two definite articles in spanish

Definite Articles in Spanish

Relevant lesson:, explanation.

Definite articles are used to talk about specific nouns . Spanish has four definite articles : el , la , los , and las .

In Spanish, nouns don't like to be alone, so they are often accompanied by articles! Spanish articles indicate the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of a noun, as well as whether or not a noun is a specific noun (definite or indefinite ).

There are four definite articles in Spanish, and they often all translate to the same little word in English: the . There are also cases where they don't have a direct English translation, but help to indicate the gender and number of a noun.

Definite Article Forms:

Here are the four forms that Spanish definite articles take.

Matching Gender and Number

A definite article always has to match both the gender and number of its noun .

• If the noun is feminine and singular (like salsa ), then the article also has to be feminine and singular ( la salsa ).
• If that same noun is plural (like salsas ) the article is also plural ( las salsas ).

Check out these examples with the different definite articles in Spanish.

When a feminine singular noun begins with a stressed a or ha sound, the masculine definite article is used instead of the feminine definite article .

When the same noun is plural , the regular feminine article is used.

Check out these examples of feminine words that take the masculine singular article ( el ) in the singular, but the feminine plural article ( las ) in the plural.

Want to learn more about articles and nouns in Spanish? Read more in:

• Indefinite Articles in Spanish
• Masculine and Feminine Nouns
• Using the Indefinite Article in Spanish
• Using the Definite Article in Spanish
• Using the Neuter Article (“Lo”) in Spanish

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The Complete Guide to Definite Articles in Spanish

In English, we’re pretty lucky due to the fact that we only have one definite article – the. This makes things really simple. Anytime we want to refer to a specific singular noun in English, we just “the” to the front. 

Spanish definite articles are a bit different, however. The rules are relatively similar, but not exactly the same. That’s why today we’re going over everything you’ll ever need to know about definite articles. 

Types of Definite Articles in Spanish

There are two types of articles in Spanish that fall under this category: the masculine definite article and the feminine definite article, and they can be either singular or plural, which makes a total of four Spanish definite articles. 

For singular masculine nouns, we have the definite article El . Then for the plural, Los . 

For singular feminine nouns, we have the definite article La . Then for the plural, Las . 

You’re likely already familiar with el/los/la/las, but it’s always a good idea to have a quick reminder. For some examples of these definite articles:

When to use the Spanish Definite Articles

The Spanish definite article has slightly different rules than the English one, let’s look at all the different possibilities for how you can use the definite article. 

Specific Things

This example is the easiest since we do this exactly the same way in English. Whenever you are referring to a specific object or a specific set of things , you would use an article. 

• Los libros de Harry Potter son mis favoritos. – The Harry Potter books are my favorite.
• El vaso está roto. – The glass is broken.
• La chica dejó a su novio. – T he girl dumped her boyfriend.
• Las manzanas están muy maduras. – The apples are very ripe. 

So just like in English, if you are referring to a specific noun or object, then you can use a definite article in Spanish. 

General Things

Here’s where things start to get interesting. In English, when we refer to something general or a concept, t hen we don’t use a definite article . Instead, we don’t use anything or we only use the plural of that same noun. However, in Spanish, we use El / La / Los / Las . 

• Me gusta el café . – I like coffee.
• Los niños tienen mucha energía. – Kids have a lot of energy.
• La fruta es muy sana. – Fruit is very healthy.
• Las matemáticas son interesantes. – Math is interesting. 

So when referring to general concepts, or talking about unspecific things, you still need to use the articles El / La / Los / Las . This is a major difference from English, so make sure you remember these rules so you don’t forget to use an article in Spanish!

Another big difference is that in Spanish, we always use the definite article when telling time. 

• Nos vemos mañana a las cinco . – I’ll see you tomorrow at five. 
• ¿Qué hora es? La una .   – What time is it? One (o’clock).

The good thing is you only use the two articles, either La / Las . That’s because the feminine articles go with the noun hora . 

This usage can be a little tricky for English speakers, but just remember – different languages, different rules . So don’t get caught up in the “why” of things, just know that when you tell time, you need to use articles in Spanish. 

