The Basics of Spanish

Gender of Nouns

The general rule

If a word ends in "o" it is usually masculine. If a word ends in "a" it is usually feminine.

"the" = "el" for masculine, "la" for feminine.

"a" = "un" in masculine, "una" is feminine

el mundo = world
el chico = boy
el colegio = school
el coche = car
el miedo = fear

la chica = girl
la piscina = swimming pool
la mesa = table
la libertad = liberty

Masculine to Feminine

No general rule.

el gato => la gata (cat)
el perro => la perra (dog)
el chico (boy) => la chica (girl)
el hermano (brother) => la hermana (sister)

Note. Words that have feminine meanings or connotations tend to be a feminine word. Exceptions:

el vestido (dress)
la corbata (tie)

More examples:

el doctor => la doctora (doctor)
el profesor => la profesora (teacher)

Exceptional Examples. In some cases, the actual noun does not change, but the article does in accordance to whom it is referring to.

el estudiante => la estudiante (student)
el artista => la artista (artist)

Exceptional masculine nouns ending in "a"

el problema (problem)
el mapa (map)
el tema (issue)
el sistema (system)

Exceptional feminine nouns ending in "o"

la mano (hand)
la radio (radio)

More Feminine Noun rules

Nouns ending in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

la televisión (TV)
la decisión (decision)
la conversación (conversation)
la ciudad (city)
la actitud (attitude)
la libertad (liberty)
la certidumbre (certainty)

Plural Forms of Nouns

Definite Articles in the Plural Form

"el" becomes "los"
"la" becomes "las"

Vowel Ending

If a noun ends in a vowel, then it becomes plural by adding the letter "s".

casa (house) => casas
el libro (book) => los libros
la pluma (pen) => las plumas
el chico (boy) => los chicos
la señora (women referred to older women) => las señoras

Consonant Ending

If a noun ends in a consonant, it becomes plural by adding "es".

país (country) => países
el borrador (draft) => los borradores
la universidad (university) => las universidades
el profesor (teacher) => los profesores
la ciudad (city) => las ciudades

"-ión" Ending

If a noun ends in "-ión", add "-es" and drop the written accent.

el avión (aeroplane) => los aviones (Note. this is masculine, exception of the above rule.)
la conversación (conversation) => las conversaciones
la sección (section) => las secciones
la televisión (TV) => las televisiones

"-z" Ending

Noun ends in "-z", add "-es" and change the "z" to "c".

el lápiz => los lápices
la voz (voice) => las voces
el tapiz (wallpaper) => los tapices
la actriz (actress) => la actrices

Maschuline and Feminine Plural Nouns Combined

When the plural refers to two or more nouns of different genders, the masculine plural is used.

1 camello (camel) + 4 camellas = 5 camellos

Compound Nouns

Compound nouns are always masculine, therefor in the plural form the definite article changes from "el" to "los".

abre (open) + latas (cans) = abrelatas (can opener)
- el abrelatas => los abrelatas

Definite Articles

el, la, los, las.

The definite article in Spanish must agree with the gender and number of the noun that follows it.

Spanish Definite Article

El colegio = The school

La manzana = The apple

Los chicos = The boys

Las chicas = The girls

Spanish's Unique Uses of the Definite Article

The following topics require the definite article:

Days of the week
Seasons of the year
With more than one nouns
Before the names of some countries
With generic nouns
With names of languages
With clothing, body parts and other personal items
With infinitives used as subjects
Before names of streets
With personal titles
In certain set phrases

Days of the Week

el lunes (Monday), el jueves (Thursday)
Note that the days of the week are all masculine because they all refer to "el día" (day) which is masculine.
The days of the week are preceded by either "el" or "los" depending on whether the day is singular or plural.
- Voy a la biblioteca el viernes = I am going to the library on Friday.
- Voy a la biblioteca los viernes = I go to the library on Fridays.
When using "ser" which means "to be", the definite article is not used.
- Today is Sunday = Hoy es domingo.

Season of the Year

Seasons usually have the definite article.
- Prefiero los veranos = I prefer summers. (prefrir = to prefer)
It can be optional if after "de", "en" or verb form of "ser".
- No quiero estudiar en invierno = I do not want to study in the winter.

With More Than One Nouns

Hoy, leo el libro y la revista = Today I am reading the book and the magazine.
Quiero la camisa y los pantalones = I want the shirt and trousers.

Generic Nouns

This refers to nouns that are a concept or to a substance/ideas in general, no specific.
- Los árabes son ricos = Arabs are rich.
- La manzana es sana = Apple is healthy.

Exception: The article is omitted after the preposition "de" which could be used to describe possession, or when the noun following "de" describes the first noun and therefore doesn't refer to a specific person/thing.
- Los zapatos de mujeres = women's shoes.
- Los zapatos de las mujeres = the shoes of the women.

Names of Languages

El francés = French
El alemán = German
El español = Spanish

Exceptions
1. When the language is immediately followed by "en" which means "in".
  - En español... = In Spanish...
2. For a verb that is often used to describe languages such as "hablar" (to talk), "aprender" (to understand), "estudiar" (to study), and "saber" (to know).
  - Hablo español = I speak Spanish.
3. The article is required after an adverb/preposition other than en.
  - Hablo bien el español = I speak Spanish well.
4. The article is required when used with other verbs.
  - Prefiero el francés = I prefer French.

Clothing, Human Body and Personal Items

In Spanish, it is normal to use the definite article instead of the possessive adjective like in English.
- ¡Abre los ojos! = Open your eyes!
- Perdió los zapatos = He lost his shoes.

Verb Infinitives

Infinitive in English is the verb name which translate into "to x". For example "comprar" is an infinitive form of the verb which means "to buy".

In Spanish, we can say "smoking is prohibited" with using the verb infinitive and the Spanish definitive article.

El fumar está prohobido = Smoking is prohibited.

Prior to the Names of Certain Countries

Only for certain countries:
- For example, el Reino Unido (the UK), la India (India), la China (China)

Voy a México = I am going to Mexico.
We use the definite article when there is an adjective describing the noun
- Voy al México bello = I am going to beautiful Mexico.
Note. "al" = "a" + "el".

Street Names

Streets, avenues, plazas and similar places are usually preceded by a definite article.
- La Casa Blanca es la residencia de Barack Obama = The White House is the residence of Barack Obama.

Personal Titles

A definite article is used before the personal titles when you are talking about people not when you are speaking directly to them.
- La señora Lopez está ocupada = Mrs. Lopez is busy.
- Señor Jones, estás bien? = Mr. Jones, are you alright?

Certain Set Phrases

These are set expressions/phrases that cannot be changed. These usually involve locations/places.

En el espacio (in space)
En la televisión (on television)

Spanish 101

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