esta es
/esta es/from spelling rules
esta es is the Spanish phrase for "this is".
Which one should you use?
Use este es if the noun being identified is masculine or is a masculine noun. If you are identifying multiple feminine nouns, use estas son instead of esta es.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase esta es can only be used when the noun being identified is feminine and singular.
How do you pronounce it?
/esta es/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers may try to add an accent to esta to distinguish it as a pronoun, but modern Spanish orthography rules generally omit the accent on esta even when used as a pronoun.
Did you know?
- While English speakers often use 'this is' to introduce a person, using esta es followed by a woman's name can sometimes sound like you are introducing a character in a story rather than a person in the room.
- The word es is also closely related to the Sanskrit word अस्ति, which also means 'is'.
- In some Latin American dialects, the distinction between esta es and esa es is less strict in casual speech than it is in Spain.
Examples in context
- Esta es la directora de nuestra empresa, la Sra. García.This is the director of our company, Mrs. García.
- Esta es mi casa.This is my house.
- Esta es la mejor idea.This is the best idea.
- Esta es la canción que me gusta.This is the song that I like.
Example conversation
Sofía shows Javier a photo in an album.
- JavierMira esta foto.Look at this photo.
- SofíaEsta es mi abuela.This is my grandmother.
- JavierEs muy amable.She is very kind.
- SofíaSí, es una gran mujer.Yes, she is a great woman.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries es, esta, CC BY-SA 4.0.
