Like This In Spanish | Natural Ways To Say It

In Spanish, “like this” is often “así,” with options like “de esta manera” when you want extra clarity.

You’ve seen it a hundred times: you’re explaining a step, pointing at something on a screen, or showing a friend how to do a move, and you say, “Like this.” In Spanish, that idea is easy, but the best wording shifts with the moment.

This page gives you the choices Spanish speakers reach for, what each one sounds like, and quick swaps you can use when “like this” is doing different jobs in English.

What “Like This” Usually Means In Spanish

English uses “like this” for a few different tasks. Spanish tends to pick a more specific word for each task, so you sound natural and you avoid confusion.

• Showing a method: “Do it like this.”
• Pointing to a specific thing: “I want one like this.”
• Reacting to a situation: “I don’t like it like this.”
• Introducing an explanation: “It goes like this…”

Once you know which job your “like this” is doing, the Spanish choice gets simple.

Fast Picks You Can Use Right Away

If you want a small set of go-to options, start here. These cover most daily uses without sounding stiff.

“Así” For “Like This” When You’re Demonstrating

Así is the workhorse. It’s short, common, and it fits when you’re showing how something is done.

• Hazlo así. Do it like this.
• Se hace así. It’s done like this.
• Así, mira. Like this, look.

If you’re pointing, modeling a step, or correcting someone gently, “así” usually lands well. The Real Academia Española’s dictionary entry for “así” is a useful reference for its core meanings and everyday uses.

“De Esta Manera” When You Need More Detail

De esta manera is “in this way.” It’s longer, but it helps when you want your instructions to be clear, like in training, written steps, or a careful explanation.

• Hazlo de esta manera. Do it like this.
• De esta manera, no se rompe. Like this, it won’t break.

It carries the same idea as “así,” just with more weight and less casual snap.

“Así Es Como…” When You’re Explaining A Process

When “like this” is really “this is how it works,” Spanish often uses así es como.

• Así es como se hace. This is how it’s done.
• Así es como lo resolví. This is how I solved it.

This phrasing helps you introduce steps in a tidy way, especially when you’re walking someone through a method.

Like This In Spanish With A Natural Modifier

Sometimes you want extra meaning: “like this” as in “like this kind,” “like this one,” or “like this way.” Spanish uses a small set of building blocks to do that cleanly.

When You Mean “Like This One”

If you’re choosing an item that resembles something you can point to, you’ll often use uno/una así or a structure with como.

• Quiero uno así. I want one like this.
• Busco una chaqueta como esta. I’m looking for a jacket like this.
• No tengo otro como este. I don’t have another like this.

Notice the difference: “uno así” leans on the idea of “like this (style),” while “como este” points harder at the specific model you’re holding.

When You Mean “In This State”

English can say “I don’t want it like this” to mean “in this condition.” Spanish often prefers así or de este modo, and it may add a detail word to show what’s wrong.

• No lo quiero así. I don’t want it like this.
• No quiero el cuarto así de desordenado. I don’t want the room this messy.

That “así de …” pattern is common in speech because it ties the state to a clear description.

When You Mean “It Goes Like This”

To introduce an explanation, story, or set of steps, Spanish uses compact starters that sound natural out loud.

• Es así: It’s like this:
• La cosa es así: Here’s the situation:
• Va así: It goes like this:

If you’re writing, a colon after “Es así:” often matches the English rhythm well.

Small Grammar Notes That Keep You From Sounding Off

These details sound picky, but they’re the stuff native speakers notice right away.

“Este/Esta/Esto” Vs “Así”

Este/esta/esto point to a thing. Así points to a manner or result. Mixing them can muddle your meaning.

• Me gusta esto. I like this (thing).
• Me gusta así. I like it like this (in this way).

If you’re unsure, ask yourself: am I pointing to an object, or to the way it’s done? The Diccionario panhispánico de dudas entry on demonstratives lays out the basics of these forms and when they show up in writing.

Where To Put “Así” In A Sentence

Spanish is flexible, but placement changes emphasis.

• Hazlo así. Neutral, everyday.
• Así hazlo. More emphatic, like “Do it this way.”
• Hazlo así, no así. “Like this, not like that.”

If you’re correcting someone, pairing “así” with “no así” can sound firm. Use it with care if you’re speaking to someone you don’t know well.

“Como” Is Not Always “Like”

English “like” can mean “similar,” but it can also introduce a clause in casual speech (“Do it like I do”). Spanish handles that with como when it’s truly “the way that.”

• Hazlo como yo. Do it like I do.
• Hazlo como te dije. Do it the way I told you.

If you mean “similar to this thing,” you may still use “como,” and you’ll often pair it with a demonstrative: como este, como esta.

Politeness Add-Ons That Sound Natural

English speakers often worry about sounding bossy in Spanish. A tiny add-on can soften the line without changing meaning.

• Así, por favor. Like this, please.
• Mejor así. Better like this.
• Mira, así. Look, like this.

These are simple, and they fit daily life: cafés, shops, group chats, and quick instructions.

Translation Table For Common “Like This” Situations

Use the chart below when you’re stuck mid-sentence and need a clean option fast. Pick the Spanish that matches what you’re doing: demonstrating, choosing, reacting, or explaining.

