Introduction
The Spanish words estos hijos and estas hijas show how demonstratives agree with gender and number. Learning plural demonstratives helps you point out people, objects, and ideas accurately. This article breaks down rules, examples, and nuances so English-speaking learners can use plural demonstratives with confidence.
- What are demonstratives in Spanish?
- Gender and number agreement: the basic rule
- Using estos hijos and estas hijas in sentences
- When hijos can be masculine but mean children
- Pronoun vs. adjective use
- Comparing estos and esos
- Demonstratives with possessive adjectives and articles
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Regional and cultural usage notes
- Practice with related nouns
- Extra tips for learners
- Conclusion
What are demonstratives in Spanish?
Demonstratives are words that indicate which person, thing, or group you are referring to. In English we use this, that, these, those. Spanish uses different forms that change for gender and number. The plural demonstratives you’ll need first are estos, estas, esos, esas, and the more distant aquellos, aquellas. This article focuses on the near plural forms: estos and estas, and shows how they pair with nouns like hijos and hijas.
Gender and number agreement: the basic rule
Spanish nouns have gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). Demonstratives must match both the gender and the number of the noun they modify. That means you cannot mix a masculine demonstrative with a feminine noun or a singular demonstrative with a plural noun.
Use estos for masculine plural nouns and estas for feminine plural nouns. Examples with the noun family members make the rule clear because family nouns are commonly gendered: hijos (sons or children, masculine plural) and hijas (daughters, feminine plural).
Pattern summary
Masculine singular: este
Masculine plural: estos
Feminine singular: esta
Feminine plural: estas
Using estos hijos and estas hijas in sentences
Below are natural sentences showing how estos hijos and estas hijas are used in everyday Spanish. Notice the agreement and context.
Pointing out a group of boys or mixed-gender children at a playground:
Estos hijos son muy activos.
Talking about daughters at a family gathering:
Estas hijas están estudiando medicina.
Describing behavior or traits:
Me gustan estos hijos porque son responsables.
No conozco a estas hijas, ¿son tus primas?
Using with verbs in past, present, and future:
Estos hijos llegaron temprano.
Estas hijas trabajan en la misma empresa.
Voy a invitar a estos hijos a la fiesta.
When hijos can be masculine but mean children
In Spanish, masculine plural nouns can refer to a group that includes both males and females. The word hijos can mean sons specifically or children generally when the group includes at least one male or when gender is unknown. In that case, use estos hijos even if daughters are present.
Example where hijos means children of mixed gender:
Estos hijos necesitan descanso. (This can refer to a mixed group or to sons.)
If the group is all female, use estas hijas to be precise:
Estas hijas son muy unidas.
Pronoun vs. adjective use
Demonstratives in Spanish can function as adjectives (followed by a noun) or as pronouns (standing alone). When used as adjectives, they come before the noun: estos hijos, estas hijas. When used as pronouns, the noun is omitted and the demonstrative replaces it: estos or estas alone.
Adjective: Estos hijos hablan mucho.
Pronoun: ¿Ves a esos niños? No, pero veo estos. (Here these stands in for a previously mentioned noun.)
Comparing estos and esos
Spanish has two common near demonstratives in plural: estos/estas and esos/esas. The difference is mainly about distance or the speaker’s perspective. Estos and estas usually indicate things close to the speaker. Esos and esas indicate something a bit farther away or closer to the listener.
Comparison examples:
Estos hijos son mis sobrinos; esos hijos son los tuyos.
Estas hijas viven aquí; esas hijas viven en otra ciudad.
Demonstratives with possessive adjectives and articles
You can use demonstratives together with possessive adjectives, but word order matters and clarity is important. Spanish typically allows both, but the message can change slightly.
Possessive first then demonstrative to emphasize ownership:
Mis hijos, estos hijos, son muy alegres. (Stresses that my children are these ones.)
Demonstrative first then noun is the common pattern:
Estos hijos míos son muy alegres. (These children of mine are cheerful.)
Use the article when you want a neutral noun phrase rather than a demonstrative: Los hijos versus these/these ones. For pointing, prefer the demonstrative forms already discussed.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Mixing gender and number. Using estos hijas or estas hijos is incorrect. Always match gender and number: estos hijos (masculine plural) and estas hijas (feminine plural).
Mistake 2: Overusing masculine when all female. Some learners default to masculine for mixed groups, which is correct, but avoid using masculine if the group is all female and you want to be accurate: choose estas hijas.
Mistake 3: Using singular demonstratives with plural nouns. Do not say este hijos or esta hijas. The demonstrative must be plural to match hijos or hijas.
Regional and cultural usage notes
In some Spanish-speaking regions, speakers might rely more on context and gestures than on strict demonstrative choice when speaking quickly. However, written Spanish and formal speech follow the gender and number agreement rules strictly. When pointing out family members at gatherings, using the correct demonstrative shows attention to clarity and respect for native patterns.
Also note that in casual speech, people often shorten sentences and rely on intonation and pointing. For example, at a family party someone might just say: Estos son los míos. That is a clipped but natural use where estos stands in for estos hijos or another noun previously mentioned.
Practice with related nouns
The same principles apply to many plural nouns: estos amigos (these friends), estas casas (these houses), estos libros (these books), estas canciones (these songs). Always check gender and number before choosing the demonstrative.
Examples across genders:
Estos amigos vienen mañana.
Estas amigas vienen mañana.
Estos libros son nuevos.
Estas canciones me gustan mucho.
Extra tips for learners
1. Pay attention to the noun, not to the speaker’s idea of the group. The noun’s gender determines the demonstrative.
2. Listen for patterns in native speech: you will hear estos for mixed or male groups and estas for all-female groups.
3. Practice with family vocabulary since words like hijos and hijas appear frequently in conversation.
Conclusion
Understanding how to use estos hijos versus estas hijas depends on matching demonstratives to gender and number. Use estos for masculine or mixed plural groups and estas for feminine plural groups. With practice and exposure to native speech, choosing the correct demonstrative will become natural, helping you speak Spanish more clearly and accurately.
