This one / That one (celui-ci)
celui-ci (m) or celle-ci (f) to say 'this one' and point to specific objects.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'celui-ci' for 'this one' (near) and 'celui-là' for 'that one' (far) to replace a noun and avoid repetition.
- Match the gender and number of the noun you are replacing (e.g., celui-ci for masculine singular).
- Add '-ci' to point to something close and '-là' to point to something further away.
- Never use these pronouns alone without context; they always replace a specific noun previously mentioned.
Overview
French grammar utilizes a specialized set of pronouns known as demonstrative pronouns to identify and differentiate specific nouns. Among these, celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, and celles-ci are crucial for indicating "this one" or "these ones." Their primary function is to replace a noun that has already been mentioned, is physically nearby, or is clearly understood from the immediate context, thereby preventing tedious repetition.
These pronouns signify proximity, literally meaning "the one here," and demand strict agreement in both gender and number with the noun they substitute. While English often uses a singular "this one" irrespective of gender or quantity, French requires precise matching. Mastering these forms allows for clear, concise communication and reflects a foundational principle of French linguistics: maintaining precision while avoiding redundancy.
How This Grammar Works
celui-ci are compound constructions, each formed by combining a base pronoun (celui, celle, ceux, celles) with the suffix -ci. The base pronoun functions as a placeholder that fully inherits the gender and number of the noun it replaces, effectively acting as a definite article (le, la, les) integrated into a pronominal role. This ensures grammatical harmony within the sentence.-ci is derived from the French adverb ici, meaning "here." When appended to the base pronoun, it emphasizes immediate proximity to the speaker or recent mention within the discourse. Consequently, celui-ci means "the one here" or "this specific one." This contrasts with English, which uses a generic "this one" for all situations. In French, if you are referring to le téléphone (masculine singular), you must use celui-ci.la chaise (feminine singular), the correct pronoun is celle-ci. This obligatory agreement underpins clarity and distinguishes French from less gender-sensitive languages.J'aime ce livre. Je vais acheter celui-ci. (I like this book. I am going to buy this one.), celui-ci unambiguously refers to le livre.Formation Pattern
-ci; its omission constitutes a common orthographical error.
celui | -ci | celui-ci | this one |
celle | -ci | celle-ci | this one |
ceux | -ci | ceux-ci | these ones |
celles | -ci | celles-ci | these ones |
ceux-ci is the correct and conventional choice. This grammatical rule, where the masculine plural acts as a default for mixed or undefined groups, is a consistent feature in French. For instance, if you are presented with des fruits (fruits, masculine plural) and des légumes (vegetables, masculine plural by convention in this context) and wish to indicate the ones closest to you, you would say ceux-ci. Always ensure to use the hyphen; celui ci without it is incorrect.
When To Use It
celui-ci, celle-ci, ceux-ci, or celles-ci primarily to specify a particular item or group that is physically near, has been recently discussed, or is being explicitly selected from several options. The core purpose of these pronouns is to prevent the needless repetition of a noun whose identity is already clear within the conversational context. This precision contributes significantly to fluent and natural-sounding French.le grand tableau (the large painting), you might say: `J'aime ce grand tableau. (I like this large painting. This one is magnificent.`).Parmi tous ces fromages, je prendrai celui-ci. (Among all these cheeses, I will take this one.).Ces chaussures me plaisent, mais celles-ci sont plus confortables. (These shoes please me, but these ones are more comfortable.).-ci component inherently signals "here," highlighting that the referenced item is close to the speaker or listener. This is particularly useful in scenarios where spatial relationship matters.Ce livre est pour toi, et celui-ci est pour moi. (This book is for you, and this one is for me.).celui-ci typically refers to the latter of two items or the one most recently introduced. Consider a discussion about two proposed solutions: La première solution est rapide, mais la seconde solution, celle-ci, est plus durable. (The first solution is quick, but the second solution, this one, is more durable.).Common Mistakes
celui-ci and its variants into your French requires careful attention to common pitfalls. Recognizing these frequent errors and their underlying grammatical reasons is crucial for achieving accurate usage.celui-ci for a feminine singular noun like la robe (the dress) is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is celle-ci. Similarly, applying celles-ci to les stylos (the pens, masculine plural) is erroneous; you should use ceux-ci. Always confirm the noun's gender and number before selecting the appropriate pronoun.celui, celle, ceux, celles) and the suffix (-ci) is always mandatory. Writing celuici or celle ci is an orthographical mistake that immediately signals an error to native speakers. The hyphen is an indispensable structural element of this compound pronoun.ce, cet, cette, ces). Their grammatical functions are distinct:- Demonstrative Adjectives always precede and modify a noun. Examples:
ce film(this film),cette idée(this idea). - Demonstrative Pronouns entirely replace a noun and stand independently. Example:
Ce film est bon, mais celui-ci est exceptionnel.(This film is good, but this one is exceptional.).
