How To Say Like This In Spanish

Expressing the concept of "like this" in Spanish is one of the first hurdles learners face because, unlike English, Spanish requires you to be specific about what you are referring to and where it is located relative to the speaker. Which means instead, you must choose between demonstrative adjectives, demonstrative pronouns, adverbs of manner, and even specific verbs depending entirely on the context. There is no single, universal translation. Mastering these distinctions is the key to sounding natural rather than like a textbook.

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The Core Distinction: Este vs. Ese vs. Aquel

Before diving into specific phrases, you must understand the three-way distance system that governs Spanish demonstratives. English generally uses a two-way system ("this" near me, "that" far from me). Spanish adds a third dimension for things far from both of us Not complicated — just consistent..

• Este / Esta / Esto (This / Like this): Used for things close to the speaker. Think: holding an object, pointing to your own shirt, or referring to the current situation.
• Ese / Esa / Eso (That / Like that): Used for things close to the listener (or somewhat near both of you, but not in your hand). Think: pointing to the book in your friend's hand.
• Aquel / Aquella / Aquello (That over there / Like that over there): Used for things far from both speaker and listener. Think: pointing to a building across the street.

Crucial Grammar Note: Este, ese, aquel are adjectives (they modify a noun: este libro). Esto, eso, aquello are neuter pronouns (they stand alone for unidentified objects, abstract ideas, or situations—no noun follows them). This distinction is the backbone of saying "like this."

1. Saying "Like This" with Gestures & Actions (The Most Common Use)

When you are physically demonstrating how to do something—chopping an onion, holding a yoga pose, or clicking a button—you almost always use the neuter pronouns así or así es.

Así — The Universal "Like This / Like That"

Así is an adverb of manner. It is invariable (never changes gender/number) and is the single most versatile way to say "in this manner."

• Context: You are showing someone how to fold a fitted sheet.
• Spanish: "Se dobla así." (It is folded like this.)
• Context: Someone asks how to pronounce a difficult word.
• Spanish: "Se pronuncia así." (It is pronounced like this.)

Pro Tip: Así covers both "like this" (near me) and "like that" (near you/over there). If you need to be specific about distance while demonstrating, you combine it with a demonstrative pronoun:

• Hazlo así, como esto. (Do it like this, like this [thing I'm holding].)
• Hazlo así, como eso. (Do it like that, like that [thing you're holding].)

Así es / Así son — "It Is Like This"

Used to confirm a state of being or a description.

• —¿Es difícil el examen? —Sí, así es. (Is the test hard? Yes, it is like that / That's right.)
• Los niños son ruidosos; así son. (Kids are noisy; they are like that.)

2. Saying "Like This" When Identifying Objects (Adjectives vs. Pronouns)

This is where learners make the most mistakes. You must decide: Are you pointing at a noun, or replacing the noun?

Scenario A: Modifying a Noun (Demonstrative Adjectives)

Use these when the noun is explicitly stated. They must agree in gender and number with the noun Which is the point..

• Example: "I want this shirt (fem) here." → "Quiero esta camiseta."
• Example: "Who owns those cars (masc) over there?" → "¿De quién son aquellos coches?"

Historical Note: You may see accents on these (éste, ése, aquél) in older texts. The Real Academia Española (RAE) removed the requirement for accents on demonstrative pronouns/adjectives in 2010. Current standard Spanish writes them without accents unless there is a genuine risk of ambiguity (which is extremely rare).

Scenario B: Replacing the Noun (Demonstrative Pronouns / Neuter Pronouns)

Use these when the object is understood from context, or you don't know its name/gender.

1. Gendered Pronouns (Known Gender): Identical forms to the adjectives above, but standing alone.

• Tengo dos bolígrafos. ¿Quieres este (masc) o ese (masc)? (I have two pens. Do you want this one or that one?)

2. Neuter Pronouns (Unknown Gender, Abstract Ideas, Situations): Esto, Eso, Aquello. These never have accents and never take a noun after them. This is the grammatical home of "like this" for abstract concepts That's the part that actually makes a difference..