In the Spanish language , typically we don’t use possessives nearly as much as we do in English , especially for body parts . So check out this next way to use the four forms of articles:

As you can see, in English you would always use “my”, but in Spanish, we’d use whichever type of article goes with the body part.

As you learn Spanish, one way to think about this is to understand that usually, it’s obvious that it’s your body part.

Clearly, you wouldn’t say that you “have” someone else’s cold hands. And if you do, then there’s a bigger problem than definite articles.  

Days of the Week

This is another usage that sometimes is strange for English speakers, but for days of the week, we always use the article. In fact, all days of the week take a masculine article . 

However, there’s a meaning change between using the singular masculine article and the plural masculine article. Look at the examples below:

• El viernes tengo cita con el dentista. – This Friday I have a dentist’s appointment.
• Las clases empiezan el lunes . – Classes start on Monday.
• Los domingos descanso. – On Sundays, I rest. 
• Los jueves voy al gimnasio. – Every Thursday I go to the gym.
• Hoy es miércoles . – Today is Wednesday. * *

As you can see, when using the definite article El , it refers to only one time , usually whichever day is coming up. But the plural article, represents repetition , something you do every week on that day. 

** Just note in the last example that there is an exception! When you say “hoy es… / mañana es… / ayer fue …” , then we don’t use the article.

Instruments

When referring to instruments, we also always need articles to follow Spanish grammar rules:

• Toco el piano . – I play the piano.
• Tienes que practicar más la guitarra . – You need to practice the guitar more. 

This one is pretty similar to English, as well, so no tricks here! Just note that it’s only used in the singular form, so you only need the definite articles El / La . 

Many times when we use someone’s title, we can use articles as well.

• La señora Paquita.
• El Doctor Gutiérrez.

To refer to families as a whole, we always use plural masculine articles + last name . Alternatively, you could say la família + last name

• Vamos a invitar a los Rodríguez . – We’re going to invite the Rodriguez.
• La família Valle ya no vive aquí. – The Valle family doesn’t live here anymore.

Geographical Landmarks

When referring to things like specific rivers or mountains , or any kind of landmark with a proper name, then we’ll also use the article that corresponds to it.

• El río Nilo es el más largo del mundo. – The Nile River is the longest in the world.
• Los Pirineos son preciosos. – The Pyrenees are beautiful.
• Las Playas de Cancún son muy turísticas. – Cancún Beaches are very touristic.
• La selva en Costa Rica tiene muchas especies de aves. – The Costa Rica’s jungle have many species of birds.

Infinitives functioning as nouns

In English, when we want to turn a verb into a noun, we often add -ing. For example, “He reads often – Read ing is important”. 

In Spanish, instead of doing this, you can sometimes use the article El in front of the infinitive form of the verb. 

• El estar bien es fundamental. – Being healthy is fundamental.

To be honest, you should be careful with this function of the definite article El . It’s certainly used, but sometimes there are more natural ways to express the same thing. For example, you would never say “ El leer es importante ”. Instead, it sounds better to say “ Es importante leer ”. 

So it’s a great tool to keep in your pocket, but don’t overuse it. 

Percentages

With percentages, we’re going to be doing the same thing. We always add a singular definite article before the number:

• El 70% de la población está vacunada. – 70% of the population is vaccinated.
• Suspendieron el 10% de los alumnos. – 10% of the students failed.

The Neuter Definite Article “Lo”

While we just went over the two definite articles in Spanish, it’s important to know that there are some other options as well. You also have indefinite articles in Spanish (but that’s for another day), as well as a neutral definite article. 

This may seem strange, considering there are no neutral nouns in Spanish, however, you can use a neutral article + an adjective to create a more conceptual noun . For example:

• Lo mejor es que no llovió. – The best part is that it didn’t rain.
• Lo malo es que no pudo venir Jessica. – The bad thing is that Jessica couldn’t come.

There’s a lot more to Lo than meets the eye, so you’ll want to master this part of Spanish grammar. Check out our article on Lo in Spanish where we talk more about it.

