Demonstratives
Aquest, aquell, neutral pronouns, contextual articles, and spatial deixis.
Modern central Catalan mainly has a two-way contrast
Use aquest for something in the speaker’s or conversation’s current sphere and aquell for something distant or removed. Traditional three-way aqueix can mark something near the listener; it is alive especially in Valencian and in formal/literary use.
Forms and neutral pronouns
| Distance | Masc. sg. | Fem. sg. | Masc. pl. | Fem. pl. | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| near/current | aquest | aquesta | aquests | aquestes | això |
| near listener / marked | aqueix | aqueixa | aqueixos | aqueixes | això / aqueix |
| far/removed | aquell | aquella | aquells | aquelles | allò |
Neutral això/allò refer to ideas, situations, or unidentified things; they do not modify a noun. Ask Què és això?, but say Quin llibre és aquest?.
Context can make the article demonstrative
When two options are visible or already established, Catalan often uses the definite article plus a distinguishing phrase: Prefereixo el llibre blau (“I prefer the/that blue book”), Dona’m el de la dreta (“Give me the one on the right”). This is contextual identification, not a separate demonstrative form.
Space, time, and discourse
Demonstratives locate more than physical objects. aquesta setmana is the current week; aquells anys are remote years; això que dius refers to the listener’s statement. Aquell can also signal emotional or narrative distance.
Examples in context
Aquest barri és tranquil, però està ben comunicat.
This neighbourhood is quiet but well connected.
Em pots passar aquella carpeta de la prestatgeria?
Can you pass me that folder on the shelf over there?
Què és això que portes a la mà?
What is that you’re holding?
No oblidaré mai aquells estius al poble.
I’ll never forget those summers in the village.
Dels dos abrics, em quedo amb el negre.
Of the two coats, I’ll take the black one.
Això que proposes em sembla raonable.
What you’re proposing seems reasonable to me.
A València pots sentir “este” i “eixe” en registres col·loquials.
In Valencia you may hear “este” and “eixe” in colloquial registers.
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