Grammar Lesson 40

The Italian demonstrative pronoun

Costui (and all its forms) is a third-person demonstrative pronoun used to refer to persons close to the speaker and / or the listener, or persons just mentioned.

	Singular	Plural	Meaning
Masculine	costui	costoro	this, that one (subject) this, that one (object)
Feminine	costei	costoro	this, that one (subject) this, that one (object)

How to use:

Costui (in all its forms) is rarely used in everyday speech. But when used it is mostly used with a pejorative connotation, suggesting detachment and estrangement of the speaker from the person / persons to whom the pronoun refers to.

Examples:

- Non voglio avere niente a che fare con costui / I don't want anything to do with this person

- E chi sarebbe costui? / And who would this person be?

- Chi si credono di essere costoro? / Who do they think they are?

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