aquél
/aˈkel/masculine
In Spanish, "that one" is translated as aquél. Wiktionary also lists aquéllos and aquéllas.
Meaning: specified object (pron)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| aquél | /aˈkel/ | masculine |
| aquéllos | /aˈkeʝos/ | masculine, plural |
| aquéllas | /aˈkeʝas/ | feminine, plural |
These forms are used as pronouns to refer to a specific object that is at a distance from both the speaker and the listener.
Which one should you use?
Use aquél for an object far from both the speaker and the listener. If the object is closer to the listener, use ese instead.
How does it change in a sentence?
The singular feminine form is aquella. For plural forms, use aquellos for masculine and aquellas for feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/aˈkel/
Did you know?
- The phrase aquél can be used to refer to the first of two people mentioned in a sentence, similar to how English uses 'the former'.
- Because aquél refers to something distant, using it to describe a person you are standing next to can sound unintentionally rude or dismissive.
- While aquél refers to distance in space, it is also used in storytelling to refer to a distant point in time, such as 'those days' or 'that era'.
Examples in context
- No me gusta aquél.I don't like that one.This sentence shows how to express dislike for a specific object using aquél.Tatoeba #6816321 by arh, translation #2276096 by CK
- ¿Es aquél el tuyo?Is that one yours?This sentence demonstrates how to ask if a specific object is the listener's using aquél.Tatoeba #7583321 by arh, translation #9194690 by DJ_Saidez
- No, me gusta aquél.No, I like that one.This sentence shows how to express preference for a specific object using aquél.Tatoeba #6816358 by arh, translation #10610342 by sangelo
- Disculpe, ¿me podría pasar esa pluma?Excuse me, could you pass me that pen?
- Por favor, tráigame aquel libro.Please bring me that book over there.
- ¿Me puedes prestar esa guitarra?Can you lend me that guitar?
- 14 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Mateo and Elena are choosing a vase at a store.
- MateoMira este jarrón, es muy bonito.Look at this vase, it is very pretty.
- ElenaSí, pero prefiero aquél de allá.Yes, but I prefer that one over there.
- MateoAquél es más caro, ¿no?That one is more expensive, right?
- ElenaNo importa, me gusta más.It doesn't matter, I like it more.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “that one” translations and entries aquél, aquéllos, aquéllas, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
