celles-ci

The French pronoun celles-ci is a specific demonstrative pronoun used to refer to plural feminine nouns that are physically close to the speaker or were the most recently mentioned in a conversation. In English, it is most accurately translated as "these ones" or "these". Understanding this word requires a grasp of how French handles gender and proximity. Because French nouns are gendered, you must use celles-ci only when the objects or people you are referring to are feminine. For example, if you are talking about des fleurs (flowers) or des voitures (cars), you would use this pronoun. The suffix -ci is derived from the word ici (here), which creates a spatial or temporal link to the speaker, distinguishing these items from those further away (celles-là).

Grammatical Composition

It is composed of the feminine plural demonstrative pronoun 'celles' and the proximity adverbial suffix '-ci'.

In everyday communication, people use celles-ci to avoid repetition. Instead of saying the noun again, you replace it. Imagine you are at a bakery looking at several tarts. Since une tarte is feminine, you might point to the ones right in front of you and say, "Je voudrais celles-ci." This signals to the baker exactly which group of items you desire without having to repeat the word 'tartes'. It is a tool for efficiency and precision in the French language.

Beyond physical proximity, celles-ci is used in writing to refer to the latter of two mentioned feminine plural groups. If a writer mentions 'les pommes' and 'les poires', celles-ci would refer to the pears, as they were mentioned last and are thus 'closer' in the text. This logical proximity is a hallmark of sophisticated French prose and helps maintain clarity in complex sentences. It is important to note that while English often just uses "these," French insists on the gender distinction, making celles-ci strictly for feminine groups, whereas ceux-ci would be used for masculine groups.

Spatial Contrast

Used specifically to contrast with 'celles-là' (those ones over there) to show preference or location.

The use of celles-ci also carries a slight tone of specificity. It isn't just "these" in a general sense; it is "these specific ones right here." This makes it incredibly useful in shopping, debating, or categorizing items. In a world of choices, celles-ci acts as a linguistic pointer, narrowing the focus of the conversation to a tangible or recently identified set of feminine entities. Whether you are discussing ideas (des idées), solutions (des solutions), or physical objects, this pronoun provides the necessary grammatical agreement to keep the listener oriented.

Register Note

While common in both spoken and written French, it is slightly more formal than simply pointing and saying 'ça' or 'celles-là' in very casual speech.

In summary, celles-ci is an essential building block for A1 learners because it introduces the concept of demonstrative pronouns with proximity markers. It teaches the learner to always keep the gender of the noun in mind, even when the noun itself is no longer present in the sentence. By mastering celles-ci, you gain the ability to make comparisons, express preferences, and navigate physical spaces with linguistic precision.

Culturally, French speakers value the clarity that these pronouns provide. While English might rely on context or gesture, the French language embeds the gender and the distance directly into the pronoun. This reduces ambiguity. If there are two groups of objects, one masculine and one feminine, using celles-ci immediately tells the listener you are referring to the feminine group, even if they aren't looking at what you're pointing at. This structural logic is a key feature of the French mindset regarding organization and description.

Using celles-ci correctly involves two main steps: identifying the gender of the noun you are replacing and determining its proximity. Since celles-ci is plural and feminine, the noun it replaces must also be plural and feminine. If the noun is singular, you would use celle-ci. If it is masculine plural, you would use ceux-ci. The suffix -ci acts like a finger pointing at the item closest to you. It is often used in contrast with celles-là (those ones), which refers to items further away.

Sentence Placement

It usually functions as the subject or the direct object of a sentence, appearing where a noun phrase would typically sit.

Consider a situation where you are discussing different types of fruit. Since les cerises (cherries) is feminine plural, you could say: "Ces cerises sont sucrées, mais celles-ci sont acides." Here, celles-ci refers to a specific group of cherries near the speaker. Notice how the pronoun carries the weight of the noun, the gender, the number, and the location all in one word. This is why demonstrative pronouns are so powerful in French; they are dense with information.

When used in the context of a list, celles-ci refers to the last-mentioned feminine plural items. For example: "J'ai acheté des fleurs et des plantes. Celles-ci (the plants) demandent beaucoup d'eau." Because plantes was the last noun mentioned, celles-ci naturally links back to it. This avoids the clumsy repetition of "les plantes" and makes the speech flow more naturally. In academic or formal writing, this usage is very common to maintain logical cohesion between sentences.

Agreement with Adjectives

Any adjectives following 'celles-ci' must also be feminine plural to match the pronoun.

Another common usage is in comparison. You might be looking at two sets of photos. You could say, "Toutes les photos sont belles, mais celles-ci sont mes préférées." By using the proximal suffix, you are indicating the photos you are perhaps holding in your hand or that are currently displayed on the screen in front of you. This distinction is vital in French because the language is very sensitive to the speaker's physical relationship with the objects being discussed.

