The rule, in plain English
Learn a noun together with the word for the: el libro, la mesa. The ending gives you a clue—-o is often masculine and -a is often feminine—but there are exceptions such as el problema and la mano. The article and adjective must match the noun: una casa blanca; unos libros rojos. The tables below collect the less common patterns.
Why it's hard for English speakers
English says the same the and red for every noun. Spanish makes you choose el or la and may also change the adjective. Memorising la mesa instead of mesa gives your brain the gender from the start.
Worked examples
Start with these worked examples, then reveal more when you are ready.
- El libro nuevo está aquí.The new book is here.Common gender clues: Libro follows the common pattern that nouns ending in -o are masculine.
- La ventana está abierta.The window is open.Common gender clues: Ventana follows the common pattern that nouns ending in -a are feminine.
- La estación está cerca.The station is nearby.Common gender clues: Nouns ending in -ción are normally feminine, so estación takes la.
- La libertad es importante.Freedom is important.Common gender clues: Nouns ending in -dad are normally feminine.
- El viaje es largo.The journey is long.Common gender clues: Nouns ending in -aje are normally masculine.
- La profesora es española.The teacher is Spanish.Common gender clues: Many nouns for people change their ending to match the person's gender.
- El problema es serio.The problem is serious.Important exceptions: Problema is a Greek-derived -ma noun and is masculine despite its final -a.
- El día está soleado.The day is sunny.Important exceptions: Día is masculine even though it ends in -a.
- El mapa es útil.The map is useful.Important exceptions: Mapa is another common masculine noun ending in -a.
- La mano derecha está limpia.The right hand is clean.Important exceptions: Mano is feminine despite ending in -o, so both adjectives are feminine.
- La foto antigua está en el álbum.The old photo is in the album.Important exceptions: Foto is short for fotografía and keeps the feminine gender.
- La moto nueva es rápida.The new motorbike is fast.Important exceptions: Moto is short for motocicleta and is feminine.
Definite and indefinite articles
| Gender and number | Definite: the | Indefinite: a / some | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | el | un | el libro / un libro |
| Feminine singular | la | una | la mesa / una mesa |
| Masculine plural | los | unos | los libros / unos libros |
| Feminine plural | las | unas | las mesas / unas mesas |
Useful gender clues—not absolute rules
| Ending or type | Usually | Examples | Remember |
|---|---|---|---|
| -o | masculine | el libro, el banco | Exception: la mano |
| -a | feminine | la casa, la mesa | Exceptions: el día, el mapa |
| -ción / -sión | feminine | la estación, la televisión | Use la / las |
| -dad / -tad | feminine | la ciudad, la libertad | Use la / las |
| -umbre | feminine | la costumbre | Use la / las |
| -aje | masculine | el viaje, el paisaje | Use el / los |
| many Greek-derived -ma nouns | masculine | el problema, el sistema | Not every -ma noun: la cama |
| abbreviated nouns | keep original gender | la foto, la moto | fotografía / motocicleta |
Feminine nouns beginning with stressed a- or ha-
| Context | Article or determiner | Noun + adjective | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Definite singular | el | el agua fría | el avoids adjacent stressed a sounds |
| Indefinite singular | un | un águila blanca | un is normally used before stressed a |
| Definite plural | las | las aguas frías | normal feminine article returns |
| Indefinite plural | unas | unas aulas grandes | normal feminine article returns |
| Demonstrative | esta | esta hacha vieja | the noun is still feminine |
High-frequency exceptions to learn with the article
| Masculine despite the ending | Feminine despite the ending |
|---|---|
| el problema | la mano |
| el sistema | la foto |
| el tema | la moto |
| el día | la radio |
| el mapa | la flor |
Common mistakes
- la problemael problemaProblema is one of many Greek-derived -ma nouns that are masculine.
- el manola manoMano is a common feminine exception; learn it as la mano.
- el agua fríoel agua fríaEl is used for sound, but agua remains feminine and takes fría.
- los ciudades grandeslas ciudades grandesCiudad is feminine, so its plural article is las.
Practice
___ día
___ mano
the white houses = las casas ___
___ mapa
___ problema difícil
___ foto antigua
some interesting cities = ___ ciudades interesantes
Choose the correct phrase.