How to Say That in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide

Ever been traveling in a Spanish-speaking country and found yourself pointing and gesturing wildly, hoping to communicate your simplest needs? Or maybe you’re trying to connect with Spanish-speaking friends, family, or colleagues but feel frustrated by the language barrier. Learning to speak Spanish, even just the basics, can open up a world of opportunities and experiences.

Knowing how to express yourself in Spanish is invaluable in today’s interconnected world. It allows you to build deeper relationships, navigate new cultures with confidence, and gain a fresh perspective on the world. Whether you’re ordering food, asking for directions, or simply making small talk, having a few key phrases in your linguistic arsenal can transform your interactions and make your adventures richer and more rewarding.

What are some common phrases and questions I can learn to start speaking Spanish today?

How do you say “that” in Spanish, depending on the context?

The Spanish translation for “that” varies significantly depending on whether it functions as a demonstrative adjective, a demonstrative pronoun, or a conjunction. As a demonstrative adjective (modifying a noun), “that” can be *ese*, *esa*, *este*, *esta*, *aquel*, or *aquella*, agreeing in gender and number with the noun it modifies. As a demonstrative pronoun (standing in for a noun), it can be *ése*, *ésa*, *éste*, *ésta*, *aquél*, *aquélla*, or the neuter forms *eso*, *esto*, and *aquello*. As a conjunction introducing a clause, “that” is translated as *que*. Therefore, context is crucial for accurate translation.

When “that” acts as a demonstrative adjective, pointing out a specific noun, its translation depends on the noun’s gender and number, and the speaker’s proximity to the object. *Este* and *esta* (masculine and feminine singular, respectively) mean “this,” referring to something close to the speaker. *Ese* and *esa* mean “that,” referring to something near the listener, or somewhat distant from the speaker. *Aquel* and *aquella* mean “that over there,” indicating something distant from both the speaker and the listener. For plurals, these become *estos*, *estas*, *esos*, *esas*, *aquellos*, and *aquellas*. When “that” stands alone as a pronoun, replacing a noun, the forms are similar but include an accent mark to distinguish them from the adjectives (e.g., *ése* instead of *ese*). The neuter forms *esto*, *eso*, and *aquello* are used to refer to abstract ideas or situations when the gender of the thing being referred to is unknown or irrelevant. Lastly, when “that” introduces a dependent clause, functioning as a conjunction (e.g., “I know that he is coming”), it is invariably translated as *que*. For example, “I know that he is coming” translates to “Sé que viene.” The word choice is based almost entirely on the grammatical role “that” plays in the sentence.

What’s the difference between “eso,” “eso,” “aquello” and “aquel”?

The words “eso,” “esto,” “aquello,” and “aquel” are all demonstrative pronouns and adjectives in Spanish, used to point out or refer to specific nouns. The key difference lies in their proximity to the speaker and listener. “Esto” and “eso” refer to things closer to the speaker (“esto”) or closer to the listener (“eso”). “Aquello” and “aquel” refer to things that are farther away from both the speaker and the listener. “Esto” and “eso” are neuter pronouns, while “aquel” is a masculine adjective, needing to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Let’s break this down further. “Esto” refers to something nearby, usually something the speaker can touch or is currently experiencing. Think of it as “this.” Because it’s a neuter pronoun, it doesn’t modify a noun directly; it stands in for a previously mentioned idea or an unspecified thing. Conversely, “eso” refers to something that is near the listener but further away from the speaker. It can also refer to something that was previously mentioned or a general situation. You can think of it as “that” in many contexts. Both “esto” and “eso” as neuter pronouns don’t change their form to agree in gender or number.

On the other hand, “aquello” refers to something that is distant from both the speaker and the listener. It’s similar to saying “that over there.” Like “esto” and “eso,” “aquello” is a neuter pronoun, so it remains unchanged. “Aquel,” however, functions primarily as a demonstrative adjective (and sometimes a pronoun) meaning “that” (far away). It *must* agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. So you would use “aquel libro” (that book over there) or “aquella casa” (that house over there), “aquellos libros” (those books over there), “aquellas casas” (those houses over there).

How would you say “that’s amazing” in Spanish?

There are several ways to say “that’s amazing” in Spanish, depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey. The most common and versatile translation is “¡Qué increíble!” You can also use “¡Qué asombroso!” or “¡Qué impresionante!”

To elaborate, “¡Qué increíble!” is a widely understood and generally applicable phrase for expressing amazement. It directly translates to “How incredible!” and can be used in most situations where you’d say “that’s amazing” in English. “¡Qué asombroso!” is another excellent option, carrying a similar weight of surprise and wonder, closer to “How astonishing!” Finally, “¡Qué impresionante!” conveys a sense of being impressed, perhaps by skill, grandeur, or achievement. The best choice often hinges on nuance: if something is unbelievable, “¡Qué increíble!” might be preferred. If the amazing thing inspires awe, “¡Qué impresionante!” might fit better. Beyond these common phrases, you could also consider alternatives like “¡Es alucinante!” (that’s mind-blowing), “¡Es fantástico!” (that’s fantastic), or “¡Es genial!” (that’s great). However, these alternatives might carry slightly different connotations. “Alucinante” suggests something almost unreal, while “fantástico” and “genial” are generally used for things you like or find really cool, but not necessarily astounding. Remember to use the inverted exclamation point (¡) at the beginning of the exclamation in Spanish.

