esas

The Spanish word esas is a feminine plural demonstrative adjective and pronoun. In English, it translates directly to those. It is used to point out or identify feminine plural nouns that are located at a medium distance from the speaker, often closer to the listener, or to refer to concepts, ideas, or items that have just been mentioned in a conversation. Understanding spatial deixis in Spanish is crucial because, unlike English which only has a two-way system (this/these vs. that/those), Spanish utilizes a three-way system based on the relative distance from both the speaker and the listener. The three tiers are: close to the speaker (estas), close to the listener or at a medium distance (esas), and far from both the speaker and the listener (aquellas). When you use esas, you are specifically signaling that the objects in question are feminine, plural, and situated in that intermediate spatial or psychological zone.

Morphological Breakdown

The word is formed from the root es- indicating medium distance, combined with the feminine marker -a- and the plural marker -s. It must always agree in both gender and number with the noun it modifies.

Pronoun vs. Adjective

Historically, when used as a pronoun (replacing the noun entirely rather than modifying it), it was written with an accent mark (ésas). However, the Real Academia Española (RAE) updated its orthographic rules in 2010, stating that the tilde is no longer required unless there is a risk of severe ambiguity, which is extremely rare in natural context.

Psychological Distance

Beyond physical space, esas can indicate psychological or temporal distance. Referring to esas ideas (those ideas) might imply ideas that belong to the person you are speaking to, or ideas that were brought up slightly earlier in the discourse, creating a sense of separation from the speaker's immediate current thoughts.

In summary, mastering the word esas unlocks a deeper level of precision in Spanish communication. It allows you to navigate the physical environment and the conversational space with accuracy, indicating exactly which feminine plural items you are referring to based on their proximity to the listener or their position in the discourse. Whether you are shopping for clothes and pointing at esas faldas (those skirts) behind the counter, or discussing esas políticas (those policies) proposed by a colleague, this demonstrative is an indispensable tool in your Spanish vocabulary arsenal.

Using esas correctly requires a solid understanding of Spanish syntax, specifically noun-adjective agreement and spatial relationships. As a demonstrative adjective, esas must always precede the noun it modifies. You cannot place it after the noun in standard, everyday Spanish (though poetic or highly stylized literary Spanish might occasionally invert word order, this is not something a learner should attempt). The formula is simple: Esas + Feminine Plural Noun. For example, esas sillas (those chairs), esas ventanas (those windows), esas mujeres (those women). When used as a pronoun, it stands alone, replacing the noun entirely. For example, if someone asks '¿Cuáles manzanas quieres?' (Which apples do you want?), you can simply point and reply, 'Quiero esas' (I want those). This pronoun usage is incredibly common in spoken Spanish as it makes conversations faster and more efficient by avoiding unnecessary repetition of the noun.

Syntactic Placement

Always place esas directly before the noun. If there are other adjectives modifying the noun, esas still comes first. For example: Esas hermosas casas (Those beautiful houses). It acts as a determiner, setting the scope of the noun phrase before any descriptive adjectives are applied.

Anaphoric Reference

In written texts or complex speech, esas is frequently used anaphorically. This means it refers back to a feminine plural noun that was mentioned earlier in the text. 'Compró varias herramientas. Esas le sirvieron bien.' (He bought several tools. Those served him well.)

Fixed Expressions

There are several idiomatic phrases utilizing esas. For instance, 'andar en esas' means to be involved in something (often suspicious or complicated), and 'por esas fechas' means around those dates.

To truly master the usage of esas, practice observing your environment. When you see a group of feminine objects near someone else, mentally label them using esas. If your friend is holding some pens (plumas), think 'esas plumas'. If you see some bicycles parked across the street, think 'esas bicicletas'. This mental mapping of physical space to Spanish grammar will make the usage of demonstratives automatic and natural. Furthermore, pay attention to how native speakers use esas in abstract ways, such as referring to 'esas actitudes' (those attitudes) or 'esas palabras' (those words), to distance themselves from the concept being discussed. This nuanced usage elevates your Spanish from beginner to intermediate and beyond.

The demonstrative esas is ubiquitous in the Spanish language. You will hear it in literally every context where Spanish is spoken, from the most informal street slang to the highest registers of academic and political discourse. Because pointing things out is a fundamental human communicative need, demonstratives are among the most frequently used words in any language. In everyday life, you will hear esas constantly in stores, markets, and restaurants. A customer might point to a display case and say, 'Deme dos de esas, por favor' (Give me two of those, please). In a clothing store, you might hear, '¿Me puedo probar esas botas?' (Can I try on those boots?). In these transactional contexts, esas bridges the physical gap between the buyer and the seller, identifying exactly which goods are desired.

