Spanish Conversation · Level 5
88 words
Spanish word
ese
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈese/
Meaning
- adjectivethat
Example
¿Puedes pasarme ese libro?
Can you pass me that book?
More examples
Ese coche está en el taller.
That car is in the repair shop.
Core concept
A masculine noun slightly removed from the speaker but part of the current topic.
Common phrases
ese libro
that book
ese momento
that moment
ese problema
that problem
Similar words
este: Masculine noun right next to the speaker or within the speaker's reach.
aquel: Masculine noun far away from speaker and listener, at a distance.
Definition in Spanish
Sustituye o acompaña a un sustantivo ya conocido o visible, usado en masculino singular.
Word origin
Originally an emphatic pronoun from Latin ipse, the form contracted over time into the demonstrative ese used for masculine singular items.
Usage tips
- Ese often contrasts with este (closer to the speaker) and aquel (more distant), so choice of demonstrative can signal perceived distance or topicality.