Demonstrative pronouns point to a referent and identify it without repeating the noun. They express proximity, near-distance or distance from the speaker, and can function as subject, object, or nominal answer. They relate to demonstrative adjectives, but here they appear alone, as in Demonstrative Adjectives.},{

The demonstrative forms are organized by distance into three series: near, intermediate and far. There are also neuters, which do not agree in gender or number because they do not substitute a concrete noun. Agreement is mandatory in forms with gender and number, as happens with other Pronouns.

IdeaIdea	EjemploExample
La serie cercana se usa para lo que está próximo a quien habla.The near series is used for what is close to the speaker.	Este es mío.This is mine.
La serie intermedia se usa para lo que está más cerca de la persona oyente o a una distancia media.The intermediate series is used for what is closer to the listener or at a medium distance.	Ese es tu libro.That is your book.
La serie lejana se usa para lo que está distante de ambas personas.The far series is used for what is distant from both people.	Aquel fue memorable.That one was memorable.
Los neutros se usan cuando no hay un sustantivo concreto que sustituir.The neuters are used when there is no concrete noun to substitute.	¿Qué es eso?What is that?
Las formas con género y número concuerdan con el referente sustituido.Forms with gender and number agree with the referent they replace.	Estas son nuevas.These are new.

Masculine and feminine forms change according to the gender of the noun they refer to, and the singular changes to plural when the referent is plural. This concordance allows the pronoun to replace precisely the previous or implicit noun phrase. In anaphoric use, the chosen form maintains reference to something already mentioned in the discourse, as in Este, Ese, Aquel.

IdeaIdea	EjemploExample
Este concuerda con sustantivos masculinos singulares cercanos.This agrees with nearby masculine singular nouns.	Este sombrero es bonito.This hat is nice.
Esta concuerda con sustantivos femeninos singulares cercanos.This agrees with nearby feminine singular nouns.	Esta es la mejor.This is the best.
Estos concuerda con sustantivos masculinos plurales cercanos.These agree with nearby masculine plural nouns.	Estos son míos.These are mine.
Estas concuerda con sustantivos femeninos plurales cercanos.These agree with nearby feminine plural nouns.	Estas fueron útiles.These were useful.
Ese concuerda con sustantivos masculinos singulares intermedios.That agrees with masculine singular intermediate nouns.	Ese es tu libro.That is your book.
Aquellas concuerda con sustantivos femeninos plurales lejanos.Those agree with feminine plural distant nouns.	Aquellas eran antiguas.Those were old.

Esto, eso y aquello do not have gender or number, because they do not substitute a definite noun but an idea, a situation or an indefinite referent. These forms are common in questions, short answers and references to something already mentioned. Compared with concordant forms, neuters maintain a global non-nominal reference.

IdeaIdea	EjemploExample
Esto se usa para algo cercano en la situación o en el discurso inmediato.Esto is used for something near in the situation or in the immediate discourse.	Esto importa.This matters.
Eso se usa para algo de distancia media o para una referencia general.Eso is used for something at medium distance or for a general reference.	Eso no lo entiendo.That is not understood.
Aquello se usa para algo lejano o más alejado en el recuerdo o la escena.Aquello is used for something distant or more removed in memory or scene.	Aquello quedó atrás.That was left behind.
Los neutros no concuerdan con género ni con número.Neuter forms do not agree in gender or number.	Eso es suficiente.That is enough.

Demonstrative pronouns occupy the position of a complete noun phrase, so they can be the subject, object or a brief nominal reply. They do not accompany a noun when they are pronouns, because in that case they act as demonstrative adjectives. In spoken and written constructions, their value depends on deixis space and time, which also organizes the use of Este, Ese, Aquel.

IdeaIdea	EjemploExample
Pueden funcionar como sujeto de la oración.They can function as the subject of the sentence.	Este llegó temprano.This arrived early.
Pueden funcionar como objeto directo.They can function as a direct object.	Vi eso ayer.I saw that yesterday.
Pueden aparecer como respuesta nominal breve.They can appear as a brief nominal reply.	Aquel.That one.
No se usan junto a un sustantivo cuando son pronombres.They are not used together with a noun when they are pronouns.	Este libro es nuevo.This book is new.

The opposition between this, that and that-one expresses distance from the speaker, and sometimes also distance from the listener. This places the referent near the speaker, that places it in an intermediate zone or near the listener, and that-one places it far from both. In many parts of Latin America, that may extend its use and appear where in other varieties igual or aquel is preferred.

RegionRegion	Palabra o fraseWord or phrase	Definición regionalRegional definition	EjemploExample
América LatinaLatin America	esethat	Se prefiere con frecuencia en contextos donde otras variedades usan aquel.It is often preferred in contexts where other varieties use aquel.	Ese quedó lejos.That one is far.
Variedades generalesGeneral varieties	aquelthat (aquel)	Se usa para marcar una distancia mayor o una referencia más apartada.Used to mark a greater distance or a more distant reference.	Aquel brillaba mucho.That one shone a lot.
Registro coloquialColloquial register	esethat	Puede adquirir matices despectivos en ciertos contextos regionales.May acquire pejorative nuances in certain regional contexts.	Ese anda diciendo cosas.That guy is going around saying things.

Current orthography avoids the accent in demonstratives, even when they function as pronouns, so they are written este, ese and aquel without an accent. In older materials you may see the spelling with the historical accent, such as ése or aquél, but this rule is no longer recommended. The distinction between pronoun and adjective is marked by syntax, not by the graphic accent.

IdeaIdea	EjemploExample
Hoy se escriben sin tilde los demostrativos.Today demonstratives are written without accents.	Este es correcto.This is correct.
La tilde histórica aparece en textos antiguos.The historical accent appears in old texts.	Ése era el original.Ése was the original.
La función se reconoce por la presencia o ausencia de sustantivo.The function is recognized by the presence or absence of a noun.	Ese libro es nuevo.That book is new.
La forma sin tilde se mantiene también en el neutro.The form without the accent remains also in the neuter.	Eso es claro.That is clear.

Demonstrative pronouns identify referents by distance, agree in gender and number when they replace a noun, and use neuter forms when referring to ideas or situations. Their value depends on spatial, temporal and discourse context, and correct use requires distinguishing them from demonstrative adjectives by the presence or absence of a noun. With these forms, reference in Spanish gains precision in speech and writing.