Los artículos

When to use: If you would use an article in English, then you use one in Spanish. If you do not use an article in English, then you do not use one in Spanish.

Los artículos There are 6 exceptions to this rule: 1) The definite article is used in Spanish with gustar Me gusta el tenis. 2) The definite article is used in Spanish with general statements or abstractions referring to whole categories. Here you can add in general into the sentence without really changing the meaning. Apples are delicious. Las manzanas son deliciosas. Apples are delicious. Las manzanas son deliciosas. However if you are talking about specific apples then you would no longer need the definite article. I ate apples for breakfast. Desayuné manzanas. (Here you ate specific apples and are not talking about all apples in general)

Los artículos cont. 3) The definite article is used in Spanish with some country names, although this rule is fading from the language and varies regionally. La Argentina and el Perú often do use the article. 4) The definite article is used in Spanish before titles such as Sra., Srta., Dr., etc. when the person is talked about (but not when you address the person directly) El nombre de la profesora es la Sra. Gentile. The titles don and doña, used with first names only, do not require an article.

Los artículos cont. 5) The definite article is used in Spanish with days of the week (often replacing the English preposition "on") and with hours of the day. Let's watch Destinos at six. Veamos Destinos a las seis. 6) The indefinite article is not used in Spanish with unmodified occupations, nationalities, or religions. Raquel is a lawyer. Raquel es abogada.

Masculino y feminino Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. There is no neuter gender noun. The typical rules you can lean on and the exceptions we will cover. Spanish nouns are either masculine or feminine. There is no neuter gender noun. The typical rules you can lean on and the exceptions we will cover. Masculine nouns have the article el Masculine nouns have the article el Feminine nouns have the article la Feminine nouns have the article la

Masculino y feminino Nouns that end in –o are usually masculine. Nouns that end in –a are usually feminine. Nouns that end in –o are usually masculine. Nouns that end in –a are usually feminine. There are of course exceptions to the rule, when learning new vocabulary learn the articles as well because you cannot predict the gender of most nouns. Many nouns also end in letters other than –o and –a. There are of course exceptions to the rule, when learning new vocabulary learn the articles as well because you cannot predict the gender of most nouns. Many nouns also end in letters other than –o and –a.

Sustantivos femininas Nouns ending in –dad –tad –tud Nouns ending in –dad –tad –tud –La ciudad, la edad, la universidad –La amistad, la facultad, la libertad –La inquietud, la juventud, la virtud Nouns ending in –ción –sión – gión Nouns ending in –ción –sión – gión –La canción, la estación, la lección –La profesión, la televisión, la tensión –La legión, la región, la religión

Sustantivos feminans Nouns ending in –ez Nouns ending in –ez –La rigidez – rigidity –La validez- validity –La vejez- old age, oldness Nouns ending in –triz Nouns ending in –triz –La actriz, la directriz, la emperatriz

Sustantivos femininas Nouns ending in –umbre Nouns ending in –umbre –La costumbre, la legumbre Shortened version of originally feminine nouns Shortened version of originally feminine nouns –La disco- la discoteca –La foto- la fotografía Nouns referring to women Nouns referring to women –La madre- mother –La mujer- woman, wife

Exceptions End in –d End in –d –La merced-mercyla red- net –La pared- wallla sed- thirst End in –z End in –z –La cruz- crossla nariz- nose –La luz- lightla voz- voice End in –e End in –e –La base- basisla leche- milk –La calle- streetla llave- key Others Others –La flor- flowerla imagen- image –La ley- lawla filial- affiliate

Different gender, same meaning Certain nouns usually referring to people, can be used as either feminine or masculine depending on who you refer to Certain nouns usually referring to people, can be used as either feminine or masculine depending on who you refer to –Nouns ending in –ista (artista, florista) –Nouns ending in -crata (aristócrata) –Amante- lover- idiota- idiot –Cliente- client-modelo- model –Guía- guide-testigo- witness

Feminine nouns with article el When a feminine noun begins with a stressed a- or ha- syllable, its singular form will have an el instead of la. In plural its back to normal. When a feminine noun begins with a stressed a- or ha- syllable, its singular form will have an el instead of la. In plural its back to normal. –El agua (water), el alma (soul), el asma (asthma) –El habla (speech), el hada (fairy), el hambre (hunger)

Sustantivos masculinos Nouns of greek origion, ending in –ma –pa –ta Nouns of greek origion, ending in –ma –pa –ta –El clima, el programa, el tema –El cometa, el planeta –El mapa Exceptions: Exceptions: –El día- day, daytimeel tranvía- tram –El gorila – gorillael yoga- yoga –El pijama- pajamas –El sofá- sofa

Different gender, different meaning Some words can be used as either feminine or masculine, but this will change their meaning. Some words can be used as either feminine or masculine, but this will change their meaning.

MasculineFeminine CapitalCapital Capital city CóleraCholera Bile, anger ComaComaComma CorteCutCourt CuraPriestCure FinalEnding Sports final FrenteFrontForehead OrdenOrder Decree, holy order PapaPopePotato Parte Message, report Part, portion PendienteEarring Slope, hillside