Easy Guide to Spanish Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Mastering demonstratives can be a game-changer in your Spanish learning journey, particularly in the early stages when you’re expanding your vocabulary. They help you communicate more effectively and navigate conversations with confidence!

Picture this: you’ve built up the courage to order in Spanish, but suddenly your mind goes blank. Thankfully, you have a safety net—those demonstration phrases you’ve practiced come to the rescue!

“Could I have this one, please?” you ask, gesturing towards the tempting pincho de tortilla, a classic Spanish omelette, showcased among an array of vibrant tapas at the bar.

Demonstratives can be a lifesaver in moments when you can’t find the right words. Let’s ensure you’re always confident in expressing your needs, whether you’re trying to place an order or clearly communicate what you want to someone.

Quick view: demonstratives in Spanish 

• Demonstrative adjectives, such as “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those,” precede nouns, as in “this cat” or “este gato” in Spanish.
• Spanish features eight demonstrative adjectives: ese, estos, esta, estas, aquel, aquellos, aquella, and aquellas. The choice of adjective depends on the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
• Demonstrative pronouns replace the noun entirely and are the equivalent of saying “that one” in English.

First up: what are demonstrative adjectives in Spanish?

A demonstrative adjective, or “adjetivo demostrativo” in Spanish, is a term used to specify or identify a particular noun within a sentence. Words like “this,” “that,” “these,” and “those” serve as demonstrative adjectives, providing clarity by indicating exactly which item or items are being discussed.

Demonstrative words play a crucial role in indicating the proximity of a noun to the speaker. When referring to something nearby, we use “this” or “these,” while “that” or “those” is reserved for objects that are farther away. For instance, if you’re pointing to a distant mountain range, it would be more appropriate to say “those mountains” instead of “these mountains.”

Spanish and English demonstrative adjectives have some important differences that can be confusing for learners. However, once you grasp the concept of gender in Spanish, mastering these adjectives becomes quite straightforward.

Differences between English & Spanish demonstrative adjectives

English distinguishes between singular (“this” or “that”) and plural demonstratives (“these” and “those”). In contrast, Spanish adds another layer by categorizing nouns as either masculine or feminine, which affects the demonstrative used. Check out the table below for more details!

In English, we use two pairs of demonstratives—“this/these” for items that are close and “that/those” for items that are farther away. In contrast, Spanish enriches its language with a third set of demonstratives: “aquel/aquella” and “aquellos/aquellas,” which refer to objects that are at a greater distance from the speaker. This added nuance allows for more precise communication about location.

In English, we use the phrase “that bird” to refer to a bird sitting on a nearby bench or one soaring high in the sky. However, in Spanish, the distinctions are clearer: we say “ese pájaro” for the bird in front of us and “aquel pájaro” for the one flying above. This highlights how different languages convey spatial relationships in unique ways.

Examples of demonstrative adjectives

Exercise: write the correct demonstrative adjective

Choose the correct demonstrative adjective.

1. (Este/esta) ordenador no va, tenemos que comprar otro.  (This computer isn’t working. We have to buy another one.)
2. “¿Ves esas mesas? Debemos trasladarlas a la otra habitación.”
3. (Ese/Esa) niño se porta muy bien en clase. (That boy behaves really well in class.)
4. ¿Ves (aquel/aquella) pájaro allí? Es un ruiseñor. (Do you see that bird over there? It’s a robin red breast.)
5. (Aquel/aquella) cuadro es muy bonito. ¿Quién lo pintó? (That painting is really nice. Who painted it?) 

Next: what are demonstrative pronouns?

Now that we’ve looked at demonstrative adjectives, let’s look at their cousins: demonstrative pronouns (pronombres demostrativos.)

A demonstrative pronoun serves as a replacement for a noun and adapts to match the gender and number in Spanish. Unlike demonstrative adjectives, which always accompany a noun (like “esegato”), demonstrative pronouns allow us to refer to a noun without naming it directly. This is similar to saying “that one” in English, providing clarity and efficiency in communication.

Wait – what are neuter demonstrative pronouns?

Don’t panic, this isn’t a secret gender!

A neuter pronoun is a type of pronoun used when you’re not pointing to a specific noun. For instance, if you suddenly hear a loud bang and exclaim, “What’s that?!” you’re using a neuter pronoun since you don’t know what made the noise. In Spanish, this concept is illustrated through the use of neuter pronouns as well.

These neuter demonstrative pronouns will always take masculine forms as a default.

Examples of neuter pronouns: 

• ¿Qué es esto? (what’s this?)
• ¿Qué es eso? (what’s that?)
• Quiero esto. (I want this.)
• ¿Qué es aquello? (what’s that over there?)

Y esta lección se ha acabado! Your next steps…

Now that you’ve mastered demonstratives, it’s a great time to explore possessive adjectives and the rules governing definite articles in Spanish. These topics build nicely on what you’ve learned here. If this lesson felt a bit tough, consider revisiting Spanish nouns to strengthen your understanding.

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