What does ésta mean versus esta? (not està)

Question

I have been coming across a new form of estar: "ésta" I do not understand why it is has the accent at the beginning. What is the difference between esta and ésta?

Por ejemplo: Yo creo que ésta es su mejor pintura.

Esta camiseta es amarillo.

Is it because ésta is used as a noun and esta is used as an adjective or is it something else? Thanks!

"Esta" means "this". You may also see it as "este" or "esto". I.e. estA casA, estE librO, or just estO by itself. As one user stated below, the accents on the e's differentiate it from "estar", which is "to be". - Goldie_Miel, May 30, 2012

Esta/Ésta is not a form of the verb "estar". I'm not sure if I'm being redundant but just wanted to clarify as I couldn't tell from your response below if everything had been understood. - Goldie_Miel, May 30, 2012

Thanks but I know what esta and este and esto mean. I am not a beginning Spanish student. I am starting to learn advanced Spanish so I do understand the basics just to clarify. - MeLlamoWaverly, May 31, 2012

Answer 1

• Esta = adjetivo demostrativo

Este (masc sing) / Esta (fem sing) / Estos (masc pl) / Estas (fem pl)

They are always before a noun: esta ...+ noun

Ex: Esta casa es muy bonita.

• Ésta = pronombre demostrativo femenino singular =

Éste (masc sing) / Ésta (fem sing) / Éstos (masc pl) / Éstas (fem pl)

They always replace the subject or a noun.

Ex: La casa es bonita, pero ésta de aquí me gusta más.

In this case ésta replaces "esta casa"

• Está = 3rd person of verb to be - She/he/it is (Ella está en Madrid)

And finally the last example:

Esta TV está rota, pero ésta funciona correctamente.

Thanks! I already understand how esta and está work. I just got a little confused with ésta and wanted to get that cleared up :) I gotta say that all those words are so similar, its hard to get the point across when you have a question about just one! if - MeLlamoWaverly, May 29, 2012

Three words are similar, yesss... Even for a lot of Spanish people!!!... Take care with the position of the accent - josemaloru, May 29, 2012

Very good answer, and well written. Thanks! You might add that these accented pronouns can imply (this one), and are gender specific. The reason the accent mark exist is (to recognize the words separate identity, purpose, function and meaning) in the writ - viejito, May 29, 2012

I would just like to add that "ésta" and "esta" are both pronounced exactly the same. Often "tildes" are added to change pronunciation, but in this case the tilde is added purely to distinguish one word from another. - Esteban3304, May 31, 2012

Thanks Esteban that was what I wanted to know. :) - MeLlamoWaverly, May 31, 2012

Thanks Viejito. :) - MeLlamoWaverly, May 31, 2012

I know get that ésta is meant as a demonstrative feminine pronoun instead of the adjective seta. Gracias Josemaloru! - MeLlamoWaverly, May 31, 2012