How do you say that in Spanish?

That in Spanish is ese (masculine: ese libro, that book), esa (feminine: esa silla, that chair), or eso (neuter: eso es verdad, that's true). For something farther away or more abstract, use aquel / aquella. As a relative pronoun (the book that I read), use que.

What's the difference between ese and aquel?

Both translate as that, but distance differs. Ese means that one near you (the listener), and aquel means that one over there (farther from both speaker and listener, or more remote in time or memory). In modern speech, ese covers most cases; aquel is more deliberate, often used for emphasis or distance.

When do I use que instead of ese?

Use que when that connects two clauses as a relative pronoun: el libro que leí (the book that I read), la chica que vino ayer (the girl who came yesterday). Use ese / esa / eso when that points at something specific: ese libro, that book.

How do I remember the right form of that in Spanish?

Hear native speakers use ese, esa, eso, and que in real moments, pointing at things, sharing opinions, telling stories, and the gender and grammar role click without translation. Parrot's videos surface each form so you stop guessing.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

That in Spanish: Ese, Esa, Eso, Aquel, and Que (and When to Use Which)

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Ese · demonstrative pronoun and adjective · EH-seh

That in Spanish is ese (masculine), esa (feminine), or eso (neuter, no specific noun). For something farther away, use aquel or aquella. As a relative pronoun (the one that), use que. Picking the right form depends on gender, distance, and grammar role.

Ese is EH-seh, two syllables, stress on EH. Esa is EH-sah. Eso is EH-soh. Aquel is ah-KEHL, two syllables, stress on KEHL. Que is keh, one short syllable.

¿Cuánto cuesta ese libro?

How much does that book cost?

That in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for that, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
ese	that	EH-seh	Default, widely understood
esa	that		feminine: that one (la silla → esa silla)
eso	that		neuter: that thing or idea (no specific noun)
aquel / aquella	that		that one over there (farther away)
que	that		relative pronoun: the book that I read (el libro que leí)

How Native Speakers Use Ese

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Demonstrative adjective: that book

Ese libro es muy interesante.

That book is really interesting.

Ese agrees in gender (masculine) and number (singular) with libro. For libros, use esos. For revista, use esa.

Neuter, abstract idea

Eso no es verdad.

That's not true.

Eso is the neuter form, used when that refers to a general idea, statement, or unnamed thing rather than a specific noun. There's no eso libro, only ese libro.

Relative pronoun: the one that

El libro que leí ayer estaba buenísimo.

The book that I read yesterday was excellent.

When that connects two clauses (the book that I read), Spanish uses que (no accent). Don't confuse this with ese.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Ese

Using ese instead of eso for an idea

Incorrect: Ese no es verdad.

Correct: Eso no es verdad.

When that refers to a non-specific idea or statement (no clear noun behind it), use the neuter eso. Ese needs a masculine noun to attach to. Eso es lo que pienso (that's what I think) is also neuter.

Confusing ese (that) with the relative que (that)

Incorrect: El libro ese leí.

Correct: El libro que leí.

The English word that does double duty: as a demonstrative (that book) and as a relative pronoun (the book that I read). Spanish splits them: ese and que. The book that I read is el libro que leí, never el libro ese leí.

Lock in That Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Ese used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using ese in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear ¿Cuánto cuesta ese libro? while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

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Common Questions About That in Spanish

How do you say that in Spanish?: That in Spanish is ese (masculine: ese libro, that book), esa (feminine: esa silla, that chair), or eso (neuter: eso es verdad, that's true). For something farther away or more abstract, use aquel / aquella. As a relative pronoun (the book that I read), use que.
What's the difference between ese and aquel?: Both translate as that, but distance differs. Ese means that one near you (the listener), and aquel means that one over there (farther from both speaker and listener, or more remote in time or memory). In modern speech, ese covers most cases; aquel is more deliberate, often used for emphasis or distance.
When do I use que instead of ese?: Use que when that connects two clauses as a relative pronoun: el libro que leí (the book that I read), la chica que vino ayer (the girl who came yesterday). Use ese / esa / eso when that points at something specific: ese libro, that book.
How do I remember the right form of that in Spanish?: Hear native speakers use ese, esa, eso, and que in real moments, pointing at things, sharing opinions, telling stories, and the gender and grammar role click without translation. Parrot's videos surface each form so you stop guessing.