“Esas” means “those/that” for feminine plural nouns, picked when the speaker points to things not right here or already identified.
You’ve seen esas in a text, a worksheet, or a caption and thought, “Why not estas?” Good question. Spanish has a tidy system for saying “this/these” and “that/those,” and esas sits in one specific spot. Once you see the pattern, it stops feeling random.
This article shows what esas does, when it fits, and when it sounds off. You’ll get clear rules, mini-dialogues, and common learner mistakes with fixes you can copy into your own sentences.
What “Esas” Points To
Esas is a demonstrative adjective. It goes right before a noun and “points” to which items you mean. It matches the noun in gender (feminine) and number (plural).
- Gender: feminine
- Number: plural
- Job: describe a noun, not replace it
In plain terms, esas often lines up with “those” in English. It can also line up with “those ones” or “that kind of,” depending on context.
Distance And Shared Context
Spanish commonly uses demonstratives to show distance. Distance can be physical (across the room) or mental (something already mentioned, not “right in front of us” in the conversation).
So esas tends to show one of these ideas:
- The items are not right next to the speaker.
- The speaker and listener both know which items are meant.
- The speaker is referring back to something already brought up.
Feminine Plural Nouns It Pairs With
Esas pairs with feminine plural nouns such as casas (houses), ideas (ideas), preguntas (questions), chicas (girls), manzanas (apples), tareas (homework tasks), and cosas (things).
Try a simple frame you can reuse:
Esas + noun (feminine plural) + verb…
Esas Meaning In Spanish For Everyday Speech
Here are natural sentence patterns that show how esas behaves. Read them aloud. If you can point, nod, or “refer back,” esas starts to feel right.
Pointing To Things Over There
¿Ves esas luces? “Do you see those lights?” The lights are not right beside the speaker, or the speaker treats them as “over there.”
No compres esas flores. “Don’t buy those flowers.” The speaker is steering you away from a specific set of flowers.
Referring Back To A Known Set
Esas preguntas ya salieron en el examen. “Those questions already appeared on the test.” The listener knows which questions, maybe from a study list.
No entiendo esas reglas. “I don’t understand those rules.” The rules were mentioned earlier, or they’re known in a class.
When It Sounds More Like “That Kind Of”
English sometimes uses “those” to show attitude: “those excuses,” “those comments.” Spanish can do the same with esas.
No repitas esas excusas. The speaker is talking about a type of excuse already recognized.
How “Esas” Fits In The Demonstrative Family
To master esas, place it next to its relatives. Spanish has three common sets: este (near me), ese (near you or not close to me), and aquel (far from both, or distant in time/feel). Many modern speakers use the first two sets most often, yet the three-set model still helps you choose.
Also note: ese/esa/esos/esas can mean “that” in a neutral way, not always “far away.” In conversation, it often maps to “that one we’re talking about.”
Matching Checklist
- If the noun is feminine plural, your options are estas, esas, aquellas.
- If you mean “these, right here,” pick estas.
- If you mean “those, not right here,” or “the ones we both mean,” pick esas.
- If you mean “those way over there” or “those from back then,” pick aquellas.
Common Confusions And Clean Fixes
Most mistakes with esas come from mixing up gender, number, or the “near vs. not-near” sense. Let’s fix the usual ones with short before/after pairs.
Mixing Up “Esas” And “Esos”
Wrong:Esas libros son caros.
Right:Esos libros son caros. (Because libros is masculine plural.)
Using “Esa” When You Need Plural
Wrong:Esa reglas no aplican.
Right:Esas reglas no aplican.
Using “Esas” Without A Noun
If you remove the noun, you usually switch to a pronoun form. Older spelling used accents (ésas) for pronouns, but modern spelling rules drop them in most cases. Many teachers still prefer you keep the noun while you’re learning.
Clear learner version:Esas respuestas están mal.
Also possible:Esas están mal. (Context must be clear.)
When “Esas” Is The Wrong Pick
Sometimes learners grab esas because it feels close to English “those,” then the sentence comes out mismatched. These checks stop that slip.
When The Noun Is Masculine Or Singular
Esas can’t modify a masculine noun, and it can’t point to one item. If you mean one feminine noun, switch to esa. If you mean plural masculine nouns, switch to esos.
When You Mean “These Right Here”
If the items are in your hand, on your desk, or you’re presenting them as close to you, estas is the natural choice. Many students notice this when ordering food: estas papas (these fries) feels right while you’re holding the plate.
When You Mean A Whole Idea, Not A Noun
English uses “that” for whole situations: “That is hard.” Spanish often uses the neuter forms eso or esto instead of esa or esas. If there’s no specific feminine plural noun in sight, check if you mean a neuter demonstrative instead.
