Eso es interesante.

That is interesting.

Breakdown of Eso es interesante.

• ser: to be
• interesante: interesting
• eso: that

Questions & Answers about Eso es interesante.

What exactly does eso refer to in Eso es interesante?

Eso means “that (thing / idea)”.
It usually refers to:

• Something that was just said:
  
  • —Aprobé el examen. (I passed the exam.)
  • —¡Eso es interesante! (That’s interesting!)
• Or a situation / event you’re both thinking about.

So it’s a very general “that”, pointing to an idea, not a specific noun like “book” or “movie.”

What’s the difference between eso, esto, and aquello?

All three are neuter demonstrative pronouns (they refer to ideas/situations, not to a masculine or feminine noun):

• esto = “this (thing/idea)” – closer to the speaker, or something you’re just introducing
• eso = “that (thing/idea)” – a bit more distant, often what the other person said or did
• aquello = “that (thing/idea) over there / long ago / far away” – more distant in space or time, often somewhat literary or formal

In everyday speech, esto and eso are much more common than aquello.
Eso es interesante = That (thing you mentioned) is interesting.

What’s the difference between eso and ese / esa?

• eso is neuter and refers to an idea, action, or unspecified “thing.”

  • Eso es interesante. = That (idea/action) is interesting.

• ese / esa are masculine / feminine and must agree with a specific noun:

  • Ese libro es interesante. = That book is interesting.
  • Esa película es interesante. = That movie is interesting.

So use ese/esa when you have a clear noun; use eso when you’re talking about something more abstract or not naming the noun.

Why is it ES interesante and not ESTÁ interesante?

Both verbs exist in Spanish, but they’re used differently:

• ser (es) usually describes general, inherent, or typical characteristics:

  • Eso es interesante. = That is interesting (in general / by nature / as a fact).

• estar (está) often describes temporary states or how something seems at the moment:

  • Eso está interesante. can sound like That is getting/turning out interesting right now.

In many parts of Latin America you can hear Está interesante (especially for books, movies, series) to focus on the current stage or development, but Es interesante is the more neutral, standard version.

Can I just say Es interesante without eso?

Yes. Es interesante means simply “It’s interesting.”

• Eso es interesante. = That is interesting. (you’re pointing more clearly to something specific that was said/done)
• Es interesante. = It’s interesting. (more general; the context tells what “it” is)

Both are correct and common. Eso just makes the reference more explicit, like stressing that in English.

Is Eso es interesante formal, informal, or neutral?

It’s neutral. You can use it:

• In casual conversations with friends
• At work with colleagues
• Even in relatively formal situations

If you want to sound more enthusiastic, you might say ¡Qué interesante! (How interesting!), but Eso es interesante itself is neither rude nor overly formal.

Can I change the word order and say Es interesante eso?

Yes, Es interesante eso is grammatically correct, but it’s less common and can sound a bit more reflective or stylistic, like:

• Es interesante eso que dices. = That thing you say is interesting.

In everyday speech, Eso es interesante is the usual, more natural order.

Why doesn’t eso have an accent mark?

Modern standard Spanish does not put an accent on demonstrative pronouns like eso, esto, eso, ese, esa, etc.

• eso never takes an accent, even in older rules.
• You might see accents on éste, ésa, aquél in older texts, but current recommendations are no accent unless there’s real ambiguity (and even then, most people omit it).

So eso is always written without an accent.

How would I say “Those are interesting” instead of “That is interesting”?

For plural, you change both the demonstrative and the adjective:

• Singular: Eso es interesante. = That is interesting.
• Plural for specific things (masc./mixed):
  
  • Esos son interesantes. = Those are interesting.
• Plural for specific things (fem.):
  
  • Esas son interesantes. = Those (feminine) are interesting.

If you want to name the noun:

• Esos libros son interesantes. = Those books are interesting.
• Esas películas son interesantes. = Those movies are interesting.

How can I express a similar reaction in other common ways in Latin American Spanish?

Besides Eso es interesante, very common options include:

• ¡Qué interesante! – How interesting! (more expressive)
• Mira, qué interesante. – Look, that’s interesting.
• Está interesante. – It’s (currently) interesting.
• Es curioso. – That’s curious / That’s interesting in a strange way.

All of these are natural ways to react when you want to show interest in what someone has said.