In questions, celles-ci can be used to ask for clarification. If someone asks you to bring "the boxes," and there are multiple groups of boxes, you might point to the nearest ones and ask, "Celles-ci ?" (These ones?). This is a very common short-form communication in French. It is efficient, grammatically correct, and perfectly polite. It shows you have internalized the gender of the noun boîtes (feminine) and are applying the correct demonstrative form.

The 'Latter' Rule

In formal texts, 'celles-ci' means 'the latter' (feminine plural) and 'celles-là' means 'the former'.

Finally, remember that celles-ci cannot be used alone if you haven't established what you are talking about. You can't just walk into a room and say "I like these ones" without any context or a gesture. The pronoun 'replaces' a noun, so that noun must either be visible, previously mentioned, or clearly understood through the situation. This is the 'demonstrative' nature of the word—it demonstrates or points to something specific.

As you practice, try to pair celles-ci with various feminine plural nouns: les clés, les lunettes, les valises, les histoires. The more you use it, the more natural the gender-proximity reflex will become. It is one of those words that, once mastered, makes you sound significantly more fluent and precise in your French expression.

You will encounter celles-ci in a wide variety of real-world scenarios in France and other French-speaking regions. One of the most common places is in retail and shopping. Whether you are at a high-end boutique in Paris or a local market in Provence, the interaction between the customer and the vendor often involves demonstrative pronouns. A customer might point to a row of shoes (des chaussures) and say, "Est-ce que celles-ci sont en solde ?" (Are these ones on sale?). The vendor, in turn, might respond by comparing them to another pair: "Non, mais celles-là le sont." This back-and-forth is the bread and butter of daily commerce.

Marketplace Dynamics

Used constantly when selecting produce, clothing, or artisanal goods where multiple feminine-gendered items are present.

In a professional or academic setting, celles-ci appears frequently in presentations and reports. If a speaker is showing a slide with multiple data sets or categories (like des statistiques or des analyses), they will use celles-ci to refer to the data currently being discussed or the points most recently listed. It provides a level of formal clarity that is expected in French professional discourse. For instance, a manager might say, "Nous avons plusieurs stratégies, mais celles-ci sont les plus prioritaires pour ce trimestre." This usage ensures that everyone in the meeting knows exactly which strategies are being highlighted.

You will also hear this pronoun in domestic life. Imagine a family sorting through old photographs (des photos) or choosing which decorations (des décorations) to put on a Christmas tree. A parent might tell a child, "Range tes affaires, surtout celles-ci qui traînent par terre." (Tidy your things, especially these ones lying on the floor). In this context, the proximity is literal—the items are right there at their feet. The use of the pronoun helps the parent give specific instructions without needing to name every single object.

Media and News

Journalists use it to refer to specific laws (lois), reforms (réformes), or news stories (nouvelles) that are currently under discussion.

In literature and journalism, celles-ci serves as a crucial cohesive device. When a journalist writes about various international organizations (des organisations), they will use celles-ci to refer back to the ones mentioned in the previous sentence. This allows for long, complex sentences that remain grammatically anchored. Reading a French newspaper like Le Monde or Le Figaro, you will see this pronoun used to navigate between different feminine plural subjects with ease.

Museum tours and cultural exhibitions are another prime location for this word. A guide pointing to a series of paintings (des peintures) or sculptures (des sculptures) will use celles-ci to draw the audience's attention to the specific works of art they are standing in front of. "Admirez ces œuvres ; celles-ci ont été réalisées durant la période bleue de l'artiste." This helps the guide manage the group's focus as they move through the gallery space.

Social Interactions

Used when friends are comparing options, like which movies (pommes) to watch or which parties (fêtes) to attend.

Finally, in the digital world, French interfaces use celles-ci in help menus and instructions. If a website lists several options (des options) or features (des fonctionnalités), the text might say, "Pour activer celles-ci, cliquez sur le bouton ci-dessous." (To activate these ones, click the button below). This shows that the word is not just for physical objects, but for any feminine plural concept in a structured environment. Whether in person, in print, or on a screen, celles-ci is a constant companion in the French language.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make when using celles-ci is gender confusion. In English, we simply say "these ones" regardless of whether we are talking about books, cars, or ideas. In French, you must consciously remember the gender of the noun you are replacing. If you use celles-ci to refer to les livres (masculine plural), it will sound jarring to a native speaker. You must use ceux-ci for masculine items. This requires a strong foundation in basic noun genders, which is a common hurdle for A1 and A2 learners.

Gender Mismatch

Using 'celles-ci' for masculine nouns like 'stylos' or 'ordinateurs'.

