Aquel (en. That)

/aˈkel/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishSpanish

adjective

Refers to a person or thing that is distant from the speaker and the listener.

That red car is very pretty.

Aquel coche rojo es muy bonito.

It is used to indicate something in a distant temporal context.

In that year, everything was different.

En aquel año, todo era diferente.

Indicates a reference to something previously mentioned.

I prefer that book that was on the table.

Prefiero aquel libro que estaba en la mesa.

Derives from the Latin 'ille', which means 'that' or 'that one'.

back then

Refers to a specific past time.

aquel entonces

the one that

It is used to refer to a person who was mentioned previously.

aquel que

this

Indicates closeness to the speaker.

este

that

Indicates something that is at a middle distance.

ese

It is used colloquially to refer to something distant or less important.

That task is like that one that never arrives.

Esa tarea es como aquel que nunca llega.

It can be used to refer to someone in a derogatory way.

I don't know why he always complains.

No sé por qué aquel siempre se queja.