The word "these" is a demonstrative pronoun used to refer to specific items or individuals that are close in distance or time. It helps to point out particular things that are either present or have been previously mentioned in a conversation. For example, when you say "these apples," you are specifically talking about apples that are near you or that you are holding.
The word "these" comes from Old English "ðis," which refers to something near in space or time, and evolved through various forms in Germanic languages. Its plural form is also derived from the Proto-Germanic þizai and Proto-Indo-European tḗs, emphasizing its demonstrative nature.