Introduction
Knowing how to ask who someone is is one of the first and most useful skills in Spanish. This article walks beginners through simple, practical ways to ask Who is that in Spanish, with clear examples, vocabulary, common responses, and helpful tips for real-life situations.
- Basic phrases to ask Who is that
- Pronouns and demonstratives: ese, esa, esto, eso
- Using ¿Quién es? in different contexts
- Short answers and common responses
- Politeness and vocabulary for introductions
- Asking Who is that politely or casually
- Common mistakes beginners make
- Short practice dialogues for beginners
- Useful extra vocabulary
- Tips for remembering and practicing
- Mini quiz to test yourself
- When learning more: variations with estar and present progressive
- Real-life situations where you will use these questions
- Common follow-up questions after ¿Quién es?
- Quick reference cheat sheet
- Conclusion
Basic phrases to ask Who is that
The most direct way to ask Who is that in Spanish is to use the verb ser. Start with the simple question form:
¿Quién es?
This phrase literally means Who is? and is used when pointing to or indicating someone nearby or in a photo.
Another common form that adds clarity is:
¿Quién es ese?
Use ese for that (masculine) person who is not very close to the speaker. For feminine use:
¿Quién es esa?
And for neutral or to ask about people in general without specifying gender, use:
¿Quiénes son?
Use ¿Quiénes son? when you point to or refer to a group of people.
Pronouns and demonstratives: ese, esa, esto, eso
Demonstrative words help make your question specific. Here are the most useful ones.
ese – that (masculine, near the listener)
esa – that (feminine, near the listener)
aquel – that over there (masculine, farther away)
aquella – that over there (feminine, farther away)
esto – this (neutral, used when not specifying gender)
eso – that (neutral)
Examples showing demonstratives
Pointing at a person nearby but not too close
¿Quién es ese?
Pointing at a woman across the room
¿Quién es esa?
Looking at a photo with someone far in the background
¿Quién es aquel?
Pointing to an object or something you do not know (neutral)
¿Qué es eso?
Using ¿Quién es? in different contexts
Beginner learners will encounter simple interactions where asking who someone is makes sense. Here are common situations and realistic examples.
At a party, pointing to a guest
¿Quién es esa chica?
On a family photo
¿Quién es ese hombre a la izquierda?
At a workplace meeting, asking about a colleague you haven’t met
¿Quién es la nueva asistente?
When someone sends a picture in a chat and you don’t know the person
¿Quién es el de la foto?
Short answers and common responses
Once you ask ¿Quién es?, people will answer in a few standard ways. Learn these to understand and continue the conversation.
Giving a name
Es María.
Es mi hermano.
Describing the role or relation
Es el conductor del autobús.
Es una amiga de la universidad.
Introducing someone in person
Ésta es Ana.
Éste es mi jefe.
Politeness and vocabulary for introductions
In formal or polite settings, combine ¿Quién es? with short phrases to be respectful.
Use this when you want a polite introduction
¿Quién es, por favor?
When introducing two people to each other
Te presento a Carlos. Carlos, esta es Laura.
Useful words for relationships and roles
amigo – friend
compañero – colleague or classmate
vecino – neighbor
jefe – boss
familia – family
Asking Who is that politely or casually
Your tone and word choice change with formality. Use casual forms with friends and more complete polite constructions in new or formal settings.
Casual
¿Quién es?
¿Quién es ese chico?
Polite or formal
¿Quién es esa señora, por favor?
¿Podría decirme quién es esa persona?
Common mistakes beginners make
Beginners often mix demonstratives or forget accents. Avoid these mistakes.
Using el/ella with ¿Quién? incorrectly
Incorrect: ¿Quién ella?
Correct: ¿Quién es ella?
Omitting the verb in full questions
Incorrect: ¿Quién ese?
Correct: ¿Quién es ese?
Mixing gender with demonstratives
Incorrect: ¿Quién es ese mujer?
Correct: ¿Quién es esa mujer?
Short practice dialogues for beginners
Practice with short dialogues that mimic real situations. Read them aloud or copy them into a message app.
Dialogue at a bus stop
Persona A: ¿Quién es ese hombre?
Persona B: Es el conductor. Es muy amable.
At a family gathering
Persona A: ¿Quién es la chica con mi tía?
Persona B: Es su sobrina, Ana.
In a classroom
Estudiante A: ¿Quiénes son los nuevos estudiantes?
Profesor: Son de la clase de español elemental.
Useful extra vocabulary
These words help you form clearer questions and understand answers.
persona – person
gente – people
foto – photo
amigo/amiga – friend
compañero/compañera – colleague/classmate
nuevo/nueva – new
Tips for remembering and practicing
Mental cues and simple drills help internalize these questions.
Tip 1: Pair visual cues with phrases. When you see someone in a photo, ask ¿Quién es? aloud.
Tip 2: Practice short Q&A sets. One person asks ¿Quién es ese?, the other answers with a name or role.
Tip 3: Use flashcards for demonstratives: ese, esa, aquel, aquella, esto, eso.
Tip 4: Record yourself asking and answering; playback helps correct rhythm and intonation.
Mini quiz to test yourself
Fill in the blanks or say the full question aloud to check your progress.
Pointing to a woman across the street: __________?
Answer: ¿Quién es esa?
Pointing to a group of people: __________?
Answer: ¿Quiénes son?
Asking politely in a shop: __________?
Answer: ¿Quién es, por favor?
When learning more: variations with estar and present progressive
Beginners mainly use ser for identity. Sometimes estar or a progressive form appears in context, but do not use them to replace simple identity questions.
Use estar when asking about location or current state, not identity.
¿Dónde está él? asks Where is he? not Who is he?
Use present progressive for actions
¿Quién está hablando? asks Who is speaking?
These variations are useful but remember to use ¿Quién es? for basic identity questions.
Real-life situations where you will use these questions
Beginners will need these phrases in many everyday contexts. Here are realistic examples.
Travel: asking a guide or host about a person in a group
Work: meeting a visitor in an office
Social: identifying someone in a shared photo or at a party
School: asking who a new classmate is
Customer service: asking who to speak with about a question
Common follow-up questions after ¿Quién es?
Once you know who the person is, useful follow-ups help continue the conversation.
What do they do?
¿A qué se dedica?
Where are they from?
¿De dónde es?
How do you know them?
¿Cómo lo conoces? or ¿Cómo la conoces?
Quick reference cheat sheet
Short forms you can memorize for fast use.
¿Quién es? – Who is?
¿Quién es ese? – Who is that? (masculine)
¿Quién es esa? – Who is that? (feminine)
¿Quiénes son? – Who are they?
¿Quién está hablando? – Who is speaking?
Conclusion
Mastering how to ask Who is that in Spanish gives beginners a practical tool for everyday interactions. Focus on the core phrase ¿Quién es?, learn demonstratives like ese and esa, practice short dialogues, and remember polite forms. These simple steps will help you identify people, start conversations, and feel more confident using Spanish in real life.
