Demonstrative pronouns are used to point out or specify a person or thing in relation to the speaker or context. They replace a noun that has already been mentioned or is understood.
They can be categorized into three main groups: Modern, Neutral, and Literary/Formal/Pejorative.
1. Modern demonstratives: Questo and Quello
These are by far the most common. They agree in gender (m/f) and number (s/pl) with the noun they replace.
A. Questo (this, these)
Indicates someone or something near the speaker in space, time, or concept.
| Demonstrative pronouns | Questo (this/these) |
| Masculine singular | Questo |
| Masculine plural | Questi |
| Feminine singular | Questa |
| Feminine plural | Queste |
- Questa è la mia macchina. (This is my car.)
- Preferisci questa mela o quella? (Do you prefer this apple or that one?)
- Questi sono i documenti importanti. (These are the important documents.)
B. Quello (that, those)
Indicates someone or something far from the speaker, or previously mentioned. It follows the same pattern as the definite article (il, lo, la, le, gli, l’) for its forms.
| Demonstrative pronouns | Quello (that, those) |
| Masculine singular | Quello |
| Masculine plural | Quelli |
| Feminine singular | Quella |
| Feminine plural | Quelle |
All the demonstratives in the table can also be used as demonstrative adjectives, except that (Quelli/Quello) is only a pronoun.
- Quella è la casa di Marco.(That is Marco’s house.)
- Prendo quello. (I’ll take that one)
- Mi piacciono quelli lì. (I like those there.)
2. The neutral demonstratives: Ciò and Quanto
These refer to abstract concepts, ideas, or entire situations, not specific gendered nouns.
A. Ciò (this,that)
This demonstrative pronoun is invariable, only refers to things, and is used to replace:
Questo fatto (this fact), questi fatti (these facts); questa cosa (this thing), queste cose (these things).
- L’uomo non riusciva a stare in piedi, ciò dimostra che era ubriaco.
- The man could not stand, which shows that he was drunk.
- Tutto ciò che vogliamo da voi è che vi comportiate bene questa sera.
- All we want from you is for you to behave this evening.
Ciò can also be replaced by the pronominal particles: lo/ne/ci.
Ciò = lo.
- Non dire ciò = Non lo dire/Non dirlo.
- Don’t say that = Don’t say it.
Di ciò = ne.
- Non parlare di ciò = Non ne parlare /Non parlarne.
- Don’t talk about it.
A ciò = ci.
- Non pensare a ciò = Non ci pensare /Non pensarci.
- Don’t think about it.
- Non credo a ciò = Non ci credo.
- I don’t believe that.
B. Quanto/i/a/e (all that, as much as)
It has the meaning of [quello/i/a/e che (that which)]; [tutto/i/a/e quello/i/a/e che (all that)]. It agrees in gender and number with what it refers to
- Farò quanto/quello che mi chiederete.
- I will do whatever you ask me.
- Per quanto/quello che mi riguarda, sono d’accordo.
- As far as I’m concerned, I agree.
- “Che bei panini!” “Mangiatene quanti ne [di questi] / tutti quelli che volete!”
- “What beautiful sandwiches!” “Eat as many [of these] as you want!”
- Quanti/Tutti quelli che vorranno, potranno iscriversi alla gara.
- Anyone who wants can register for the race.
- Ecco le mele! Ne [di queste] potrai prendere quante ne [di queste] tutte quelle che vorrai.
- Here are the apples! You can take as many of these as you want.
3. Literary, formal, or pejorative demonstratives
These are rarely used in modern spoken Italian but are frequent in literature, formal writing, law, religion, and rhetoric. In speech, they can carry a negative or dismissive tone.
| Masculine Singular | he | Costui this man | Colui that man |
| Feminine singular | she | Costei this woman | Colei that woman |
| Masculine and Feminine plural | they | Costoro these men/women | Coloro those men/women |
A. Referring to people (often with Che or Cui):
They mean “the one(s) who,” “he/she who,” or “that person.”
- Colui che ha parlato è il presidente. (The one who spoke is the chairman.) [Formal]
- Rispetta coloro che lavorano per te. (Respect those who work for you.) [Formal/Elevated]
B. Pejorative or dismissive (archaic flavor):
Used to point at someone with contempt, distance, or irony. Equivalent to “that fellow,” “that woman,” “those people.”
- Marianna, voglio sapere subito chi è costui!
- Marianna, I want to know immediately who he is!
- Chi è colui? Chi crede di essere?
- Who is he? Who does he think he is?
- Costoro non hanno il diritto di parlarmi così!
- They have no right to talk to me like that!
- Coloro sarebbero dei politici nuovi?
- Would they be new politicians?
Next lesson:
I pronomi indefiniti 1 / Indefinite pronouns 1.