Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| este | /ˈeste/ | masculine, alternative form |
| esto | /ˈesto/ | neuter |
| éste | /ˈeste/ | masculine |
| esta | /ˈesta/ /ˈeta/ (Puerto Rico) |
feminine |
These words are used to indicate a specific thing, item or idea. Depending on the form used, it can also function as a determiner for a known thing that is about to be mentioned.
Which one should you use?
The choice between forms depends on the gender and nature of the object. Use este for masculine nouns and esta for feminine nouns. Use the neuter form esto when referring to an abstract idea, an unknown object or an entire situation rather than a specific noun.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When used as a pronoun to refer to an abstract concept or an unspecified object, use the neuter form esto. For specific nouns, you must match the gender: use este for masculine and esta for feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈeste/
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use este for all objects, but you must use esta if the noun being pointed to is feminine (e.g., esta mesa).
Did you know?
- In some Latin American dialects, speakers use este as a conversational placeholder to hold their turn in a conversation while searching for a specific word.
- The Spanish word este can mean 'this' or it can mean 'east'. These are two different words with the same spelling but different origins.
- In parts of Spain, speakers use a three-tier system of distance with este, ese and aquel that is more precise than the English 'this' and 'that'.
Examples in context
- Esto y no más.This and no more.Tatoeba #2268897 by cueyayotl, translation #2268896 by _undertoad
- Este es su CD.This CD belongs to her.Tatoeba #5050632 by don_ramon, translation #61387 by CK
- Esto ya lo sé.I already know this.Tatoeba #5178203 by cueyayotl, translation #5165738 by CK
- 12792 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sofía and Daniel are looking at a menu in a cafe.
- Sofía¿Qué es este plato?What is this dish?
- DanielEs una especialidad de la casa.It is a house specialty.
- SofíaEste plato parece delicioso.This dish looks delicious.
- DanielSí, deberías probarlo.Yes, you should try it.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “this” translations and entries este, esto, éste, esta, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries esta, este, esto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