*ce celui-ci, as this results in an ungrammatical and redundant phrase.ça, ceci, cela): While ça, ceci, and cela also convey "this/that" or "this/that one," their usage is for unspecified items, abstract ideas, or general situations. They do not substitute a specific, previously identified noun.Ça(a contraction ofcela) is common in informal speech for general reference:Ça, c'est une bonne question.(That's a good question.).Ceci(this) andcela(that) are more formal but also refer to indefinite concepts.Ceci est important.(This is important.).
celui-ci and its forms always refer back to a concrete, identifiable noun. Distinguish between Je préfère celui-ci (referring to this specific shirt) and J'aime ça (referring to that general idea).celui-ci for individuals, it typically carries an impersonal, detached, or even objectifying tone. In most social contexts, this is considered impolite or distant. For people, it is generally better to use personal pronouns (il, elle, ils, elles) or specific constructions like celui qui... (the one who...). For instance, instead of Regarde celui-ci (Look at this one) when referring to a person, you would typically say Regarde cette personne (Look at this person) or Regarde-le (Look at him/her).ceux-ci and celles-ci can be challenging for A1 learners. Be aware that ceux has a final silent 'x', pronouncing the vowel [ø]. Celles ends with an [ɛl] sound. Pay attention to potential liaisons; for example, in ceux-ci ont, the 'x' of ceux can be pronounced as a [z] sound before a vowel or silent 'h'. Practice distinguishing these pronunciations to avoid ambiguity.Real Conversations
Observing celui-ci in authentic French conversations—both written and spoken—provides valuable insight into its practical application. These pronouns are essential components of modern communication, from casual text messages to more formal discussions.
In Texting and Instant Messaging: These pronouns are highly efficient for quickly expressing preferences or making choices without verbose descriptions, thus streamlining digital exchanges.
- J'ai trouvé deux articles. Tu préfères celui-ci ou celui-là ? (I found two articles. Do you prefer this one or that one?)
- Envoie-moi le lien, je vais cliquer sur celui-ci. (Send me the link, I'm going to click on this one.)
- Quelle photo je poste ? Celle-ci est super. (Which photo should I post? This one is great.)
During Shopping or Making Selections: Whether you are in a physical store or browsing online, celui-ci enables direct and unambiguous identification of items.
- Ce pull est beau, mais celui-ci est en solde. (This sweater is nice, but this one is on sale.)
- Excusez-moi, je cherche la taille M pour cette chemise. Ah, je vais prendre celle-ci. (Excuse me, I'm looking for size M for this shirt. Ah, I'll take this one.)
In Professional or Academic Contexts (referring to objects or documents): While primarily used for inanimate objects, celui-ci maintains its function of precision in more formal settings.
- Parmi les propositions, celle-ci présente les avantages les plus clairs. (Among the proposals, this one presents the clearest advantages.)
- Ce rapport est intéressant, mais celui-ci contient toutes les informations nécessaires. (This report is interesting, but this one contains all the necessary information.)
On Social Media and in Online Discussions: These pronouns are frequently used when commenting on options or comparing items depicted in images or videos.
- J'hésite entre ces deux robes. Quelle est la meilleure, celle-ci ou l'autre ? (I'm hesitating between these two dresses. Which is better, this one or the other?)
- Ces écouteurs sont géniaux, mais ceux-ci ont une meilleure autonomie de batterie. (These earphones are great, but these ones have better battery life.)
A key cultural insight regarding French is its emphasis on linguistic clarity and the avoidance of ambiguity. The structure of celui-ci perfectly embodies this principle, offering a concise mechanism to precisely specify a referent, particularly when multiple options are present or when simple noun repetition is to be avoided. This empowers speakers to be direct and efficient without compromising grammatical correctness.
Quick FAQ
celui-ci for people?While grammatically possible, it generally sounds impersonal, detached, or even rude. It is best avoided for people in most contexts. Prefer lui, elle, eux, elles or more specific constructions like celui qui....
Yes, the hyphen between the base pronoun (celui, celle, ceux, celles) and the suffix -ci is mandatory in all instances. Its omission is a common orthographical error.
In such situations, it is best to try and determine the gender, as correct agreement is crucial. If truly uncertain and a general reference is acceptable, you might use ça as a last resort, but this sacrifices the precision offered by celui-ci and its forms.
ceux-ci exclusively for groups of men?No. Ceux-ci is the masculine plural form and is used for groups consisting solely of masculine nouns, or for mixed groups containing both masculine and feminine nouns. In French grammar, the masculine plural often serves as the default for mixed or undefined plurals.
