Master the use of Spanish demonstrative adjectives!

Have you ever tried to point out something in Spanish, only to realize you didn’t quite know the word for “this” or “that”? Maybe you’ve stood in a market, waving your hands vaguely between two baskets of fruit, hoping your body language could speak fluent Spanish on your behalf. I’ve been there too—and that’s exactly where Spanish demonstrative adjectives come in handy.

In this post, we’re going to tackle demonstrative adjectives together: what they are, how they work, and when to use them. My goal is to help you feel confident pointing things out in Spanish with as much precision (and flair) as a native speaker. 

Whether you’re describing “this book” in your hand or “those dogs” across the street, by the end of this, you’ll have it all down.

So grab un café, take a comfy seat, and let’s dive in!

What Are Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives?

Let’s start at the very beginning.

Demonstrative adjectives are words we use to “demonstrate” or point out specific nouns. In English, we use words like this, that, these, and those. They give our sentences clarity by telling us which thing we’re talking about.

Now, in Spanish, we do the exact same thing—but (surprise!) Spanish demonstrative adjectives change based on gender, number, and proximity.

Here’s a quick example to warm up:

• This book – Este libro
  
• That chair – Esa silla
  
• Those dogs – Esos perros
  

We’re not just pointing at random objects—we’re choosing our adjectives based on how close the object is to us and what kind of noun we’re describing.

The Three Degrees of Distance

One of the most important things to understand is that Spanish has three degrees of proximity when it comes to demonstrative adjectives:

1. Near the speaker – “this/these” = este, esta, estos, estas
   
2. Near the listener – “that/those” = ese, esa, esos, esas
   
3. Far from both speaker and listener – “that over there/those over there” = aquel, aquella, aquellos, aquellas

Let’s break them down one by one.

1. “This” and “These” – Este / Esta / Estos / Estas

Use these when you’re talking about something that is close to you, either physically or emotionally. Think of things you’re holding, things on your desk, or things you’re talking about in the present moment.

Examples:

• Este libro es interesante.
  (This book is interesting.)
• ¿Te gusta esta canción?
  (Do you like this song?)
• Estos zapatos son nuevos.
  (These shoes are new.)
• Me encantan estas flores.
  (I love these flowers.)

Notice how este is used with masculine nouns (libro, zapatos) and esta with feminine nouns (canción, flores). And of course, they change to estos and estas when you’re talking about plurals.

2. “That” and “Those” – Ese / Esa / Esos / Esas

Now we’re moving one step away. Use these when you’re talking about something that is near the person you’re talking to, or just not right next to you. Maybe it’s on the other side of the room, or perhaps it happened in the recent past.

Examples:

• ¿Te gusta ese coche?
  (Do you like that car?)
• Esa película fue aburrida.
  (That movie was boring.)
• Esos pantalones están en oferta.
  (Those pants are on sale.)
• No me gustan esas reglas.
  (I don’t like those rules.)

Again, you match the demonstrative with the gender and number of the noun. It’s all about being consistent.

3. “That Over There” – Aquel / Aquella / Aquellos / Aquellas

Here’s where things get a little poetic. Use these when the object is far away from both the speaker and the listener. Maybe it’s across the street, in another room—or even in the distant past or future.

Examples:

• Aquel edificio es antiguo.
  (That building over there is old.)
• Aquella estrella es muy brillante.
  (That star over there is very bright.)
• Aquellos años fueron difíciles.
  (Those years were difficult.)
• Aquellas montañas son hermosas.
  (Those mountains are beautiful.)

You’ll often hear aquel/aquella used in storytelling or in more poetic, nostalgic language. It adds a sense of distance, both physical and emotional.

A Quick Note on Pronunciation and Accent Marks

If you’ve studied Spanish for a bit, you might be wondering: what about “éste,” “ése,” and “aquél”?

Great question! These are actually demonstrative pronouns, which we use to replace the noun entirely. For example:

• ¿Quieres este libro? No, quiero ése.
  (Do you want this book? No, I want that one.)
  

Now here’s the twist: the Real Academia Española (RAE) no longer requires the accent marks on demonstrative pronouns unless it’s needed to avoid ambiguity. So nowadays, you’ll often see:

• No, quiero ese.
  

It’s up to you—using the accent won’t hurt, but most modern writing leaves it off unless it’s necessary for clarity.

When Do We Use Demonstrative Adjectives?

Now that you know the forms, let’s talk about when to use them. Here are the most common situations:

1. To Point Things Out

• Este café está caliente.
  (This coffee is hot.)
• ¿Ves aquel árbol?
  (Do you see that tree over there?)

2. To Refer to Things Just Mentioned or About to Be Mentioned

• Me encantó esa serie que vimos anoche.
  (I loved that show we watched last night.)

3. To Express Time (Past, Present, or Future)

• Aquellos días fueron difíciles.
  (Those days were tough.)
• Esta semana tengo mucho trabajo.
  (This week I have a lot of work.)

4. To Add Emphasis or Contrast

• No quiero esta camisa, quiero esa.
  (I don’t want this shirt, I want that one.)

This is where tone really matters—adding a demonstrative can emphasize your opinion or draw a clear line between options.

Point It Out Like a Pro!

Learning demonstrative adjectives might seem small, but it’s one of those little details that can make your Spanish sound polished and natural. Plus, it’s just fun to be able to point out “that thing over there” with confidence instead of vague hand gestures.

So next time you’re chatting with your tutor, writing a sentence, or even just thinking to yourself in Spanish, try to throw in a este, ese, or aquel. It’s a simple upgrade to your grammar game—and you’ve totally got this.

And if you ever need more guidance, examples, or a friendly face to walk you through it, remember: at Strommen, we offer tailor-made classes with tutors who love making language learning fun and effective. Come learn with us!