• Esto (This thing / This situation / Like this): Near speaker.
  • No me gusta esto. (I don't like this / this situation.)
  • Esto es lo que quiero. (This is what I want.)
• Eso (That thing / That idea / Like that): Near listener / previously mentioned.
  • Eso es una buena idea. (That is a good idea.)
  • No digas eso. (Don't say that / things like that.)
• Aquello (That thing over there / That past event): Distant in space or time.
  • ¿Recuerdas aquello que vimos ayer? (Do you remember that thing we saw yesterday?)

3. Saying "Like This" for Comparisons & Similes

When "like this" functions as a comparison ("He runs like this," "She sings like that"), the grammar shifts to comparative structures.

Como + [Indicative/Subjunctive]

• Corre como yo. (He runs like me / like this [demonstrating].)
• Quiero que lo hagas como te dije. (I want you to do it like I told you.)

Tal como / Justo como — "Exactly Like This"

Adds emphasis on precision.

• Hazlo tal como te muestro. (Do it exactly like I show you.)
• Salió justo como planeamos. (It turned out exactly like we planned.)

De esta manera / De ese modo / De aquel modo —

De esta manera / De ese modo / De aquel modo — "In This/That Way" (Formal/Descriptive) These prepositional phrases function adverbially to describe manner or method. They agree in distance with the demonstrative adjective logic but are invariable in form (no gender/number change for the phrase itself).

• De esta manera / De este modo (In this way / Like this): Present, near, or current method.
  • Se resuelve de esta manera. (It is solved like this / in this way.)
  • Explícame de este modo. (Explain it to me like this.)
• De esa manera / De ese modo (In that way / Like that): Method associated with the listener or previously mentioned.
  • No lo hagas de esa manera; es peligroso. (Don't do it like that; it’s dangerous.)
  • Si actúas de ese modo, tendrás consecuencias. (If you act in that way, you’ll face consequences.)
• De aquella manera / De aquel modo (In that way over there / Like that back then): Distant method, often narrative or past.
  • Vivíamos de aquella manera, sin electricidad ni agua corriente. (We lived in that way/back then, without electricity or running water.)

Register Note: Manera and modo are largely interchangeable, though modo sounds slightly more technical or formal. In daily speech, así (see below) overwhelmingly replaces these phrases.

4. The Universal "Así" — The Swiss Army Knife of Manner

If you learn only one word for "like this/that" in spoken Spanish, make it así. It functions as a demonstrative adverb of manner, covering "like this," "like that," "this way," "that way," and "so." It is invariable and context-dependent Small thing, real impact. Practical, not theoretical..

Así (Like this / Like that / This way / That way / So)

• Physical Demonstration: Corta la cebolla así. (Cut the onion like this / this way.) [Speaker demonstrates]
• Abstract/Result: Estudié mucho y así aprobé. (I studied a lot and that’s how / so I passed.)
• Conformity/Resignation: Así es la vida. (That’s life / Life is like that.)
• Confirmation: ¿Así está bien? (Is it okay like this?)
• Quoting/Paraphrasing: Me dijo: "Así no se hace". (He told me: "That's not how it's done.")

Y así / Y de esta manera — "And So / And That’s How"

Used to conclude narratives or explain results.

• Llegamos tarde, y así perdimos el tren. (We arrived late, and so we missed the train.)
• Mezclas los ingredientes, y de esta manera obtienes la salsa. (You mix the ingredients, and in this way you get the sauce.)

5. Precision Tools: "Tal Cual" & "Ni Más Ni Menos"

Tal cual — "Exactly Like That / Just As Is"

Implies zero modification, exact replication, or raw truth.

• Cópialo tal cual. (Copy it exactly like this / verbatim.)
• Te lo dije tal cual pasó. (I told you exactly how it happened.)
• Acepté el trabajo tal cual me lo ofrecieron. (I accepted the job exactly as they offered it / as is.)

Ni más ni menos — "Neither More Nor Less / Precisely That"

Emphasizes exactitude, often correcting an exaggeration or confirming a specific amount/degree.

• Ganó ni más ni menos que 10.000 euros. (He won precisely / neither more nor less than 10,000 euros.)
• Quiero que se haga ni más ni menos como indiqué. (I want it done exactly as I indicated.)

6. Common Pitfalls & "False Friends"

We're talking about the bit that actually matters in practice It's one of those things that adds up..