Yes, they are common in both registers. In informal speech, you might hear a greater use of ça (derived from cela), but celui-ci and its variations remain valuable for precision across all contexts.
celui-ci and its forms change with verb tenses?No. These pronouns function independently of verb tense. Their form is determined solely by the gender and number of the noun they replace, not by the action or state of the verb.
-ci?The -ci suffix is a shortened form derived from the adverb ici, which means "here." Therefore, celui-ci literally translates to "the one here" or "this one right here."
celui-ci appear at the beginning of a sentence?Yes, absolutely. These pronouns can function as the subject of a sentence, meaning they can appear at the beginning if they are performing the action of the verb. For example: Celui-ci est le meilleur. (This one is the best.).
Demonstrative Pronoun Forms
| Gender | Singular (-ci) | Singular (-là) | Plural (-ci) | Plural (-là) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Masculine
|
celui-ci
|
celui-là
|
ceux-ci
|
ceux-là
|
|
Feminine
|
celle-ci
|
celle-là
|
celles-ci
|
celles-là
|
Meanings
Demonstrative pronouns are used to replace a noun to avoid repeating it, while specifying which object or person you are talking about.
Proximity selection
Choosing between two or more items based on distance.
“Je prends celui-ci.”
“Tu veux celle-ci ou celle-là ?”
Contrastive selection
Distinguishing between two items regardless of physical distance.
“Celui-ci est cher, celui-là est bon marché.”
“Celle-ci est ma sœur, celle-là est ma cousine.”
Formal reference
Referring back to a previously mentioned noun in formal writing.
“Les règles de grammaire sont complexes, surtout celles-ci.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Pronoun + verb
|
Celui-ci est bon.
|
|
Negative
|
Ne + pronoun + pas + verb
|
Je ne veux pas celui-là.
|
|
Question
|
Pronoun + verb + subject
|
Est-ce celui-ci ?
|
|
Comparison
|
Celui-ci vs celui-là
|
Je préfère celui-ci.
|
|
Plural
|
Ceux-ci/Celles-ci
|
Ceux-ci sont les miens.
|
|
Feminine
|
Celle-ci/Celle-là
|
Celle-ci est ma voiture.
|
Formality Spectrum
Je préfère celui-ci. (Shopping)
Je préfère celui-ci. (Shopping)
Je prends celui-ci. (Shopping)
Celui-là, il est top. (Shopping)
Demonstrative Pronoun Map
Masculine
- celui-ci this one
- celui-là that one
Feminine
- celle-ci this one
- celle-là that one
Examples by Level
Je prends celui-ci.
I'll take this one.
Tu veux celle-ci ?
Do you want this one?
Celui-là est beau.
That one is beautiful.
Je préfère ceux-ci.
I prefer these ones.
Est-ce que tu préfères celui-ci ou celui-là ?
Do you prefer this one or that one?
Je ne veux pas celle-là, elle est trop grande.
I don't want that one, it's too big.
Regarde ceux-ci, ils sont moins chers.
Look at these, they are cheaper.
Celles-ci sont mes préférées.
These are my favorites.
Celui-ci, qui est en cuir, coûte plus cher que celui-là.
This one, which is leather, costs more than that one.
Parmi toutes les options, je choisis celle-ci.
Among all the options, I choose this one.
Ceux-là ne sont pas les bons.
Those aren't the right ones.
Celles-là sont arrivées hier.
Those ones arrived yesterday.
Il faut distinguer celui-ci de celui-là pour comprendre le problème.
One must distinguish this one from that one to understand the problem.
Celle-ci est la solution que nous avons retenue.
This is the solution we have chosen.
Ceux-ci sont destinés aux experts.
These are intended for experts.
Celles-ci ne correspondent pas aux critères.
These do not meet the criteria.
Entre celui-ci et celui-là, le choix est cornélien.
Between this one and that one, the choice is difficult.
Celle-ci, bien que moins connue, est plus efficace.
This one, although less known, is more effective.
Ceux-ci illustrent parfaitement la thèse.
These perfectly illustrate the thesis.
Celles-ci sont les conséquences directes.
These are the direct consequences.
Celui-ci, tel qu'il est décrit, semble idéal.
This one, as it is described, seems ideal.
Celle-ci ne saurait être ignorée.
This one cannot be ignored.
Ceux-ci, contrairement à ceux-là, sont valides.
These, unlike those, are valid.
Celles-ci, en revanche, posent problème.
These, on the other hand, pose a problem.
Easily Confused
Learners mix up 'ce' and 'celui-ci'.
Learners mix up 'celui-ci' and 'celui qui'.
