Mastering Demonstrative Pronouns in Spanish: A Clear Guide to Pointing Things Out


Have you ever found yourself in a market or a conversation, pointing at something and wishing you knew exactly how to say "this one," "that one," or "that one way over there"? In English, we keep it pretty simple with just "this" and "that." However, Spanish offers a bit more precision, allowing you to indicate exactly how far away an object is from you and the person you are talking to.

Understanding demonstrative pronouns is a game-changer for your fluency. These handy words allow you to replace a noun entirely once the context is established, making your speech faster, more efficient, and much more natural. If you have been struggling to distinguish between este, ese, and aquel, this guide will clear up the confusion and help you point things out like a native speaker.

The Three Levels of Distance

The most unique aspect of Spanish demonstratives is that they operate on three levels of distance, whereas English only has two. Think of it as a map of physical or psychological space:

  1. Close to the speaker: "This" (Right here).

  2. Close to the listener: "That" (Near you).

  3. Far from both: "That one over there" (Way over there).

1. This (Close to me)

Used for items within arm's reach or in the speaker's immediate space.

  • Éste (Masculine Singular)

  • Ésta (Feminine Singular)

  • Éstos (Masculine Plural)

  • Éstas (Feminine Plural)

Example: "I don't like this book, I want this one." (No me gusta este libro, quiero éste.)

2. That (Close to you)

Used for items near the person you are speaking to, or slightly removed from the speaker.

  • Ése (Masculine Singular)

  • Ésa (Feminine Singular)

  • Ésos (Masculine Plural)

  • Ésas (Feminine Plural)

Example: "Is that chair yours? No, that one is mine." (¿Es esa silla tuya? No, ésa es mía.)

3. That over there (Far from both)

Used for items that are at a significant distance from both the speaker and the listener.

  • Aquél (Masculine Singular)

  • Aquélla (Feminine Singular)

  • Aquéllos (Masculine Plural)

  • Aquéllas (Feminine Plural)

Example: "Look at those mountains. Those over there are the tallest." (Mira aquellas montañas. Aquéllas son las más altas.)

Demonstrative Pronouns vs. Adjectives

It is very common to confuse demonstrative pronouns with demonstrative adjectives. The words look almost identical, but their function in a sentence is different.

  • Demonstrative Adjectives describe a noun and come before it. (e.g., Este coche — This car).

  • Demonstrative Pronouns replace the noun. (e.g., No quiero este coche, quiero éste — I don't want this car, I want this one).

Note on Accents: You may see these pronouns written with an accent mark (éste) or without (este). According to the latest Real Academia Española (RAE) guidelines, the accent is only strictly necessary if there is a risk of ambiguity in the sentence. However, many traditional textbooks and writers still use the accent to clearly distinguish the pronoun from the adjective.

Complete Chart of Spanish Demonstrative Pronouns

To help you visualize the gender and number agreement, here is a quick reference table:

DistanceMasculine SingularFeminine SingularMasculine PluralFeminine Plural
Close (This)ÉsteÉstaÉstosÉstas
Medium (That)ÉseÉsaÉsosÉsas
Far (That yonder)AquélAquéllaAquéllosAquéllas

The "Secret" Neuter Forms: Esto, Eso, and Aquello

What happens if you are pointing at something and you don't know what it is? Or if you are referring to an abstract idea, a situation, or a whole sentence?

This is where neuter demonstrative pronouns come in. These do not have plural forms and they never take accent marks.

  • Esto: This (this thing/this situation).

  • Eso: That (that thing/that idea).

  • Aquello: That over there (that distant matter/thing).

Common usage:

  • "¿Qué es esto?" (What is this?)

  • "Eso es verdad." (That is true.)

  • "Aquello fue un desastre." (That [event/situation in the past] was a disaster.)

Important Rules for Agreement

Spanish is big on agreement. Since demonstrative pronouns take the place of a noun, they must match the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun they are replacing.

  1. Identify the noun being replaced: Is it el sombrero (masculine) or la camisa (feminine)?

  2. Check the quantity: Is it one or many?

  3. Determine the distance: Is it right here, over there, or way over there?

Example: If you are talking about "las manzanas" (the apples - feminine/plural) and they are sitting right in front of you:

  • "Me gustan éstas." (I like these ones.)

Common Phrases and Idioms

Demonstrative pronouns are baked into everyday Spanish expressions. Learning these will make you sound much more fluent:

  • En esto: At this point / In the middle of this.

  • A eso de: Around (used for time, e.g., a eso de las tres — around three o'clock).

  • Por eso: That's why / Because of that.

  • Eso es: That's it / Exactly.

How to Practice and Master These

  • The Pointing Game: Walk around your house. Point to an object and name it with a demonstrative adjective, then replace it with a pronoun. (Esta mesa -> Ésta).

  • Contrast Items: When shopping or eating, try to compare two things. "No quiero ese plato, prefiero aquél."

  • Listen for "Eso": This is perhaps the most used word in casual Spanish. Listen to how native speakers use it to agree with an idea or refer to something previously mentioned.

By mastering these three levels of distance, you add a layer of precision to your Spanish that makes communication much smoother. Whether you are ordering food, telling a story about the past, or simply asking "What is that?", you now have the tools to do it correctly.



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