/ˈese/
Translation
that
Word origin
From Latin ipse ('himself, that very one'), the intensive demonstrative which gave the mid-distance demonstrative in Spanish.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- ipse
Grammar
Examples
.
That man standing on the corner looks familiar to me.
.
That is the best idea I have heard today.
.
Those shoes are too expensive.
.
That is exactly what I wanted to say.
.
I will never forget that day as long as I live.
Ese is the masculine-singular demonstrative for something at a medium distance from the speaker (further than este, nearer than aquel). The four other forms - feminine esa, masculine plural esos, feminine plural esas, and neuter eso - all share this lemma page.
The neuter eso refers to abstract concepts, actions, or situations rather than specific gendered nouns. Saying "eso libro" (that book) is incorrect: use ese libro for a masculine noun, esa idea for a feminine one. Reserve eso for situations and clauses.
The Real Academia made the diacritic on ése, ésa, ésos, ésas optional in 2010 and now recommends the unaccented forms in all uses. Older texts and traditionalists still write the accent on the pronoun use.
Used in
Stories
(27)Alguien que lo haya visto
3 min read · Core 5000
Cinco mil palabras después
3 min read · Core 5000
Cuando llegué, ya había pasado
3 min read · Core 5000
¿El coche o el carro?
3 min read · Core 5000
La conductora de la ambulancia
3 min read · Core 5000
El correo a la jefa
3 min read · Core 5000
El mejor café de la calle
3 min read · Core 5000
Es importante que descanses
3 min read · Core 5000
La aventura de Sofía
3 min read · Core 5000
La fábrica de madera
3 min read · Core 5000
La fiesta sorpresa
3 min read · Core 1000
La promesa de Lucía
3 min read · Core 5000
Le echo de menos
3 min read · Core 5000
Lleva toda la mañana
3 min read · Core 5000
Lo que de verdad importa
3 min read · Core 5000
Lo que dijo el médico
3 min read · Core 5000
María lleva una hora esperando
3 min read · Core 5000
Media docena de huevos
3 min read · Core 5000
Menudo desastre
3 min read · Core 5000
No estoy embarazada
3 min read · Core 5000
No fue él, sino ella
3 min read · Core 5000
Preparando la visita
3 min read · Core 5000
Se me cayó todo
3 min read · Core 5000
Se vende la camioneta
3 min read · Core 5000
Tú y tu hermano
3 min read · Core 5000
Una tarde de lluvia
3 min read · Core 1000
El primer día de Laura
4 min read · Core 1000
Grammar articles
(8)Spanish Text Cohesion and Style: signposting, avoiding repetition, en resumen
Spanish Comparatives: más que, menos que, tan como and the Four Irregulars
Demonstrative Pronouns in Spanish: Este, Ese, Aquel and the Three-Way This and That
Spanish Demonstratives: este, ese, aquel and the Three-Way Distance Split
Spanish Fixed Similes: dormir como un tronco, más bueno que el pan, terco como una mula
Spanish Intermediate Grammar (B1-B2): The Things That Stop You at the Plateau
Spanish Possessive Pronouns: el mío, el tuyo, el suyo and the Long Possessives
Spanish Possessives: mi, tu, su and Why Agreement Trips Beginners
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Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 1.