Spanish word

ellos

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈeʝos/

Meaning

  • pronounthey

Example

Ellos siempre ayudan.

They always help.

Illustration for ellos (they)

More examples

Hablé con ellos ayer.

I talked with them yesterday.

Core concept

Multiple people spoken about from outside the conversation.

Common phrases

  • hablar con ellos

    talk with them

  • pensar en ellos

    think about them

Similar words

ustedes: A group of people who are being directly addressed as plural addressees.
nosotros: A group that includes the speaker together with other people.
ellas: A group composed only of women, excluding speaker and listener.
vosotros: A group of plural addressees used in informal, familiar speech.

Definition in Spanish

Designa a varias personas fuera del hablante y del oyente y también puede emplearse para enfatizar o contrastar.

Word origin

It derives from Latin ille/illi and passed into Spanish through regular Old Spanish changes that produced the form ellos.

Usage tips

  • Ellos can denote a mixed-gender or all-male group while ellas is used for all-female groups, and neither form is used to address the listener.

Opposites

Word lists with this word