Learners mix up 'lequel' and 'celui-ci'.
Common Mistakes
Je veux ce.
Je veux celui-ci.
Celui-ci est la table.
Celle-ci est la table.
Je prends celui.
Je prends celui-ci.
Celle-ci est mon livre.
Celui-ci est mon livre.
Tu veux celui-ci ou celui-là ?
Tu veux celui-ci ou celui-là ?
Celles-là sont les miens.
Ceux-là sont les miens.
Je ne veux pas celui.
Je ne veux pas celui-ci.
Celui-ci qui est rouge...
Celui-ci, qui est rouge...
Celle-ci est plus grand.
Celle-ci est plus grande.
Ceux-ci sont les plus bons.
Ceux-ci sont les meilleurs.
Celui-ci, il est bon.
Celui-ci est bon.
Celle-ci dont je parle...
Celle-ci, dont je parle...
Ceux-ci sont les seuls qui...
Ceux-ci sont les seuls à...
Sentence Patterns
Je préfère ___.
___ est meilleur que ___.
Parmi les options, je choisis ___.
___, qui est très cher, est moins bien que ___.
Real World Usage
Je prends celui-ci.
J'adore celui-ci !
Je préfère celui-ci pour le projet.
Je veux celui-là.
Celle-ci, s'il vous plaît.
Celui-ci est plus pertinent.
Check the Noun
Don't use 'ce'
Use for emphasis
Natural flow
Smart Tips
Always look at the noun you are replacing first.
Use -ci for the first one and -là for the second one.
Use these pronouns to maintain cohesion.
Focus on the gender first, then the suffix.
Pronunciation
Suffix pronunciation
The '-ci' sounds like 'see', and '-là' sounds like 'lah'.
Rising intonation
Celui-ci ? ↑
Asking for confirmation.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Ci is for 'close' (starts with C), Là is for 'long distance' (far away).
Visual Association
Imagine holding an apple in your hand (celui-ci) and pointing to one on a tree far away (celui-là).
Rhyme
Celui-ci est tout près de moi, celui-là est loin, là-bas.
Story
Marie is shopping. She picks up a red dress: 'J'aime celle-ci.' She looks at a blue one across the room: 'Mais je préfère celle-là.' She buys both.
Word Web
Challenge
Point to three things in your room and say 'Celui-ci est [adjective]' for each.
Cultural Notes
French speakers use these pronouns constantly to avoid repetition, which is highly valued in French style.
In Quebec, you might hear 'celui-là' used more emphatically in casual speech.
Usage is similar to standard French, often used in formal administrative contexts.
Derived from the Latin 'ecce ille' (behold that).
Conversation Starters
Tu préfères celui-ci ou celui-là ?
C'est lequel ton préféré ?
Parmi ces options, laquelle choisis-tu ?
Comment distingues-tu celui-ci de celui-là ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
J'aime ce livre, mais je préfère ___.
___ est ma voiture.
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ce.
Je prends ce stylo. (Use celui-ci)
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Ces chaussures sont belles, mais je préfère ___.
___ sont mes amis.
préfère / je / celui-là
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJ'aime ce livre, mais je préfère ___.
___ est ma voiture.
Find and fix the mistake:
Je veux ce.
Je prends ce stylo. (Use celui-ci)
Table (f) -> ?
Ces chaussures sont belles, mais je préfère ___.
___ sont mes amis.
préfère / je / celui-là
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesTon café est froid, prends ___.
I like these ones.
est / celui-ci / toi / pour
Match the items:
Pick the feminine singular form:
Regarde celui ci.
Il y a des stylos et des gommes. Prends ___.
This one (f) is expensive.
Choose the natural sentence:
J'adore les films d'action, surtout ___.
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
Celui-ci means 'this one' (near), and celui-là means 'that one' (far).
Yes, you can use them to refer to people, like 'Celui-ci est mon frère'.
Yes, use 'ceux-ci' for masculine plural and 'celles-ci' for feminine plural.
Because 'ce' is an adjective that needs a noun, while 'celui-ci' is a pronoun that stands alone.
Yes, they are very common in formal writing to refer back to nouns.
You need to check the dictionary or look for clues like 'le' or 'la'.
Yes, you can use them in questions like 'Tu veux celui-ci ?'.
Yes, -ci sounds like 'see' and -là sounds like 'lah'.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
este/ese/aquel
Spanish has three degrees of distance, French has two.
dieser/jener
German pronouns change based on their role in the sentence (nominative, accusative, etc.).
kore/sore/are
Japanese has no gender agreement.
hadha/dhalika
Arabic has dual forms which French lacks.
zhege/nage
Chinese has no gender or number agreement.
this one/that one
English does not have gender agreement.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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