Spanish · Greetings & Essentials
"They" in Spanish: ellos
ellos
Note: all women: ellas
They in Spanish is ellos. Ellas is for an all-women group. Verb forms like son already show they.
Talking about neighbors
Ellos viven arriba.Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce ellos
Say it
EH-yohs
/ˈe.ʝos/
EH-yohs / EH-yahs. Stress EH. Soft ll in ellos sounds like English y in most of Latin America.
"They" in Spanish: quick reference
| Spanish | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| ellos | they (mixed or all men) Default they. | Default they. |
| ellas | they (all women) Women-only group. | Women-only group. |
| ellos son… | they are… Describing a group. | Describing a group. |
| ellos también | they too Including that group. | Including that group. |
How to use ellos in real life
- 1Talking about neighbors
Ellos viven arriba.
They live upstairs.
Ellos clarifies who lives there.
- 2School rumor
Ellos estudian medicina. Ellas también.
They (guys/mixed) study medicine. They (women) too.
Ellos can be mixed; ellas is women-only.
- 3Contrast
Nosotros caminamos. Ellos van en bus.
We walk. They go by bus.
Ellos marks contrast.
Mistakes English speakers make with ellos
Incorrect: Ellos es mis amigos.
Correct: Ellos son mis amigos.
With ellos use son, not es.
Incorrect: Ellos (for three women only)
Correct: Ellas.
All-women groups use ellas. Ellos is mixed or male.
Good to know
Mixed groups take ellos even when women are present. Spanish has no single gender-neutral they pronoun in standard beginner teaching; ellos covers mixed they.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Watching friends arrive at a park
ChatPal
¿Dónde están Luis y Ana?
Where are Luis and Ana?
You
Ellos vienen por la calle.
They're coming down the street.
ChatPal
¿Ellos traen la pelota?
Are they bringing the ball?
You
Sí. Ellos siempre la traen.
Yes. They always bring it.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"They" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "They" in Spanish
Ellos or ellas?
Ellas if everyone is a woman. Otherwise ellos.
Must I say ellos?
Not always. Son and van often show they already.
Verb form?
Third person plural: son, tienen, van.
Pronunciation of ll?
Like English y in most of Latin America: EH-yohs for ellos.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
Keep reading
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