Table Of Forms You’ll Use The Most
Use this as a simple reference for gender/number matching. Read across the row that matches your noun.
| Noun Type | Near Speaker | Not Right Here / Known Set |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | este | ese |
| Feminine Singular | esta | esa |
| Masculine Plural | estos | esos |
| Feminine Plural | estas | esas |
| Common Gender (student, artist) | este/esta | ese/esa |
| Mixed Group Plural | estos | esos |
| Abstract “Thing” (eso/esto) | esto | eso |
| Distant Set (far away) | aquel/aquella | aquellos/aquellas |
How To Choose In Real Conversations
Rules help, but real talk has messy edges. Speakers choose esas based on what feels “shared” between them, not just the number of steps away. Use these three checks when you’re unsure.
In speech, native speakers often stress the noun more than the demonstrative. Say it as one unit: “esas llaves,” “esas notas.” If you pause after esas, it can sound like you’re searching for the noun. In writing, place esas right before the noun, even when an adjective follows: esas llaves viejas. That rhythm makes your sentence feel smooth and confident.
Check One: Can You Identify The Items Without Extra Detail?
If the listener can pick the right set without a long description, esas often works. You’re pointing to something already on the listener’s radar.
Check Two: Is The Noun Feminine Plural?
This sounds basic, but it saves you. If the noun ends in -a in singular, it’s often feminine, but there are exceptions. Trust the article you learned with the noun: la mano, la foto, la radio. Then match the plural: esas manos, esas fotos, esas radios.
Check Three: Are You Contrasting With “Estas”?
Contrasts make demonstratives feel natural. You can set two groups side by side in a sentence.
Estas ideas son nuevas; esas ideas ya las escuché. One set is “here/now,” the other is “already known.”
Mini Dialogues You Can Copy
Short dialogues show the “shared context” use of esas. Practice them with a friend or out loud. Swap the nouns to make your own set.
At A Store
A: ¿Te gustan esas blusas?
B: Sí, pero esas tallas no me quedan.
In Class
A: No entiendo esas instrucciones.
B: Esas instrucciones vienen del libro, página diez.
Texting A Friend
A: ¿Viste esas fotos que subí?
B: Sí, y esas sonrisas se ven reales.
What Changes When You Add An Accent Mark
You may find older material that writes ésas with an accent when it stands alone as a pronoun. Current orthography from the Spanish language academies treats accent marks on these demonstratives as optional and usually unnecessary. In day-to-day writing, most people write esas either way and rely on context.
If you’re writing for a teacher who expects the older style, follow your class rule. If you’re writing for normal reading, keep it plain unless you see a real risk of confusion.
Table Of Fast Fixes For Common Sentences
This table turns common learner goals into ready-to-use patterns. Replace the noun and verb to fit your topic.
| What You Want To Say | Spanish Pattern | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| “Those questions are hard.” | Esas preguntas son difíciles. | Feminine plural noun. |
| “I like those shoes.” | Me gustan esos zapatos. | Masculine plural noun. |
| “Don’t touch those things.” | No toques esas cosas. | Often used with gestures. |
| “Those ideas sound old.” | Esas ideas suenan viejas. | Can refer back to a topic. |
| “Are those your keys?” | ¿Son esas tus llaves? | Llaves is feminine. |
| “Those are mine.” | Esas son mías. | Pronoun use; context must be clear. |
Practice Section With Self Checks
Want to make esas stick? Use short drills that force you to match gender and number, then add distance or context.
Drill One: Swap The Demonstrative
- Write three nouns you use often: tareas, notas, clases.
- Make one sentence with estas for each noun.
- Rewrite the same sentence with esas and add a clue like de ayer or de tu carpeta.
Drill Two: Answer With A Full Noun Phrase
Instead of replying with just “yes” or “no,” answer with esas + noun. It trains your brain to attach esas to a feminine plural noun.
- Question: ¿Quieres esas galletas?
- Answer: Sí, quiero esas galletas.
Drill Three: Catch The Gender Trap
Pick five nouns that trick learners: la mano, la foto, la radio, la moto, la bici. Put them in plural and write one sentence each with esas.
Closing Notes That Help You Sound Natural
Esas is small, but it carries a clear signal: feminine plural items that are not “right here,” or that both people already have in mind. When you match the noun correctly and tie it to context, your Spanish starts to sound steady.
When you’re stuck, say the noun with its article first: las ideas, las llaves, las reglas. Then swap the article for esas and see if the sentence still feels smooth. With a little practice, you’ll reach for it without thinking.