They in Spanish is usually ellos or ellas when you mean more than one person or thing as the subject of a sentence. Ellos is the usual form for a masculine or mixed group, while ellas refers to a feminine group. Spanish also often leaves the subject pronoun out when the verb and context already make it clear.
Quick answer:
They = ellos / ellas. Ellos hablan español means “They speak Spanish.” Ellas están aquí means “They are here,” referring to a feminine group.
How Do You Say They in Spanish?
For a plural subject, choose ellos or ellas. These are third-person plural subject pronouns. They refer to a group being discussed rather than the person or people you are directly addressing. The verb then takes the corresponding third-person plural form. For contrast, él means “he”, while tú and usted are forms of “you” used to address the listener.
Examples: Ellos trabajan. — They work. Ellas estudian. — They study.
Use ellos for a group of men or boys and, in standard grammatical agreement, for a mixed group. Use ellas for a group of women or girls. With things, the grammatical gender of the noun matters. A noun’s grammatical gender does not mean the object itself has a human gender.
These basic forms describe plural “they.” If English “they” refers to one individual, a direct substitution with a plural Spanish pronoun can change the meaning. Work from the person and context rather than assuming that every English sentence containing “they” refers to several people.
Forms and Related Pronouns
1. Ellos — They
Ellos is useful in sentences such as Ellos viven aquí — “They live here.” If the group has already been identified as mis amigos, “my friends,” the pronoun can refer back to them. It avoids repeating the full noun phrase, although Spanish may also omit the pronoun altogether.
Adjectives describing that group normally use masculine plural agreement: Ellos están cansados means “They are tired.” Notice the ending -os in cansados. The verb están is plural too, but it does not change between masculine and feminine subjects.
2. Ellas — They
Ellas refers to a feminine group. Mis hermanas están aquí. Ellas hablan español means “My sisters are here. They speak Spanish.” Since the subject is feminine plural, a describing adjective such as “tired” becomes cansadas.
For a group of feminine nouns representing objects, ellas can be grammatically possible, especially with contrast or emphasis. In many ordinary sentences, however, leaving the subject understood will sound more natural than repeatedly applying a strong pronoun to objects. Learn the noun’s gender and the sentence pattern together.
3. Ustedes — You, Not They
Ustedes means plural “you.” It uses the same third-person plural verb forms as ellos and ellas, which can confuse beginners. Ustedes hablan español means “You speak Spanish,” addressing several people. Ellos hablan español means “They speak Spanish,” talking about a group.
This shared verb form is one reason context matters when the pronoun is missing. Hablan español can mean “They speak Spanish” or plural “You speak Spanish,” depending on who is being discussed or addressed. The verb ending alone does not distinguish these two meanings.
4. They and Them Are Different
English “they” is a subject form, while “them” is an object form. Spanish also distinguishes these roles. Ellos nos ven means “They see us,” while Los vemos means “We see them,” referring to a masculine or mixed group. For a feminine group as a direct object, use las.
After a preposition, the strong forms ellos and ellas can appear: con ellos, “with them,” and para ellas, “for them.” That does not make ellos a direct replacement for every English object pronoun. The grammatical role and construction determine the form.
They in Spanish: Quick Comparison
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| Spanish | English | Role or reference |
|---|---|---|
| ellos | they | Masculine or mixed plural subject |
| ellas | they | Feminine plural subject |
| ustedes | you | Plural addressee; same verb forms as ellos |
| los | them | Masculine or mixed direct object |
| las | them | Feminine direct object |
| les | to them | An indirect object pronoun in the relevant construction |
| con ellos / ellas | with them | A pronoun following a preposition |
| Hablan español. | They speak Spanish. / You speak Spanish. | The subject is supplied by context |
How to Pronounce Ellos and Ellas
Ellos is often approximated as EH-yohs, and ellas as EH-yahs. Both are stressed on the first syllable. The final s marks the plural form in the spelling, although how strongly it is heard can vary with accent and speaking style.