When not to use the Spanish Definite Articles

Now that we’ve been over when we should use a definite article in Spanish, let’s look at some examples of cases when we can leave them out. 

The verb ser

Many times with the verb Ser , it’s not always necessary to use either El or La , unless you need to specify one noun out of a group of possible nouns. Here are some examples:

• Juan es abogado . – Juan is a lawyer. **
• Marisa es la médica que trabaja en el hospital grande. – Marisa is the doctor that works in the big hospital. (You might be talking about multiple doctors, but Marisa is the one who specifically works there)
• Soy peruano. – I’m Peruvian.
• Son musulmanes . – They are Muslim.

So when you use Ser with professions, religions, nationalities, or some other defining traits for people, you can skip the Spanish subject pronoun , unless you need to refer to a specific person. 

** In the first example, note the difference here – You wouldn’t say “ Juan es un abogado ”.

Unspecified quantities

When the amount of something isn’t important , it’s normal to skip the article. This makes sense since you don’t need a definite article if you’re not being very definitive with what you’re talking about:

• Hay que comer más verdura . – You should eat more vegetables.
• Allí venden libros . – They sell books there.
• ¿Llevan carne las empanadas? – Do the empanadas have meat in them?

So when you need to talk about an unspecified amount of something, you don’t need an article. But be careful, this isn’t the same as indefinite articles because an indefinite article would translate to “ some ” in English. 

Articles and Prepositions 

Another thing to keep in mind as you learn Spanish is that there’s a tendency to squish things together, both in speech and in written texts. And for articles, this is no different. 

So when you need to combine the article el with either of the preposition de or a , we’re going to combine them to make things easier. Here are some examples:

• ¿Qué parte del libro te gustó más? – Which part of the book did you like the most?
• Vamos al cine luego, ¿no? – We’re going to the movie theater later, right?

There are a few exceptions and some more details we could go into when it comes to Spanish articles, but for today, the most important one is this one:

El agua clara 

Why is it el agua clar a ? Well, that’s because when a feminine noun starts with a stressed letter A , then we can’t use a regular feminine article. Instead, we need to use the masculine one , but the noun stays feminine, so the adjective must match it, as well. 

This only happens for the singular form , though:

• Las águilas rápid as .
• Las aguas movid as .

It can be a bit tricky to get used to, but really this rule is here to help you! It’s a lot easier to say el agua than la agua  because you don’t get that a-a sound in the middle. 

La conclusión

That’s all there is to know about definite articles for today. It’s a big list, but it’s not as difficult as it might seem. In fact, you’ll get used to them in no time.

So why don’t you go ahead and sign up for a free private class or a 7-day free trial of our group classes so you can practice what you learned?

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How to use Definite Articles in Spanish

There are two main categories of articles in Spanish: definite and indefinite articles.  Definite articles in Spanish are some special words used the same way as “THE” in the English language. In this grammar lesson, we will learn to make sentences using definite articles. Moreover, you will be able to practice grammar with an interesting quiz.

Introductory video: Definite Articles in Spanish

We will begin the lesson by watching a short video explaining what definite articles in Spanish are and providing some interesting examples so that you can understand this topic more easily. We will develop more on how to use Spanish definite articles later, but for now, please watch the video and try to figure out how they work.

Making sentences using definite articles in Spanish

Definite articles are often called  ARTÍCULOS DEFINIDOS or DETERMINANTES. They are words like  LA, LAS, EL, LOS, plus a fifth article called  LO . These words usually accompany nouns in the language, and they are essential to determine the gender and number of a noun in the language. For example, the article “EL” will be used before masculine, singular nouns like PIANO, just like in these examples:

• E l gato está sentado en el conjín. (The cat is sitting on the cushion.)
• Compré el piano que vimos en la tienda. (I bought the piano we saw in the store)

As shown in these two sentences, definite articles will always be placed before the noun they modify. The main difference between English and Spanish definite articles is that we must use a different article depending on the noun’s number (how many objects we are talking about) and gender (masculine or feminine) . In real life situations, we will use definite articles to point out objects or people from a group, especially with the help of adjectives . To illustrate this, here are some basic examples:

• El carro rojo es mío. (The red car is mine – Perhaps there are many cars, but the red one is mine)
• El libro de españo l está sobre la mesa (The Spanish book is on the table – Maybe there are other books too)

Sentences using Spanish definite articles

Here are some examples of sentences for different types of nouns in language. Pay close attention to how each article must agree with the noun it goes with.