Is there a formal and informal way to say “that” in Spanish?

Yes, “that” in Spanish can be expressed formally and informally, primarily depending on whether it’s a demonstrative adjective/pronoun (pointing something out) or a conjunction (connecting clauses). For demonstrative adjectives/pronouns, the formality is mainly conveyed through the level of politeness in the overall sentence, as the core forms don’t drastically change. However, when “that” acts as a conjunction, linking clauses, the choice of subjunctive versus indicative mood can signal formality.

When “that” is used as a demonstrative adjective (modifying a noun, like “that car”) or pronoun (replacing a noun, like “I want that”), the Spanish equivalents are *ese/esa/eso* (that - near the listener) and *aquel/aquella/aquello* (that - further away). While *aquel* and its variations might be perceived as slightly more formal due to less frequent usage in casual conversation, the formality is subtle and depends heavily on the context. The overall tone of the sentence and your choice of vocabulary will have a greater impact on the level of formality than simply choosing between *ese* and *aquel*. For example, using formal address pronouns like *usted* instead of *tú* will contribute far more to formality.

When “that” functions as a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause (e.g., “I think that he is coming”), the Spanish equivalent is *que*. The level of formality in these sentences arises not from changing *que* itself, but from using the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause when appropriate. Certain verbs of emotion, doubt, or influence require the subjunctive. For example, “I doubt that he is coming” would become “Dudo *que* venga” (subjunctive) rather than “Dudo *que* viene” (indicative). Using the subjunctive correctly displays a higher level of linguistic precision and therefore can be perceived as more formal.

What are some examples of using “que” to mean “that”?

In Spanish, the word “que” frequently translates to “that” in English, acting as a conjunction to connect two clauses. It’s a versatile word used in numerous sentence structures to introduce subordinate clauses that provide additional information, explanations, or conditions related to the main clause.

“Que” as “that” often introduces noun clauses functioning as the subject or object of a verb. For example, “Es importante que estudies” translates to “It is important that you study,” where “que estudies” is a noun clause acting as the subject of “es importante.” Similarly, in “Creo que tienes razón,” which means “I think that you are right,” “que tienes razón” functions as the object of the verb “creo.” Recognizing these patterns can significantly improve comprehension and fluency. Beyond simple declarative statements, “que” is also common in more complex sentence structures. It is frequently seen after verbs expressing emotions, opinions, or doubts, such as “Espero que vengas” (I hope that you come) or “Dudo que sea verdad” (I doubt that it is true). Furthermore, “que” is integral in forming relative clauses where it acts as a relative pronoun (who, which, that), albeit in these instances it refers back to a noun. This versatility makes “que” one of the most frequently used words in the Spanish language.

How does gender affect saying “that” in Spanish?

Gender significantly affects how you say “that” in Spanish because, like many words in the language, the demonstrative pronouns and adjectives (words used to point out or refer to nouns) have masculine and feminine forms that must agree in gender with the nouns they modify or replace. This means you’ll use different words for “that” depending on whether you’re referring to a masculine or feminine noun.

When you want to point out “that” thing, you will use different words based on the gender of the thing you are pointing to. Specifically, “that” as an adjective (modifying a noun) can be translated as *ese* (masculine) or *esa* (feminine). For example, “that car” would be “ese coche” (coche is masculine), and “that house” would be “esa casa” (casa is feminine). This agreement is crucial for grammatical correctness and clear communication. When “that” is used as a pronoun (replacing a noun), the forms change slightly to *ése* (masculine) and *ésa* (feminine). The accent mark distinguishes the pronoun from the adjective, although it’s increasingly common to omit the accent mark. For example, if someone asks which car you want and it’s the one parked over there, you could say, “Quiero ése” (I want that one - masculine). Likewise, referring to a house, “Quiero ésa” (I want that one - feminine). Therefore, understanding the gender of nouns is essential when using demonstratives like “that” in Spanish. Incorrect gender usage can lead to confusion or sound unnatural to native speakers. The importance of matching gender between the demonstrative and the noun it modifies or replaces cannot be overstated.

How do you say “that one over there” in Spanish?

The most common way to say “that one over there” in Spanish is “aquel” (masculine) or “aquella” (feminine). The choice between “aquel” and “aquella” depends on the gender of the noun being referred to.

Spanish has three sets of demonstrative adjectives and pronouns to indicate proximity: “este/esta” (this/this one), “ese/esa” (that/that one), and “aquel/aquella” (that one over there). The “aquel/aquella” forms are used when referring to something that is further away from both the speaker and the listener. For example, if you and a friend are looking at three cars parked at a distance, and you want to refer to the car furthest away, you would use “aquel” or “aquella” (depending on the car’s gender in Spanish) to indicate “that one over there.”

It is important to note that “aquel” and “aquella” can also be used as demonstrative pronouns, meaning they can stand alone without a noun. In this case, they still mean “that one over there,” and the gender must still agree with the noun they are replacing. Here are some examples: “Quiero aquel” (I want that one over there - masculine) or “Prefiero aquella” (I prefer that one over there - feminine).

¡Fantástico! You’ve taken your first steps (or maybe your hundredth!) towards expressing yourself in Spanish. I hope this has been helpful and has given you the confidence to try out some new phrases. Thanks for joining me on this little language adventure, and please come back soon for more tips and tricks to unlock the beautiful world of Spanish!