The double letter ll does not usually sound like two separate English l sounds. Its pronunciation varies across Spanish-speaking regions, with sounds that English listeners may hear as “y,” “j,” or, in some regions, something closer to “sh” or “zh.” The English guides above are a starting approximation, not the only valid accent.
No written accent is needed in ellos or ellas. Keep the vowels clear and practice the pronoun with a short verb. This helps you hear the sentence rhythm rather than isolating the middle consonant too heavily.
Verb Forms Used with They
The verb must agree with the plural subject. Regular present-tense -ar verbs often end in -an, while regular -er and -ir verbs often end in -en in the ellos/ellas form. Many useful verbs are irregular, so learn those forms separately.
- ellos hablan — they speak
- ellas comen — they eat
- ellos viven — they live
- ellas son — they are, with ser
- ellos están — they are, with estar
- ellas tienen — they have
- ellos van — they go
- ellas pueden — they can
The verb does not acquire a feminine ending just because the subject is ellas. Compare ellos hablan and ellas hablan: the verb is identical. An adjective may change, as in ellos están listos and ellas están listas, “they are ready.”
For “they are,” choose between son and están according to the meaning, rather than treating one as the universal plural form. Son estudiantes identifies them as students, while Están aquí locates them here.
When to Leave Out the Pronoun
Spanish often omits a subject pronoun when the reference is clear. Mis amigos viven cerca. Trabajan en el centro means “My friends live nearby. They work in the center.” The second sentence does not need an explicit ellos because the group is already understood.
Include the pronoun to clarify or contrast. Ellos estudian, pero nosotros trabajamos means “They study, but we work.” Here the pronouns make the contrast between the two groups easy to follow. They can also help when several possible subjects have been mentioned.
A missing pronoun is not a missing subject in the English sense. The verb and context still supply grammatical information. When translating into English, you may need to add “they” even though no separate Spanish word appears on the page.
Example Sentences
These examples show a masculine or mixed group, a feminine group, and a contrast. Notice both the verb endings and any adjective agreement.
Use: Ellos identifies the group being discussed. Viven is the third-person plural form of vivir.
Use: Ellas refers to a feminine group, so the adjective is listas. Están has the same form with ellos.
Use: The explicit subject pronouns make the contrast between the groups clear.
Common Mistakes
Do not use ellos for every grammatical role just because English refers to the same group. A direct object may need los or las, and an indirect object may need les. Learn the complete verb pattern rather than attaching a subject pronoun after every verb.
Do not change a verb ending to feminine for ellas, and do not assume ustedes means “they” because its conjugation is shared. Finally, avoid repeating an explicit pronoun in every sentence when the subject is already clear. Include it when it adds clarity or emphasis.
Frequently Asked Questions About They in Spanish
Tap a question below to see the answer.
What is they in Spanish?
For a plural subject, use ellos or ellas. Ellos is the usual masculine or mixed-group form; ellas refers to a feminine group.
Do ellos and ellas use different verb endings?
No. They use the same third-person plural verb forms: ellos hablan and ellas hablan. Adjectives may change for gender, such as listos and listas.
Can I leave ellos or ellas out?
Yes, when the subject is clear from the verb and context. Include it when needed to clarify who is involved or to contrast one group with another.
Does ustedes mean they?
No. Ustedes means plural you. It shares verb forms with ellos and ellas, so the context or explicit pronoun identifies whether the sentence means you or they.
Is them also ellos?
After a preposition, forms such as con ellos are normal. As a direct object, Spanish commonly uses los or las. The grammatical role determines the form.
How do I say they are here?
Say Ellos están aquí or Ellas están aquí, depending on the group. If the subject is already understood, Están aquí may be enough.
Summary
They in Spanish is ellos or ellas for a plural subject. Match the group, use a third-person plural verb, and change any describing adjective where agreement requires it. The verb form itself does not change between masculine and feminine subjects.
Spanish often omits the pronoun when the context is clear. Keep ustedes, plural “you,” and object forms such as los and las separate from subject “they.” Complete sentences will help you choose the correct form.
