Eso or Ese

rocinante says on Oct 27, 2007, 09:02:

ESO vs ESE - but I mention este/esto

ESE means "that one" when referring to a physical masculine noun that is not close the speaker (este = "this one" - masculine) - remember "if it has a T it is near me"

Te importaría prestarme ESE lapicero que tienes. ESTE lapicero que tengo ya no escribe.

Would you mind lending me THAT pen of yours. THIS pen that I have no longer writes.


ESE and ESTE refer to THE PENS. A physical noun or object.

ESTO and ESO are neutral and refer to concepts or situations or ideas - not hard objects.

"Leí que fumar es nocivo para la salud"
"No hay nada mas tanto que ESO"

"I read that smoking is bad for your health"
"There's nothing more silly than that" THAT = "THAT IDEA (of smoking)".

ESO refers to smoking or the idea of somking. Smoking is neither feminine or masculine nor is it an object. Also it is not really near the speakers distance wise as far as TIME is concerend (now, then, a long time ago = ESTO, ESO, AQUELLO respectively)

I hope this is clear.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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scarby558 says on Oct 27, 2007, 13:51:

Thank you rocinante :) I appreciate you explaining this to me.. it helps :)

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rocinante says on Oct 29, 2007, 07:36:

Scarby, you are welcome.

Note: I made an error, Fumar is really masculine as are all infinitives and compund nouns (eg: Abrelatas) when used as Nouns. But in the above example they are talking about smoking as in the idea of smoking. I didn't want to mislead if you wanted to use fumar as a noun it is "El Fumar".

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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scarby558 says on Oct 29, 2007, 15:25:

understood. thanks again rocinante :)

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la campiña says on Nov 16, 2007, 17:24:

spanish is very fluid and to try and translate directly is a bad idea however we all need reference points, aca alla aqui alli, aca there, alli here, as clear as mud ha

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adela says on Jan 16, 2008, 14:26:

Different uses for "eso" and "esto"
- "Qué es ésto! " or "Qué es eso! ": What is that? or What's going on here? Sometimes I said any of this sentences when I found that my daughter have a mess on her room. It's also for a good and unexpectable situation or thing. Ex: while somone sorprise you with a dinner or a gift or anything good, or anything extrange also.

-In general if you dont know if the subject is masculine or femenine, I would recommend "eso" for an object or animal: "Viste eso? Creo que es un pajaro" (did you see that one, I think is a bird"
-"Ese" for anything about a man "ese caleño baila salsa".

Màs fe, màs abrazos, màs besos, màs disculpas, màs visitas a nuestros amigos antiguos nos haràn màs plenos cada vez.

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rocinante says on May 26, 2008, 16:55:

In Colombia be careful with ese/esa followed by an adjective reference to a person - as in "ese gringo". You can refer to some one as gringo or flaco or gordo and call them as such to their face - not a problem. But ese/a and then referring to someone COULD have a certain disdain or contempt and could cause a raised eyebrow. Be careful.

"World economic indicators point to a democrat winning 2008. It will surely be Obama. Not that the US president actually runs the US." Feb 5, 2008

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Desideria (Moderator) says on May 31, 2008, 13:15:

yep, roci, that's what I have always said. Ese gringo is offensive, not because of the word gringo, but because of the word ese...but it depends how it is said...my mother-in-law was a specialist in using ese/esa in a despective way...."mi hijo no sabía que era barrer y trapiar(sic) hasta que se casó con esa gringa"

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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