In the Household

Domestic life is full of demonstratives. Parents telling children to pick up 'esas cosas' (those things), or partners asking each other to pass 'esas tijeras' (those scissors). It is the vocabulary of shared living spaces.

In Media and News

Journalists frequently use esas to refer back to previously mentioned groups or concepts. 'Las nuevas leyes afectarán a muchas familias. Esas familias tendrán que adaptarse.' (The new laws will affect many families. Those families will have to adapt.)

In Literature

Authors use demonstratives to paint a scene and position the reader. Describing 'esas montañas a lo lejos' (those mountains in the distance) helps establish the spatial reality of the narrative world.

Immersing yourself in Spanish media is the best way to internalize the natural rhythm and placement of esas. Watch Spanish-language television shows, particularly sitcoms or reality TV where physical objects are frequently handled and discussed. Pay attention to the subtitles and match the word esas to the visual cues on screen. Notice who is holding the object, who is speaking, and how far apart they are. This active listening will rapidly accelerate your intuitive grasp of Spanish spatial grammar, moving you away from translating 'those' in your head and toward naturally feeling the medium-distance relationship that esas conveys.

When learning to use esas, students frequently encounter a few predictable stumbling blocks. The most prevalent issue is undoubtedly gender agreement. Because English does not assign gender to inanimate objects, English speakers must constantly remind themselves to check the gender of the Spanish noun before selecting a demonstrative. It is incredibly common to hear a learner say esos casas instead of esas casas, simply because they forgot that casa is feminine. Conversely, learners often overcompensate and assume any word ending in 'a' or 'as' is feminine, leading to mistakes with Greek-derived masculine nouns ending in -ma, -pa, or -ta. Saying esas problemas or esas mapas is incorrect; it must be esos problemas and esos mapas. Memorizing the exceptions to the gender rules is just as important as memorizing the demonstratives themselves.

Distance Confusion

Another major mistake is confusing the three tiers of distance. Learners often use esas when they should use aquellas. If the objects are far away from both the speaker and the listener (e.g., pointing at mountains on the horizon), aquellas is the correct choice. Esas implies a closer proximity, usually within the listener's immediate sphere.

The 'T' Rule

Mixing up estas (these) and esas (those) is rampant. The mnemonic 'This and these have the Ts, that and those don't show' is the best remedy. If you are holding the apples, they are estas manzanas. If your friend is holding them, they are esas manzanas.

Unnecessary Accents

Older textbooks teach that the pronoun form must have an accent (ésas). While you will still see this in older literature, writing it today is considered outdated by the RAE. Save yourself the trouble and drop the accent.

Overcoming these common mistakes requires patience and deliberate practice. Do not get discouraged if you frequently use the wrong gender or distance marker in spontaneous speech; it is a normal part of the language acquisition process. The key is self-correction. When you realize you said esos mesas, immediately repeat the sentence correctly: esas mesas. This reinforces the correct neural pathways. Writing exercises are also highly beneficial, as they give you the time to consciously apply the rules of gender and number agreement before producing the output. Over time, the correct usage of esas will become second nature, allowing you to focus on the content of your message rather than the mechanics of the grammar.

To fully grasp the utility of esas, it is essential to compare it with its linguistic siblings within the Spanish demonstrative system. The Spanish language organizes demonstratives into a highly structured grid based on gender (masculine, feminine, neuter), number (singular, plural), and distance (close, medium, far). Esas occupies the specific slot for feminine, plural, and medium distance. Its closest relatives are esos (masculine plural, medium distance) and esa (feminine singular, medium distance). Understanding how esas contrasts with words indicating different distances—namely estas (feminine plural, close distance) and aquellas (feminine plural, far distance)—is the key to spatial fluency in Spanish. Furthermore, one must distinguish it from the neuter pronoun eso, which is used for abstract concepts or unknown objects, and never has a plural form.

Estas vs. Esas

Estas means 'these'. It is used for feminine plural objects that are physically close to the speaker, often within touching distance. Esas means 'those', used for objects further away, typically closer to the listener.

Aquellas vs. Esas

Aquellas means 'those over there'. It is used for feminine plural objects that are far from both the speaker and the listener. If you are pointing at a distant mountain range, you use aquellas montañas, not esas montañas.

Esos vs. Esas

This is purely a matter of gender. Esos is for masculine plural nouns (esos libros), while esas is for feminine plural nouns (esas revistas). Both indicate medium distance.

By studying esas in relation to its counterparts, you build a robust mental framework for Spanish grammar. Instead of memorizing isolated words, you are learning a system of coordinates. This system allows you to navigate not just physical space, but also the conversational landscape, pointing to ideas, referencing past statements, and organizing your thoughts with clarity and precision. The mastery of this demonstrative matrix is a hallmark of a proficient Spanish speaker, enabling nuanced expression that literal translation from English simply cannot achieve.