far (away from both):

Masculine Singular: Aquel
Feminine Singular: Aquella
Masculine Plural: Aquellos
Feminine Plural: Aquellas

How to Choose the Right Demonstrative Adjective

Determine the distance from the speaker:
Near: Objects you can touch or are very close to you
Intermediate: Objects that are a bit farther but still visible
Far: Objects that are at a considerable distance
Match the gender and number of the noun:
Masculine/feminine
Singular/plural

Practical Examples of Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives in Action

Using "Este/Esta" (This - Close to Speaker)

Este café está muy caliente. (This coffee is very hot.)
Esta camisa me queda bien. (This shirt fits me well.)

Using "Ese/Esa" (That - Intermediate Distance)

¿Puedes alcanzar ese libro en la mesa? (Can you reach that book on the table?)
Esa tienda tiene buenas ofertas. (That store has good deals.)

Using "Aquel/Aquella" (That Over There - Far Distance)

¿Ves aquel edificio en la colina? (Do you see that building on the hill?)
Aquella montaña es la más alta de la región. (That mountain over there is the highest in the region.)

Plural Examples

Estos zapatos son cómodos. (These shoes are comfortable.)
Esas nubes parecen de tormenta. (Those clouds look like storm clouds.)
Aquellos árboles fueron plantados hace un siglo. (Those trees over there were planted a century ago.)

Practice Exercise: Choose the Correct Demonstrative Adjective

Test your understanding with these practice sentences:

_____ teléfono no funciona. Necesito uno nuevo. (This phone doesn't work. I need a new one.)
¿Te gustan _____ flores en el jardín? (Do you like those flowers in the garden?)
_____ montañas a lo lejos son los Pirineos. (Those mountains in the distance are the Pyrenees.)
_____ computadora es más rápida que la mía. (That computer is faster than mine.)
_____ llaves son las de mi coche. (These keys are for my car.)

(Answers: 1. Este, 2. Esas, 3. Aquellas, 4. Esa, 5. Estas)

Moving Beyond Adjectives: Spanish Demonstrative Pronouns

Now that you understand demonstrative adjectives, let's explore their close relatives: demonstrative pronouns (pronombres demostrativos).

While demonstrative adjectives accompany nouns, demonstrative pronouns replace them entirely. Think of saying "this one" instead of "this book."

The Demonstrative Pronouns System

Spanish demonstrative pronouns follow the same patterns as the adjectives:

Near:

Masculine Singular: Este
Feminine Singular: Esta
Masculine Plural: Estos
Feminine Plural: Estas

Intermediate:

Masculine Singular: Ese
Feminine Singular: Esa
Masculine Plural: Esos
Feminine Plural: Esas

Far:

Masculine Singular: Aquel
Feminine Singular: Aquella
Masculine Plural: Aquellos
Feminine Plural: Aquellas

Using Demonstrative Pronouns in Conversation

Comparison Examples

Demonstrative Adjective: Me gusta este libro. (I like this book.)
Demonstrative Pronoun: Me gusta éste. (I like this one.)

More Examples

¿Cuál prefieres, éste o aquél? (Which do you prefer, this one or that one over there?)
Estas son mis llaves, ésas son las tuyas. (These are my keys, those are yours.)
No quiero estos zapatos, quiero aquéllos. (I don't want these shoes, I want those over there.)

A Note About Accent Marks

You may notice that sometimes demonstrative pronouns appear with accent marks (éste, ésta, ése, etc.) While traditionally these accents were used to distinguish pronouns from adjectives, the Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia Española) has updated its guidelines:

Current recommendation: No accent marks on demonstrative pronouns
However: You may still see them in older texts or from writers following traditional conventions

The Special Case: Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns

Spanish has something English doesn't: neuter demonstrative pronouns. These forms are used when referring to:

Unknown objects or concepts
Abstract ideas
Situations or statements

The three neuter demonstrative pronouns are:

Esto (this) - for things close to the speaker
Eso (that) - for things at an intermediate distance
Aquello (that over there) - for things far away

Unlike other Spanish demonstratives, neuter forms:

Do not change for gender or number
Are only used as pronouns, never as adjectives
Always maintain their masculine-looking form

Neuter Demonstrative Pronouns in Use

Esto es importante. (This is important.)
No entiendo eso. (I don't understand that.)
¿Qué es aquello? (What is that thing over there?)

Pro Pronunciation Tip

When saying "¿Qué es esto?" or "¿Qué es eso?", native speakers often link the words together, pronouncing them more like "¿Quesesto?" or "¿Queseso?" This connected pronunciation sounds more natural and fluent.

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Distance

English speakers often default to using only "este/esta" and "ese/esa," neglecting the far-distance forms "aquel/aquella." Remember that Spanish's three-distance system allows for more precise spatial references.

Incorrect: Mira ese edificio a lo lejos. (Look at that building in the distance.) Correct: Mira aquel edificio a lo lejos. (Look at that building way over there.)

Mistake #2: Gender Confusion

Always match your demonstrative to the noun's gender, not the physical characteristics of the object.

Incorrect: Este mesa es grande. (This table is big.) Correct: Esta mesa es grande. (This table is big.)

Mistake #3: Confusing Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Remember that adjectives accompany nouns, while pronouns replace them.

Incorrect: Me gusta este. Es un buen libro. (I like this. It's a good book.) Correct: Me gusta este libro. Es bueno. (I like this book. It's good.) OR: Me gusta éste. Es un buen libro. (I like this one. It's a good book.)

Real-Life Applications: Putting Demonstratives to Work

Shopping Scenarios

When shopping, demonstratives can help you indicate items when you don't know their names:

Quiero este en rojo. (I want this one in red.)
¿Cuánto cuesta aquella chaqueta? (How much does that jacket over there cost?)

