Every noun has a gender
In Spanish every noun is masculine or feminine: not only people, but also things and ideas. There is no neuter. The article in front of the noun shows its gender:
- el, un for masculine nouns
- la, una for feminine nouns
English uses one “the” for everything, so learn every noun together with its article: not just casa, but la casa.
The articles
| Article | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| definite (the) | el libro | la casa |
| indefinite (a, an) | un libro | una casa |
Clues from the ending
| Ending | Usually | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| -o | masculine | el libro, el vaso |
| -a | feminine | la casa, la mesa |
| -ción, -sión, -dad, -tad | feminine | la canción, la televisión, la ciudad, la libertad |
| -or, -aje | masculine | el color, el viaje |
| -e or another consonant | either: learn each word | el café, la noche, el hotel, la luz |
Common exceptions
- Some nouns in -a are masculine, many of them in -ma: el día, el mapa, el problema, el idioma, el programa.
- Some nouns in -o are feminine: la mano, la foto, la moto.
- Many words for people have one form for both: el estudiante, la estudiante; el turista, la turista.
- A feminine noun that starts with a stressed a- or ha- takes el and un in the singular, but stays feminine: el agua fría.
When to use an article
- el, la for something specific or already known, and for things in general: Me gusta el café. (I like coffee.)
- un, una for one thing, often mentioned for the first time: Hay un banco en la plaza.
- No article with a profession after ser: Ana es profesora.
- a + el = al, de + el = del: Voy al mercado. Es la casa del profesor.
Examples
- El libro está en la mesa.The book is on the table.
- Hay una farmacia en la plaza.There is a pharmacy in the square.
- El problema es el idioma.The problem is the language.Both nouns end in -a but are masculine.
- Ana es profesora.Ana is a teacher.No article before a profession after ser.
- Me gusta el café.I like coffee.Things in general take el or la.
- Voy al mercado.I'm going to the market.
- El agua está fría.The water is cold.agua takes el but is feminine: fría.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:
la problemaRight: ✓ el problemaproblema ends in -a but is masculine. - Wrong:
Soy un estudiante.Right: ✓ Soy estudiante.No un / una before a profession or occupation after ser. - Wrong:
Me gusta café.Right: ✓ Me gusta el café.Spanish uses the article for things in general, where English has none. - Wrong:
Voy a el parque.Right: ✓ Voy al parque.a + el always becomes al (and de + el becomes del).