Definite Articles

There are four words in Spanish that mean “the”. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

The word “the” in English and “el” or “la” in Spanish are referred to as the definite article. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

The word “the” always precedes a noun and refers to a specific person, place, thing, or concept. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

Gender of nouns

In Spanish, nouns have gender In Spanish, nouns have gender. They are either “masculine” or “feminine”. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

El chico is masculine. La chica is feminine. el los la las singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

All nouns are put into these categories even if there is no clear logic to the category. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

Often (but not always) the final vowel of a noun tells which definite article to use. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

Nouns ending in -o (like sombrero) are usually masculine and take the definite article “el”. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

el amigo el perro el maestro el gato el apartamento el escritorio el chico el muchacho el sombrero el vestido el zapato el carro

Nouns ending in -a (like camiseta) are usually feminine and take the definite article “la”. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

la chica la muchacha la camisa la blusa la chaqueta la camiseta la amiga la cocina la casa la puerta la ventana la computadora

Two important exceptions to this rule are día (day), which is masculine, and mano (hand), which is feminine. Some nouns that end in –a are masculine: El problema El sistema El programa El poema El idioma El clima

Nouns ending in -e (like hombre) or a consonant (like mujer) can be either masculine or feminine and must be learned individually. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

el hombre el señor el suéter el calcetín el parque la mujer la clase el restaurante el español la mujer la clase la televisión la madre La calle

Nouns ending in –sión, -ción, -tad, and –dad are feminine. La televisión la lección La decisión la conversación La libertad la universidad La amistad la ciudad

Indefinite Articles

In addition, there are four words in Spanish that mean “a”, “an”. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

The word “a” in English and “un” or “una” in Spanish are referred to as the indefinite article. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

The word “a” always precedes a noun and refers to a inspecific person, place, thing, or concept. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

Un chico is masculine. Una chica is feminine. un unos una unas singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

Unos chicos is masculine plural. Unas chicas is feminine plural. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

Note: English never uses a plural indefinite article Note: English never uses a plural indefinite article. This form is usually translated with the word “some.” Unas chicas (some girls) singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

Nouns ending in -o (like sombrero) are usually masculine and take the indefinite article “un”. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

un amigo un perro un maestro un gato un apartamento un chico un muchacho un sombrero un vestido un zapato

Nouns ending in -a (like camiseta) are usually feminine and take the indefinite article “una”. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

una chica una muchacha una camisa una blusa una chaqueta una camiseta una amiga una señora una casa una puerta una ventana una computadora

Nouns ending in -e (like hombre) or a consonant (like mujer) can be either masculine or feminine and must be learned individually. singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine

un hombre un señor un suéter un calcetín un parque un restaurante una mujer una clase una televisión una ventana

Number of Nouns

Number a term that identifies words as singular or plural: Silla (chair) Sillas (Chairs) Nouns are made plural in Spanish by adding –s to those ending in a vowel and –es to those ending in a consonant. Nouns ending in –z are made plural by changing the z to c and adding –es. Teléfono Teléfonos Mesa Mesas Profesor Profesores Lápiz lápices Luz luces Lección lecciones

The doors is “las puertas”. The door is “la puerta”. The doors is “las puertas”. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

The noun adds an ‘s’ and the article changes to the plural form as well. singular plural el los masculine la las feminine

Remember the plural forms are translated in English by “some” Remember the plural forms are translated in English by “some”. unas blusas (some blouses) unas chicas (some girls) singular plural un unos masculine una unas feminine