When to use Spanish definite articles and common mistakes

Don’t use definite articles before names.

First, it is impolite to use Spanish definite articles before names or nicknames . It is also a grammar mistake to say something like “La Ana”, being ANA a name. As a cultural fact, using articles this way may be acceptable in some countries in specific situations, but it is always better to omit the definite article when referring to people who are not close to you.

• Incorrect: La Ana vive cerca de la playa.
• Correct: Ana vive cerca de la playa. (Ana lives close to the beach.)

Use definite articles before abstract nouns

Second, we use definite articles before abstract nouns in Spanish . Abstract nouns refer to things that do not have a material existence, such as TIEMPO (time) or AMOR (love). Unlike English, it is a mistake to omit the definite article before these nouns, just like this: 

• Correct : El amor es compartir, aprender y disfrutar . ( Love is sharing, learning and enjoying)
• Incorrect : Amor es compartir, aprender y disfrutar .
• Correct: El tiempo es oro . (The time is gold)
• Incorrect: Tiempo es oro.

Following this pattern, we will always say “El dinero” (money) or “El arte” (art), especially when these words are the subject of a sentence, e.g. “ El dinero no lo es todo ” (Money is not everything).

Definite articles before names of places

Third, it is not frequent to use definite articles before the names of cities or countries. This means it is better to say “ Vivo en China” than “ Vivo en la China” . In some countries, you could hear both of them, but you shouldn’t add an article if it is not part of the country’s name. Keep in mind that in some cases, the article will be a part of the name of the country  as in “El Salvador” and “El Reino Unido”, thus omitting EL would be a mistake.

• Correct : Marcos vive en España . (Marcos lives in Spain.)
• Incorrect: Marcos vive en la España.
• Correct : El Salvador es un país centromericano. (El Salvador is a Central American country.)
• Incorrect : Salvador es un país centromericano. (“EL” is part of the country’s name)

In addition, Spanish definite articles will be used before languages (El español), parts of the body (La cabeza) , days of the week (El lunes), dates (EL trece de diciembre), seasons (La primavera), time (La una de la tarde), weights and measures (El kilo de arroz…). We also use them to talk about specific places, e.g. “El Mo nte Everest” and “ La ciudad de Barcelona”  and for superlatives and comparatives in Spanish.

The prepositions A + El and De + El

When the preposition “A” comes before the article EL as in “A EL”, we will replace both words for the contracted article AL, just like this:

• Correct : A veces voy al cine . (Sometimes I go to the cinema.)
• Incorrect : A veces voy a el cine .

Likewise, when the preposition DE comes before EL, we use the contracted article DEL, as illustrated in these sentences:

• Correct : El restaurante está cerca del hotel. (The restaurant is near the hotel.)
• Incorrect: El restaurante está cerca de el hotel.

The neuter article LO

The neuter article LO, the fifth definite article in Spanish, will be used before adjectives in singular form to emphasize a quality or make a point. Some examples using the article LO are:

• Lo malo es que no encontramos el tesoro. (The bad side is that we didn’t find the treasure)
• Lo interesante es que él no estaba cuando eso ocurrió. (What’s interesting is that he was not there when that happened.)
• Lo bueno es que ya te sientes mejor. (The good thing is that you feel better now.)

The article LO will also be used   before the word “Qué” (What) when this word acts as the subject of a clause, e.g. “Lo que dije es…” ( What I said is …) and  ¿Sabe lo que significa esto? (Do you know what this means ?).

Interactive quiz: Practicing definite articles in Spanish

It is time to practice this topic with this short quiz. Read the instructions to solve each exercise and then check your answers. ¡Buena suerte!

