Articles & Gender
Definite (el/la/los/las) and indefinite (un/una/unos/unas) articles agree with the noun.
Examples
- el librothe book
- una casa nuevaa new house
- los díasthe days
How it works
Every Spanish noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. Articles agree with the noun's gender and number.
Definite articles (the):
el libro (m sg) — los libros (m pl)
la casa (f sg) — las casas (f pl)
Indefinite articles (a / some):
un libro — unos libros
una casa — unas casas
Most nouns ending in -o are masculine, in -a are feminine. Common exceptions:
el día (m, despite -a)
la mano (f, despite -o)
el problema, el sistema (m, Greek-derived -ma)
Plurals
-vowel → +s (libro → libros, casa → casas)
-consonant → +es
ciudad → ciudades, color → colores
Special contractions
a + el → al(al mercado — to the market)
de + el → del (el color del coche — the car's color)
But "a la / de la" do NOT contract.
What you'll practise
1. Definite articles (el/la/los/las)
Pick el/la/los/las based on noun gender + number.
- la mujerthe woman
- los hombresthe men
2. Indefinite articles (un/una/unos/unas)
Use un/una/unos/unas for 'a' / 'some'.
- un libroa book
- unas casassome houses
3. Contractions a+el→al, de+el→del
a + el contracts to al; de + el contracts to del. Other combinations don't.
- al mercadoto the market
- la puerta del cochethe car door
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.