Italian Demonstratives: This and That for Beginners
Learn to use questo and quello to point out people and things near and far in Italian, with correct forms and pronunciation.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
In Italian, to point out people and things, you use demonstratives like questo (this) and quello (that). Unlike definite articles (il, la), which just mean 'the', demonstratives show whether something is near or far from you. This lesson teaches you the forms and how to use them in simple sentences.
By the end, you can…
- point to something near me using questo and its forms.
- point to something far from me using quello and its forms.
- ask and answer simple questions about ownership using demonstratives.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
Questo libro è mio.
This book is mine.
KWEH-stoh LEE-broh eh MEE-oh
Use when the book is close to you.
Quello è tuo.
That one is yours.
KWEHL-loh eh TOO-oh
Use when the object is far from you.
Questa penna è mia.
This pen is mine.
KWEH-stah PEN-nah eh MEE-ah
Questo changes to questa for feminine nouns.
Quella casa è grande.
That house is big.
KWEHL-lah KAH-zah eh GRAHN-deh
Quello changes to quella for feminine nouns.
Che cos'è questo?
What is this?
keh koh-ZEH KWEH-stoh
Use to ask about something near you.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
Questo (this) has four forms: questo (masculine singular), questa (feminine singular), questi (masculine plural), queste (feminine plural). Quello (that) also has four forms: quel (masculine singular before most consonants), quello (masculine singular before s+consonant, z, gn, ps, x), quella (feminine singular), quei (masculine plural), quelle (feminine plural). Examples: Questo libro è mio. Questa penna è tua. Quel ragazzo è alto. Quello studente è intelligente. Quei libri sono nuovi. Quelle case sono vecchie.
When to use it
Use questo when the object or person is near you in space or time, or when you are introducing something. Use quello when it is far from you or when you are referring back to something already mentioned. For example, if you hold a book, say Questo libro è interessante. If you point to a book across the room, say Quel libro è interessante. In conversation, you can also use quello to mean 'the former' or 'the latter', but at beginner level, focus on physical distance.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Ciao, che cos'è questo?
Hi, what is this?CHAH-oh, keh koh-ZEH KWEH-stohQuesto è un libro. È mio.
This is a book. It's mine.KWEH-stoh eh oon LEE-broh. eh MEE-ohE quello? È tuo?
And that one? Is it yours?eh KWEHL-loh? eh TOO-ohSì, quello è mio.
Yes, that one is mine.see, KWEHL-loh eh MEE-ohA little context goes a long way
In Italian, demonstratives are used frequently in everyday conversation. When referring to people, using quello can sometimes sound impolite if you are pointing at someone. It's better to use a name or a description. Also, in some regions of Italy, especially in the south, people might use 'quello' more emphatically, but standard Italian is understood everywhere.
One thing to watch for
Using 'questo' for all nouns, regardless of gender or number.
Try this instead: Questo changes to match the noun: questa for feminine singular, questi for masculine plural, queste for feminine plural. For example, say Questa borsa è nuova (This bag is new), not Questo borsa.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'This book is mine' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Questo libro è mio.
Questo agrees with the masculine singular noun libro. È mio means 'is mine'.
2How do you say 'That house is big' in Italian?
Show a sample answer
Quella casa è grande.
Quella agrees with the feminine singular noun casa. È grande means 'is big'.
3What is the masculine plural form of 'quello'?
Show a sample answer
Quei
Quei is used before most masculine plural nouns, e.g., quei libri (those books).
Use questo for things near you and quello for things far away. Remember to match the ending to the noun's gender and number.
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