We got to the end of this lesson. Hopefully you will be able to remember a few of these rules. You will probably acquire some of them naturally as you move forward in learning the language. For now, you can always check this lesson as a reference. ¡Hasta pronto!

Related Spanish Worksheets:

• Indefinite Articles in Spanish – PDF Worksheet
• Definite Articles in Spanish – PDF Worksheet

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The Definitive Guide to Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles

Spanish definite and indefinite articles are great because in most situations you’ll use them in the same way as English articles.

But, there are several situations such as talking about transport, dates, the time, or referring to someone’s identity where Spanish articles don’t behave as you would expect.

While Spanish articles tend to cause fewer headaches than other topics such as ser and estar , por and para , or direct and indirect objects , if you want your Spanish to sound more natural, then you will need to develop a strong knowledge of these frequently occurring Spanish words, especially the exceptions.

In this post, you’ll learn everything you need to know about Spanish definite and indefinite articles including what they are, when to use them, and most importantly when not to use them.

Printable Version: Download this PDF version of the rules for Spanish definite and indefinte articles to use as a study reference.

An introduction to Spanish definite and indefinite articles

A perfect place to start is to think of the most frequently occurring word in the English language, the definite article: ‘the’.

The translation of this word into Spanish also happens to be the most frequently occurring pair of words in the Spanish language, the Spanish definite articles: el and la .

In both languages, we need definite articles to refer to specific things or people in a group or class.

But, where Spanish articles differ from English articles , if you want to refer to a specific thing or person, you’ll need to match the article with the gender and plural of the noun.

This leads to four possibilities for the translation of ‘the’: el , la , los , and las .

Here are some examples of Spanish definite articles in action:

English: The table. Español: La mesa.

English: The fact. Español: El hecho.

English: The bottles.  Español: Las botellas.

English: The workers. Español: Los trabajadores.

Of course, you’ll need to be careful with the gender of Spanish nouns . But, apart from the exceptions discussed later in the article, you can simply choose one of  el , la , los , and las  as the translation of ‘the’.

In contrast, if you aren’t referring to specific things or people, but instead you want to generalise, you’ll need to use an indefinite article.

The Spanish indefinite articles are: un , una , unos , and unas , which are possible translations of the English articles ‘an’ or ‘a’ in singular, or ‘some’ or ‘a few’ in plural.

Also, if we are talking about numbers in Spanish , we can use the singular Spanish articles un and una to describe a quantity of ‘one’.

Here are some examples of Spanish indefinite articles in action:

English: A school. Español: Una escuela.

English: One moment. Español: Un momento.

English: A few things.  Español: Unas cosas.

English: Some details. Español: Unos detalles.

As you can see, once you’ve got gender and number sorted, you can translate Spanish articles fairly simply from English articles.

But, of course, there is more to the story…

Spanish definite articles vs indefinite articles

Before I get to the exceptions for Spanish articles, I want to give you a few example situations to demonstrate the contrast between Spanish definite and indefinite articles.

As mentioned above, you’ll need a definite article to talk about a known item or place, and an indefinite article to talk about an item or place in a general way.

Here are some examples to demonstrate the difference:

English: I need a spoon. (Could be any spoon) Español: Necesito una cuchara. vs English: Pass the spoon please. (That specific spoon over there) Español: Pásame la cuchara por favor.

English: Where does Diana work? Español: ¿Dónde trabaja Diana? English: In an office. (Could be any office) Español: En una oficina. vs English: Where is Diana? Español: ¿Dónde está Diana? English: She is at  the office. (That specific office she always works in) Español: Ella está en la oficina.

As you can see, these examples are fairly logical. But, I just wanted to make the difference as clear as possible before we dive into the exceptions.

When to exclude Spanish articles: Identity

In this section, and for the rest of the post, I’m going to talk about where you need to be careful with Spanish articles because they could be different from English.

The most important area to avoid the temptation to translate directly from English is when talking about identity.

If you are discussing someone’s profession, religion, nationality, political ideology, or other roles such as ‘being a parent’, you need to drop the article in Spanish.

