What is “such”? or what does “stories” mean? These are typical questions that Spanish students ask. It does not have an exact translation into English but I can explain it to you in different contexts.

In the first case, it has a function of being demonstrative.

The following examples could be replaced by the demonstratives: this-this, that-that, those-those. We use such or such when the meaning is implicit in the conversation.

I have never said such a thing. (I never said that)

The red pants must be put in this box. Tales pants its to put on sale next week. (We need to put the red pants in this box. These pants will go on sale next week.)

In another case we use Tal with the connotation of: a lot, a lot.

Such bravery receives a prize. (Such courage deserves a prize.)

That advertising employs such creativity that it left us all amazed. (This ad uses so much creativity that it blew us all away.)

Furthermore, it is possible to use such/such in order to hide the exact information:

Our we were able to find such a day at such a time and finish planning the party. (We could find that day at that time and finish planning the party).

When she did such and such a thing I didn’t get angry, that’s why I don’t like her reproaching me. (When she did such and such I got mad, so she doesn’t like to blame me).

Another use is when we are talking about an indefinite person, that we do not know exactly, but this person says his name or we hear his name.

He has named such an Oscar. (She called a certain Oscar.)

A certain Raúl gave me these papers, so that I can give them to you. (I gave these papers to a certain Raúl, so that he can give them to you)

We could also be talking about similarity.

If it is a person who never recognized his children, such a person does not deserve my respect. (If he is a person who never recognized his children, that person does not deserve my respect).

What a lack of respect. I never saw anything like it. (How disrespectful. I never saw such a thing.)

There are also some phrases that always use Tal.

How are you? (how are you)

They are such for which

Like father, like son (literally means: like father, like son / literally means: like father, like son)