How do you say this in Spanish?

This in Spanish is este for masculine singular (este libro), esta for feminine singular (esta casa), and esto for neuter, abstract ideas (esto es la verdad). For these, use estos (masculine) or estas (feminine). Pick the form by the gender and number of the noun.

What's the difference between este and esto?

Este is a demonstrative that needs a masculine singular noun: este libro (this book), este día (this day). Esto is the neuter form for general ideas or unnamed things: esto es lo que quiero (this is what I want), esto no me gusta (I don't like this). If there's a clear noun, use este or esta; otherwise esto.

Why don't I see accents on este and ese anymore?

The Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) officially dropped the accent mark on demonstrative pronouns in 2010. Older texts still write éste / ése / aquél with accents to distinguish them from the adjective forms, but modern Spanish writes them the same as the adjectives: este, ese, aquel, both as adjectives (este libro) and as pronouns (¿Cuál prefieres? Este).

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

Match the gender and number of the noun: este día (masculine singular), esta noche (feminine singular), estos días, estas noches. Use esto only when there's no noun to attach to. Hearing native speakers use them in real conversation locks the gender-noun pairings into memory faster than rule lists.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

This in Spanish: Este, Esta, Esto (and Their Plurals)

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

Este · demonstrative pronoun and adjective · EHS-teh

This in Spanish is este for masculine singular nouns (este libro, this book), esta for feminine singular (esta casa, this house), and esto for neuter, abstract things (esto es la verdad, this is the truth). Plurals are estos (masculine) and estas (feminine). Pick by the gender and number of the noun.

Este is EHS-teh, two syllables, stress on EHS. Esta is EHS-tah. Esto is EHS-toh. Estos is EHS-tohs; estas is EHS-tahs. All have a clean two-syllable rhythm.

Este libro es nuevo.

This book is new.

This in Spanish: Quick Reference

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

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
este	this	EHS-teh	Default, widely understood
esta	this		feminine: this one (la silla → esta silla)
esto	this		neuter: this thing or idea (no specific noun)
estos / estas	this		plurals: these

How Native Speakers Use Este

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

Demonstrative adjective: this book

Este libro es muy bueno.

This book is very good.

Este agrees with the masculine singular noun libro. For libros, use estos. For revista (feminine), use esta.

Neuter, abstract idea

Esto no me gusta.

I don't like this.

Esto refers to a non-specific idea, situation, or unnamed thing. There's no esto libro; only este libro. Esto es lo que pienso (this is what I think) is also neuter.

Plural: these

Estas flores son para ti.

These flowers are for you.

Plural feminine takes estas (these). Mixed-gender or all-masculine plural takes estos. Spanish demonstratives agree in gender and number with the noun.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Este

Using este for an abstract idea instead of esto

Incorrect: Este es la verdad.

Correct: Esto es la verdad.

When this refers to a general idea or situation (no specific noun behind it), Spanish requires the neuter esto. Este needs a masculine noun to attach to. Esto es lo importante (this is what's important) is the everyday neuter pattern.

Confusing este with este (the cardinal direction east)

Incorrect: Vamos al este de la ciudad. → Vamos al este de la ciudad. (correct, but spelled identically to the demonstrative)

Correct: Same spelling for both meanings; context decides. Demonstrative: este libro. Direction: el este (the east).

Este (this) and este (east) are spelled identically. Spanish uses context to disambiguate: este libro (demonstrative) vs el este (the east, with the article). Don't try to add an accent to mark the difference; modern Spanish dropped the demonstrative accent in 2010.

Lock in This 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 Este used by native speakers

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

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About This in Spanish

How do you say this in Spanish?: This in Spanish is este for masculine singular (este libro), esta for feminine singular (esta casa), and esto for neuter, abstract ideas (esto es la verdad). For these, use estos (masculine) or estas (feminine). Pick the form by the gender and number of the noun.
What's the difference between este and esto?: Este is a demonstrative that needs a masculine singular noun: este libro (this book), este día (this day). Esto is the neuter form for general ideas or unnamed things: esto es lo que quiero (this is what I want), esto no me gusta (I don't like this). If there's a clear noun, use este or esta; otherwise esto.
Why don't I see accents on este and ese anymore?: The Spanish Royal Academy (RAE) officially dropped the accent mark on demonstrative pronouns in 2010. Older texts still write éste / ése / aquél with accents to distinguish them from the adjective forms, but modern Spanish writes them the same as the adjectives: este, ese, aquel, both as adjectives (este libro) and as pronouns (¿Cuál prefieres? Este).
How do I remember the right form of this in Spanish?: Match the gender and number of the noun: este día (masculine singular), esta noche (feminine singular), estos días, estas noches. Use esto only when there's no noun to attach to. Hearing native speakers use them in real conversation locks the gender-noun pairings into memory faster than rule lists.