Using esto, este, esta, estos, estas to say "this", "this one" and "these ones" (demonstrative pronouns)

Learn about demonstrative pronouns in Spanish

In Spanish, to express this, this one or these ones we use the demonstrative pronouns: este, esta, estos, estas and esto.

As with all pronouns they are not accompanied by a noun. The noun they refer to will have been mentioned before.

Have a look and listen to these examples:

Este coche es feo, sin embargo este me encanta.This car is ugly, however, I love this one.

La niña rubia es María y esta es Claudia.The blond girl is María and this one is Claudia.

Estos cuadernos son para el profesor y estos son para los alumnos.These notebooks are for the teacher and these ones are for the students.

Estas chicas vienen a una reunión y estas vienen a una entrevista.These girls are coming for a meeting and these ones for an interview.

The pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they are refering to:

  Masculine Feminine

Singular (this one)

este

esta

Plural (these ones)

estos

estas

 

Referring to an idea

When the pronoun is refering to an idea, then we use the neutral pronoun esto, and there is only one form. It could be translated as "this thing".

Have a look and listen to the following examples:

Esto es muy útil.This is very useful.

Esto es muy desagradable.This is very unpleasant.

Esto no es lo que yo dije.This is not what I said.

These same forms can be used accompanied by nouns as demonstrative adjectives, see Demonstrative adjectives: este, esta, estos, estas to say this/these in Spanish (Adjetivos demostrativos).

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Examples and resources

Esto es muy útil.This is very useful.
Estos cuadernos son para el profesor y estos son para los alumnos.These notebooks are for the teacher and these ones are for the students.
Este coche es feo, sin embargo este me encanta.This car is ugly, however, I love this one.
Estas chicas vienen a una reunión y estas vienen a una entrevista.These girls are coming for a meeting and these ones for an interview.
La niña rubia es María y esta es Claudia.The blond girl is María and this one is Claudia.
Mi jefe es muy generoso. Este nos da un incentivo en diciembre.My boss is very generous. He (this one) gives us an bonus in December. 
Esto no es lo que yo dije.This is not what I said.
Esto es muy desagradable.This is very unpleasant.
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