Here are some examples:

English: I’m an atheist. Español: Soy ateo.

English: She is studying to be a lawyer. Español: Ella estudia para ser abogada.

English: He is a Canadian. Español: Él es canadiense.

English: Pablo Iglesias was a socialist. Español: Pablo Iglesias era socialista.

English: Are you a teacher? Español: ¿Eres profesor? 

English: What’s it like to be a father? Español: ¿Cómo es ser padre?

Of all of the areas I’m going to cover in this post, this is the one where we hear Spanish students making the most errors. So, make sure you practice these a lot!

When to include Spanish articles: Identity

After getting used to dropping Spanish articles when talking about identity, there are a few scenarios where you need to include them.

If you are going to add a descriptive adjective with the noun, you have to include the Spanish article:

English: I’m going to be a great journalist. Español: Voy a ser un gran periodista.

English: She is an incredible doctor. Español: Ella es una médica increíble.

English: He is the best realtor in town. Español: Él es el mejor agente inmobiliario de la ciudad.

Note the location of the Spanish adjective is also an important consideration here.

In addition, if you are referring to someone by their profession, then you need to include an article:

English: Who is Marisol? Español: ¿Quién es Marisol? English: She is a singer. Español: Es una cantante.

English: Who is Carla? Español: ¿Quién es Carla? English: She is an engineer that works with me. Español: Es una ingeniera que trabaja conmigo.

While these examples translate a lot better between English and Spanish, they can be difficult after you have adjusted to the rules from the previous section.

When to exclude Spanish articles: Things

When you are talking about things (just stuff in general), you don’t need to use an article if you are talking about the things in a general way, especially if quantity is not important.

English: I don’t have a car. Español: No tengo coche.

English: Do you have a girlfriend?  Español: ¿Tienes novia?

English: We need meat and cheese for tonight’s dinner. Español: Necesitamos carne y queso para la cena esta noche.

  English: Juan sells computers.  Español: Juan vende ordenadores.

English: Felipe doesn’t eat meat. Español: Felipe no come carne.

As you can see, when quantity doesn’t matter, sometimes you can think like you do in English and sometimes not.

When to include Spanish articles: Things

In contrast to the previous section, you’ll have to include a Spanish article when referring to specific things.

English: Do you have the tickets for the concert? Español: ¿Tienes las entradas para el concierto?

English: What are you looking for? Español: ¿Qué buscas? English: The house keys, I don’t know where I have left them.  Español: Las llaves de la casa, no sé dónde las he dejado.

Also, if want to spell out a specific quantity of items such as ‘one’ or ‘a few’, then you’ll need to include an article:

English: Alexa sold a car on her first day. Español: Alexa vendió un coche en su primer día.

English: I bought some vegetables for lunch.  Español: Compré unas verduras para la comida.

When to exclude Spanish articles: Transport

When you are talking about a mode of transport in a general way then you need to omit the Spanish article.

Moreover, there are no specific rules for different types of transport. In other words, you can treat each of autobús , avión , coche , metro , tren etc. in the same way.

Also, if you are talking about people using a mode of transport, then you need to use the preposition en . If you are talking about things going in a mode of transport, then you need to use por .

English: We would rather go in a car than fly. Español: Preferimos ir en coche que volar.

English: I sent the package by boat. Español: Envié el paquete por barco.

English: How much does it cost to go by train? Español: ¿Cuánto cuesta ir en tren?

English: I don’t like long trips in a plane.  Español: No me gustan los viajes largos en avión.

When to include Spanish articles: Transport

In contrast, instead of talking about a general method of transport, we can also refer to the mode of transport as a physical space. E.g. I’m physically on the bus, or in the car, etc.

When you are talking about the car or the train as a physical location, then you need to include an article.

For example:

English: I left my wallet on the train. Español: Dejé mi cartera en el tren.

English: We are still on the bus. Español: Todavía estamos en el autobús.

English: It’s not a good idea to take your shoes off on a plane. Español: No es una buena idea descalzarte en un avión.

