Spanish word

esto

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈesto/

Meaning

  • pronounthis

Example

¿Qué significa esto?

What does this mean?

Illustration for esto (this)

More examples

¿Para qué sirve esto?

What's this for?

Core concept

A neuter demonstrative pointing to something without grammatical gender.

Common phrases

  • qué es esto

    What's this

  • para qué sirve esto

    what's this for

  • por esto

    because of this

Similar words

eso: Points to something mentioned earlier in the conversation.
este: Points to something physically close to the speaker.
ese: Points to something physically close to the listener.
aquello: Points to something far away in space or time.

Definition in Spanish

Sirve para referirse a algo no especificado o a una idea reciente en el discurso, sin concordar en género.

Word origin

From Latin istud (neuter), which evolved into Spanish esto to serve when the referent lacks gender or is abstract.

Usage tips

  • Placing esto directly before a noun (for example, 'esto libro') is ungrammatical because it does not agree in gender with nouns.

Opposites

  • esothatpronoun
  • aquellothat over therepronoun

Word lists with this word