/ˈeso/
Translation
that (general/neuter)
Word origin
Neuter form from Latin ipsum, the neuter of the demonstrative ipse ('that very one'), used for ideas and unidentified things.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- ipsum
Examples
.
That is exactly what I wanted to say.
¿ ?
What is that you have in your hand?
.
That does not seem like a good idea to me.
.
That is why I could not get to the meeting on time.
, .
After that, nobody spoke about the topic again.
Eso is the neuter demonstrative pronoun in Spanish, referring to an idea, situation, action or unidentified object at medium distance from the speaker. Unlike its masculine and feminine cousins ese and esa, eso never modifies a noun directly: you say ese libro (that book), not eso libro. Reserve eso for moments when you are pointing at a fact, a clause, or something whose gender you do not know or do not need to specify.
The pair esto / eso / aquello tracks distance from the speaker exactly the way este / ese / aquel do for masculine nouns: closest, mid-range, far. Eso has no plural and no gendered counterpart; it is a single fixed form. Idiomatic uses are everywhere: por eso (that is why), eso es (exactly), y eso que (even though), en eso (just then). See the Spanish demonstratives guide for the full system.
Used in
Stories
(13)Aquí, en casa
1 min read · Core 1000
¿Vienes o no?
1 min read · Core 1000
Un día con María
2 min read · Core 1000
Casi no llega
3 min read · Core 1000
El nuevo doctor de Paula
3 min read · Core 1000
La habitación libre
3 min read · Core 5000
Laura busca piso
3 min read · Core 5000
Le hice arreglar el coche
3 min read · Core 5000
Lo que de verdad importa
3 min read · Core 5000
María lleva una hora esperando
3 min read · Core 5000
No creo que sea grave
3 min read · Core 5000
No fue él, sino ella
3 min read · Core 5000
El primer día de Laura
4 min read · Core 1000
Grammar articles
(14)Spanish Cleft Sentences and Emphasis: fue Pedro quien, lo que quiero es
Spanish Text Cohesion and Style: signposting, avoiding repetition, en resumen
Spanish Conditional: the 'Would' Tense, me gustaría and Polite Requests
Spanish Connectors of Cause and Consequence: porque, ya que, por lo tanto, así que
Spanish Connectors of Addition and Contrast: además, sin embargo, en cambio
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 False Friends (Part 2): molestar, recordar, soportar, pretender
Spanish Indefinites: alguno, ninguno, alguien, nadie, algo, nada, cualquiera
Spanish Nosotros Commands: the 'Let's...' Form
The Spanish Perfect Subjunctive (haya hablado)
Spanish Compound Prepositions and Tricky Choices: delante de, a pesar de, soñar con
Spanish Set Phrases with tener, dar, hacer, echar (tener ganas, echar de menos, hacer falta)
Spanish Word Order: SVO, Pro-Drop and the Five Rules That Cover 90% of Sentences
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Track this word in your spaced-repetition queue and be tested on it at the right interval.
Go to my review queueThis word is part of lesson 1.