Spanish 101

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.