Difference between es and este

Question

What is the difference between es and esto?

Welcome to the forum! Don't forget to use the SD dictionary. It will show that "es" is from the verb, ser; and that este can be used as an adjective, noun, demonstrative, etc. - bandit51jd, Feb 21, 2013

Answer 1

"Es" tends to mean "is" since it is a form of "ser" which means "to be."

Esto basically means "this" when the gender of the object is unknown (estos is masculine plural for "these," but esto is not used unless gender is unknown). Also note that "esto" is used when referring to something close by of unknown gender. But eso (or esa/ese) is used to refer to something further away and aquell/aquella are used for something very far away (more like "that or those" than this).

It's a little weird and kind of hard to get used to, but I will avoid giving an overly (more so than already) long answer to your question.

Dam good answer , have a vote for that and get started . Welcome and best of luck. - ray76, Feb 21, 2013

I am sure you meant to say es is a form of ser, to be. Maybe spending (at least) four lonely days in a brown LA haze caused that. (For thos that are not familiar with American popular music, that is from the lyrics of a will known Jimmy Buffett song.) - kirk1, Feb 21, 2013

Yes, sorry. I meant to say es is a form of ser! Sorry! - Random83, Feb 21, 2013

Answer 2

Es is the él/ella/Ud. form of the verb ser and means it is in English. Both este and esto are pronouns and mean this in English.