English Use	Best Spanish Option	When It Sounds Right
Do it like this.	Hazlo así.	Hands-on instruction, casual to neutral.
It’s done like this.	Se hace así.	Explaining a method or routine.
Like this, it works.	Así funciona.	Showing the correct setup or result.
I want one like this.	Quiero uno así.	Pointing at a style or type, not one exact item.
I want one like this one.	Quiero uno como este.	Pointing at a specific model you can see.
I don’t want it like this.	No lo quiero así.	Reacting to a condition or a messy result.
Here’s how it is:	Es así:	Introducing an explanation, often followed by details.
This is how you do it.	Así es como se hace.	Walking through steps in a structured way.

How To Choose The Best Phrase In Real Conversations

Picking the right Spanish is less about rules and more about what you’re trying to get done. Use these cues when you’re speaking or writing.

Match The Energy Of The Moment

If you’re chatting with a friend, “así” fits. If you’re giving instructions at work, teaching, or writing steps, “de esta manera” can sound calmer and clearer.

If you’re correcting a mistake, try softening your tone with a small buffer: Mira, así or Mejor así. It keeps the message clear without sounding sharp.

Use Gestures The Same Way Spanish Speakers Do

Spanish relies on context. Pointing, showing the movement, or tapping the spot on a screen pairs naturally with “así.” If your hands are doing the teaching, “así” often beats a longer phrase.

Keep “Como” For Comparisons And Clauses

Use “como” when you’re comparing to a noun (como este) or when you’re comparing to a whole way of doing something (como te dije).

If your English “like this” could be replaced by “this way,” “así” is a safe first choice in most scenes.

Writing Vs Speech

In speech, shorter options show up more: así, es así, uno así. In writing, you’ll see more expanded forms: de esta manera, de este modo, así es como.

If you’re drafting instructions, the longer forms reduce ambiguity. If you’re texting, shorter forms keep the message light and quick.

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

These are the slips that show up a lot for English speakers. The fixes are simple once you spot the pattern.

Mixing Up “Esto” And “Así”

“Esto” is a thing. “Así” is a manner or result. If you say Hazlo esto, it doesn’t work. Use Hazlo así.

Overusing “De Esta Manera” In Casual Speech

“De esta manera” is fine, but it can feel heavy if you use it every time. In everyday talk, Spanish tends to shorten. Swap to “así” when you’re not writing formal steps.

Forgetting The Object In “I Like It Like This”

English can drop the object. Spanish often keeps it, even if it’s just lo.

• Me gusta así. Works when the thing is obvious.
• Me gusta así, pero más grande. Works when you add a detail.
• Me gusta así como está. “I like it the way it is.”

Translating “Like This” When You Mean “This Kind”

In English, “like this” can mean “this kind,” especially when you’re shopping or filtering choices. Spanish often wants a noun phrase.

• Quiero algo así. I want something like this.
• Busco algo de este estilo. I’m looking for something in this style.
• Prefiero uno de estos. I prefer one of these.

Those lines can feel more natural than forcing “así” into every sentence.

Table Of Quick Swaps When English Gets Tricky

When “like this” is glued to other words in English, Spanish can shift the structure. Use these swaps to keep your sentence smooth.

English Pattern	Natural Spanish Swap	Why It Works
Like this one	Como este / como esta	Points to a specific item you can see.
Like this way	Así / de este modo	Targets the method, not the object.
Like this, please	Así, por favor	Fits service situations with a polite close.
Not like this	No así	Short correction that matches spoken Spanish.
It’s like this	Es así	Clean setup for an explanation.
I learned it like this	Lo aprendí así	Direct, natural word order.

Practice Mini Drills That Build The Habit

You don’t need a workbook. A few tiny drills are enough to make the right choice feel automatic.

Drill 1: Swap “This Way” For “Like This”

Say the English sentence again with “this way.” If it still makes sense, try “así” first in Spanish.

• “Open it like this” → “Open it this way” → Ábrelo así.
• “Set it up like this” → “Set it up this way” → Configúralo así.

Drill 2: Point To A Noun

If you can point to a thing and name it, use a comparison with “como” plus a demonstrative.

• “A phone like this” → Un teléfono como este.
• “A chair like this” → Una silla como esta.

Drill 3: Start An Explanation

When you’re about to explain a situation, start with Es así: and then speak. It trains you to use a Spanish starter instead of translating word for word.

Extra Notes On Regional Feel

Across Spain and Latin America, “así” works everywhere. “De esta manera” and “de este modo” are widely understood, too.

What shifts is how often people choose the longer options. In casual speech, shorter wins. In writing, the longer options show up more.

If you want a deeper grammar reference for terminology and patterns used above, the Instituto Cervantes grammar resources are a strong place to check examples and labels.

Wrap-Up: The Set You’ll Use Most

If you only remember three tools, make them these:

• Así for “this way” while demonstrating.
• Como este/esta for “like this one” while pointing to a specific item.
• Es así: for starting an explanation.

With those in your pocket, you’ll stop translating “like this” the same way every time, and your Spanish will sound more natural in the moments that matter.