Another common mistake is forgetting the pluralization. Sometimes learners use celle-ci (singular) when they mean celles-ci (plural), or vice versa. While they sound identical in most contexts (both are pronounced 'sell-see'), the grammatical impact is significant because the following verb must agree. For example, "Celle-ci est..." vs "Celles-ci sont..." Failing to match the verb to the plural pronoun is a clear indicator of a learner's level. Always check if you are pointing to one item or a group of items.

The hyphen is also a frequent victim of oversight. In written French, the hyphen between the pronoun and the suffix is mandatory. Writing celles ci without the dash is a spelling error. While it might seem like a small detail, French orthography is quite strict about these markers. The hyphen binds the proximity marker to the pronoun, creating a single lexical unit. Without it, the sentence looks incomplete and unprofessional to a literate French eye.

The Missing Hyphen

Omitting the dash: 'celles ci' instead of 'celles-ci'. This is common in quick texting but should be avoided.

Confusion between -ci and -là is another pitfall. While both can mean "these" in a general sense in English, in French, -ci is strictly for the closer items and -là for the further ones. If you only have one group of items, you can use celles-ci to emphasize them, but if you use celles-là when the items are in your hand, it creates a spatial contradiction that might confuse the listener. In modern spoken French, -là is increasingly used for everything, but in correct usage and on exams, the distinction remains vital.

A more advanced mistake is using celles-ci when a relative pronoun like celles que or celles qui is required. You cannot say "celles-ci que j'ai achetées." Instead, you must drop the -ci suffix when adding a relative clause: "celles que j'ai achetées." The suffix -ci is only for when the pronoun stands alone or is being contrasted. This is a nuance that even B1 students sometimes struggle with, as they get used to the 'full' form of the demonstrative pronoun and forget to strip it back when adding more information.

Redundancy Error

Using '-ci' before a relative clause: 'celles-ci qui sont là' is redundant; 'celles qui sont là' is correct.

Finally, ensure you don't confuse celles-ci with the demonstrative adjective ces. Ces must be followed by a noun (e.g., ces fleurs), whereas celles-ci stands alone to replace the noun. Saying "celles-ci fleurs" is a major grammatical error. If the noun is present, use ces; if the noun is absent and you are pointing, use celles-ci. Keeping these two categories separate in your mind is essential for building correct French sentences.

When exploring alternatives to celles-ci, it's important to understand the landscape of French demonstratives. The most direct alternative is celles-là. While celles-ci refers to "these ones" (near), celles-là refers to "those ones" (far). In many casual spoken contexts, French speakers might use celles-là for both, but the distinction is crucial for clear communication and formal writing. If you are comparing two groups of feminine items, you use celles-ci for the first group (or the closer one) and celles-là for the second group (or the further one).

Comparison: Proximity

Celles-ci: These ones (here). Celles-là: Those ones (there).

Another related form is the simple demonstrative pronoun celles. This form cannot stand alone; it must be followed by a prepositional phrase (usually starting with de) or a relative clause (starting with qui, que, dont, etc.). For example, "celles de ma sœur" (those of my sister) or "celles que j'ai vues" (those that I saw). Use celles-ci when you want to point at something without adding more description, and use celles when you are about to define which ones you are talking about.

For masculine nouns, the equivalent is ceux-ci. This is the most important "alternative" to keep in mind, as the choice between celles-ci and ceux-ci is determined entirely by the gender of the noun being replaced. If you are talking about des gâteaux (masculine), you must use ceux-ci. If you are talking about des tartes (feminine), you must use celles-ci. The logic remains the same, only the gender changes. This binary system is a core part of the French demonstrative pronoun family.

Comparison: Gender

Celles-ci: Feminine plural. Ceux-ci: Masculine plural.

In very informal speech, you might hear people use celles-là where celles-ci would be technically more correct, or they might simply use ça (that) while pointing. However, ça is singular and neuter, so it doesn't carry the same grammatical precision as celles-ci. Using celles-ci makes your French sound more structured and articulate. Another alternative in very formal writing is les présentes, which is sometimes used in legal or administrative contexts to refer to the current documents or items under discussion, though this is quite rare in daily life.

You can also use les unes and les autres to distinguish between groups. For example, "Les unes sont rouges, les autres sont bleues." This is a more stylistic way of separating two groups without using the demonstrative suffixes. While celles-ci is more direct and pointing-oriented, les unes is more about categorization within a set. Choosing between them depends on whether you want to emphasize location (celles-ci) or just the existence of different groups (les unes).

Comparison: Style

Celles-ci: Direct, pointing, specific. Les unes: Stylistic, part of a pair, categorization.

Finally, remember that celles-ci is part of a four-way grid: celui-ci (masculine singular), celle-ci (feminine singular), ceux-ci (masculine plural), and celles-ci (feminine plural). Mastering one usually means you have mastered the logic of the others. The key is always to look back at the noun you are replacing and match its DNA—its gender and its number—while adding the -ci suffix to bring it close to you.