ellos
/ˈeʝos/masculine
In Spanish, the English pronoun "they" is translated as ellos, ellas or elles.
Meaning: third-person plural pronoun (pron)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ellos | /ˈeʝos/ | masculine |
| ellas | /ˈeʝas/ | feminine |
| elles | /ˈeʝes/ | neologism, neuter |
The word is a third-person plural pronoun. Modern usage includes neologisms like elles to serve as a non-binary or gender-inclusive alternative for "they".
Which one should you use?
The form ellos is used for a group of men or a mixed-gender group of men and women. If a group contains even one male, the masculine form ellos must be used instead of the feminine ellas. The form ellas is used exclusively for a group consisting only of females. The form elles is a gender-neutral neologism.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form elles is a neologism used in some social circles to avoid gendered language.
How does it change in a sentence?
In Spanish, the subject pronoun ellos or ellas is often omitted because the verb conjugation alone indicates the third-person plural.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeʝos/
Did you know?
- In certain dialects, particularly in the Caribbean and parts of southern Spain, the final s in ellos or ellas is often dropped or aspirated, sounding like ello or ella.
- The word ellos is actually the direct descendant of the Latin word illos, which was the accusative form used for 'them'.
- Because Spanish is a 'pro-drop' language, using ellos or ellas explicitly often adds a layer of emphasis or contrast that 'they' does not always carry in English.
Examples in context
- Ellos aman a Tom.They love Tom.This sentence shows how to use ellos to express affection.Tatoeba #2418267 by hayastan, translation #2243247 by CK
- Ellos no lo harán.They won't make it.This sentence uses ellos in a negative statement regarding future action.Tatoeba #1686787 by Shishir, translation #1664230 by Spamster
- Ellos sí lo saben.They do know that.This sentence uses ellos to confirm knowledge.Tatoeba #5066832 by ficion, translation #2856233 by Amastan
- Ellos están trabajando en el proyecto importante.They are working on the important project.
- Ellas son las nuevas empleadas de la empresa.They are the new employees of the company.
- Ellos van de excursión este fin de semana.They are going on a trip this weekend.
- Ellas llegaron tarde a la reunión.They arrived late to the meeting.
- Ellos, señores, son bienvenidos.They, gentlemen, are welcome.
- 1915 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena and Mateo are talking about their brothers.
- Elena¿Dónde están tus hermanos?Where are your brothers?
- MateoEllos están en el cine.They are at the cinema.
- Elena¿Qué película están viendo?What movie are they watching?
- MateoEllos están viendo una de terror.They are watching a horror one.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “they” translations and entries ellos, ellas, elles, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ellas, ellos, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
