Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): Esa modista del barrio diseña vestidos sencillos y muy bonitos. - That dressmaker in the neighborhood designs simple and very pretty dresses.

Esa modista del barrio diseña vestidos sencillos y muy bonitos.

That dressmaker in the neighborhood designs simple and very pretty dresses.

Breakdown of Esa modista del barrio diseña vestidos sencillos y muy bonitos.

Questions & Answers about Esa modista del barrio diseña vestidos sencillos y muy bonitos.

Why is it esa modista and not ese modista?

Because esa has to agree with modista in gender and number.

esa = feminine singular
ese = masculine singular

In this sentence, the speaker is referring to a feminine modista, so esa is the correct form. Spanish demonstratives work like adjectives here, so they must match the noun: ese chico, esa chica, esos vestidos, esas faldas.

Is modista always feminine?

Not necessarily, but in this sentence it is feminine because of esa.

A useful point is that modista is a profession noun. In actual usage, it often refers to a woman, and modisto is also used for a man, especially for a male fashion designer or dressmaker. So here, esa modista clearly means the person is female.

What does del barrio mean exactly, and why is it del?