этот vs тот

étot vs tot — this vs that

What it really means

"Этот" means this — something close to the speaker, current, or just being discussed. "Тот" means that — something more distant, previously mentioned, or contrasted with another item. Russian also has plural forms эти and те.

Distance can be physical or conversational. "Этот фильм" is the film currently in focus; "тот фильм" may be a different film, one from earlier, or one remembered from a different context. Russian often uses the pair simply to contrast two choices.

Examples in natural speech

Мне нравится этот фильм.
I like this film.
А тот фильм был скучным.
But that film was boring.
Возьми эту ручку, не ту.
Take this pen, not that one.
В тот день шёл дождь.
It rained that day.
Эти книги новые, а те старые.
These books are new, and those are old.

Common mistakes

Learners sometimes use этот and тот only for physical distance. In Russian, the choice also tracks the conversation: этот can mean the item currently under discussion, while тот can refer back to a different or earlier item. Both adjectives must agree with the noun.

Memory tip

"Этот" brings something into focus; "тот" points away or back. This versus that, in space or in the conversation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between этот and тот in Russian?

"Этот" means this and usually marks something close, current, or in focus. "Тот" means that and marks something more distant, previously mentioned, or contrasted with another item.

What are the plural forms of этот and тот?

The plural forms are "эти" (these) and "те" (those): "эти книги" means these books, and "те книги" means those books.

Does тот always mean physically far away?

No. It can show conversational or remembered distance rather than physical distance. "В тот день" means on that day, and "тот фильм" can refer to a film mentioned earlier.

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