Giving Directions

Demonstratives are crucial for pointing out landmarks:

Gira a la derecha en ese semáforo. (Turn right at that traffic light.)
La farmacia está detrás de aquel edificio alto. (The pharmacy is behind that tall building over there.)

Making Comparisons

Use demonstratives to compare options:

Esta camisa es más cara que esa. (This shirt is more expensive than that one.)
Prefiero estos zapatos a aquellos. (I prefer these shoes to those over there.)

Going Beyond Basics: Demonstrative Phrases and Expressions

Common Fixed Expressions with Demonstratives

Spanish has several common expressions using demonstratives that you'll hear frequently:

En eso estamos - We're working on that
Por eso - That's why
Eso sí - That's for sure/certainly
Esto es - That is to say
A este respecto - In this regard
Aquello fue - That was (referring to a past event)

Regional Variations

While the demonstrative system is consistent across Spanish-speaking countries, there are some regional tendencies:

In some Latin American countries, speakers may use "ese/esa" more frequently than "aquel/aquella"
In Spain, all three distance forms are commonly used
Some dialects in the Caribbean may have unique expressions with demonstratives

Practicing with Interactive Scenarios

Let's apply what we've learned with some real-life scenarios:

Scenario 1: At a Restaurant

Imagine you're at a restaurant looking at a display of desserts:

Para postre, quiero esta tarta de chocolate. (For dessert, I want this chocolate cake.)
¿Qué ingredientes tiene esa bebida de allí? (What ingredients does that drink have?)
¿Me puede traer aquella copa de vino que está en la vitrina? (Can you bring me that wine glass that's in the display case over there?)

Scenario 2: Shopping for Clothes

You're shopping for clothes with a friend:

Este suéter me queda bien, pero aquel es más bonito. (This sweater fits me well, but that one over there is prettier.)
¿Te gustan esas botas negras? (Do you like those black boots?)
Prefiero estos jeans a esos. (I prefer these jeans to those.)

Comprehensive Practice Exercise

Complete the sentences with the appropriate demonstrative adjective or pronoun:

_____ película es mejor que _____ que vimos ayer. (This movie is better than that one we saw yesterday.)
No me gusta _____ helado, prefiero _____. (I don't like this ice cream, I prefer that one.)
¿Quiénes son _____ personas al final de la calle? (Who are those people at the end of the street?)
_____ es lo que quería decirte. (This is what I wanted to tell you.)
Entre _____ opciones, _____ me parece la mejor. (Among these options, this one seems the best to me.)

(Answers: 1. Esta/esa, 2. este/ese, 3. aquellas, 4. Esto, 5. estas/ésta)

Taking Your Spanish to the Next Level

Now that you've mastered demonstratives, here are some related topics to explore:

Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns

Possessive adjectives (mi, tu, su) work similarly to demonstratives but show ownership instead of location.

Spanish Definite Articles

The definite articles (el, la, los, las) are often used in Spanish where they wouldn't be in English.

Relative Pronouns

Words like "que," "quien," and "cual" help connect clauses and can build on your understanding of pronouns in Spanish.

Learn Any Language with Kylian AI

Private language lessons are expensive. Paying between 15 and 50 euros per lesson isn’t realistic for most people—especially when dozens of sessions are needed to see real progress.

Many learners give up on language learning due to these high costs, missing out on valuable professional and personal opportunities.

That’s why we created Kylian: to make language learning accessible to everyone and help people master a foreign language without breaking the bank.

To get started, just tell Kylian which language you want to learn and what your native language is

Tired of teachers who don’t understand your specific struggles as a French speaker? Kylian’s advantage lies in its ability to teach any language using your native tongue as the foundation.

Unlike generic apps that offer the same content to everyone, Kylian explains concepts in your native language (French) and switches to the target language when necessary—perfectly adapting to your level and needs.

This personalization removes the frustration and confusion that are so common in traditional language learning.

Choose a specific topic you want to learn

Frustrated by language lessons that never cover exactly what you need? Kylian can teach you any aspect of a language—from pronunciation to advanced grammar—by focusing on your specific goals.

Avoid vague requests like “How can I improve my accent?” and be precise: “How do I pronounce the R like a native English speaker?” or “How do I conjugate the verb ‘to be’ in the present tense?”

With Kylian, you’ll never again pay for irrelevant content or feel embarrassed asking “too basic” questions to a teacher. Your learning plan is entirely personalized.

Once you’ve chosen your topic, just hit the “Generate a Lesson” button, and within seconds, you’ll get a lesson designed exclusively for you.

Join the room to begin your lesson

The session feels like a one-on-one language class with a human tutor—but without the high price or time constraints.

In a 25-minute lesson, Kylian teaches exactly what you need to know about your chosen topic: the nuances that textbooks never explain, key cultural differences between French and your target language, grammar rules, and much more.

Ever felt frustrated trying to keep up with a native-speaking teacher, or embarrassed to ask for something to be repeated? With Kylian, that problem disappears. It switches intelligently between French and the target language depending on your level, helping you understand every concept at your own pace.

During the lesson, Kylian uses role-plays, real-life examples, and adapts to your learning style. Didn’t understand something? No problem—you can pause Kylian anytime to ask for clarification, without fear of being judged.

Ask all the questions you want, repeat sections if needed, and customize your learning experience in ways traditional teachers and generic apps simply can’t match.

With 24/7 access at a fraction of the cost of private lessons, Kylian removes all the barriers that have kept you from mastering the language you’ve always wanted to learn.

Take your free lesson with Kylian today.