Note  descalzarse is a fun Spanish verb that means ‘to take off one’s shoes’, it is kind of like ‘to de-shoe’.

When to exclude and include Spanish articles: Places

This section on places is going to be a little annoying because there isn’t a general rule.

Instead, we’ll take a look at a few common places and how they behave with Spanish articles in a few common expressions.

1. Clase, casa

Firstly let’s look at  clase  and  casa .

When you are going to or you are physically located ‘at home’ or ‘in class’, you should drop the article.

English: I’m at the house (I’m at home). Español: Estoy en casa.

English: We have to go to class. Español: Tenemos que ir a clase.

As an exception to this, when you aren’t talking about these places in terms of their physical location, you should include the article:

English: How many students are there in the class?  Español: ¿Cuántos estudiantes hay en la clase?

If you are sick, or you have been in an accident, then you should describe your time in bed without an article:

English: Adrian’s in bed with a fever. Español: Adrian está en cama con fiebre.

Note the bonus expression in this example, ‘with a fever’ drops the Spanish article too ‘ con fiebre’ .

In contrast, if the context doesn’t involve being sick, you should use an article:

English: My wife is in bed reading a book. Español: Mi esposa está en la cama leyendo un libro.

3. El Colegio, la iglesia, el cine, la universidad

In comparison with clase if you have to go to ‘school’ ( el colegio ) or ‘university’ ( la universidad ), you should include the article regardless of whether you are talking about the physical location or not:

English: Isabel is going to college next year. Español: Isabel va a ir a la universidad el año que viene.

English: Where are you? Español: ¿Dónde estás? English: I’m at school. English: Estoy en el colegio.

Most Spanish locations fall into this third group, so if you remember how to use cama , casa , and  clase , you can safely assume that any other location will behave like el colegio or el cine .

When to include Spanish articles: Date and time

When it comes to talking about date and time, you generally need an article in Spanish.

This takes particular care since we rarely use articles with time in English.

Moreover, in English we often opt for prepositions (on, at, by, etc.) with date and time, whereas in Spanish we need to use the Spanish definite articles ( el , la , los , las ).

Here are some examples for talking about the time:

English: What time is it? Español: ¿Qué hora es? English: It’s 3:15. Español: Son las tres y cuarto.

English: She usually exercises in the afternoons. Español: Ella suele hacer ejercicio por las tardes.

English: The train is leaving at 2:30 pm. Español: El tren sale a las dos y media.

When it comes to the days of the week and dates, if you are talking about fixed plans or commitments, you need to use the definite article:

English: I’m going to the mountains on Sunday. Español: Voy a las montañas el domingo.

English: We are leaving Spain on August 10th. Español: Salimos de España el diez de agosto.

English: We have to finish the project by Wednesday. Español: Tenemos que terminar la tarea para el miércoles.

English: They see each on Fridays. Español: Se ven los viernes.

In the last example, you could also say ‘ cada viernes’ ( every Friday ) , which is important to note because you need to omit the article in this phrase.

When to exclude Spanish articles: Date and time

In contrast to the last few examples in the previous section, if you aren’t talking about fixed plans but instead you are talking about the date in general, you should drop the article.

English: Today is the 3rd of June.  Español: Hoy es tres de junio.

English: Tomorrow is Thursday.  Español: Mañana es jueves.

English: What day is it today? Español: ¿Qué día es hoy? English: It’s Tuesday. Español: Es martes.

In the last example, you can even drop the es and simply say martes .

Also, when you are talking about the months, even if you are talking about fixed plans, you need to exclude the article:

English: We’re going to Peru in May. Español: Vamos a Perú en mayo.

Last thing for date and time, when it comes to talking time and you aren’t talking about a specific time between 1 and 11, instead of an article, you need to use a preposition ( a , or  de ).

English: I fell asleep at midnight. Español: Me dormí a medianoche.

English: The truck goes by in the middle of the night (early morning). Español: El camión pasa de madrugada.

When to include Spanish articles: Verbs like gustar

When you use the Spanish verb structure ‘ verbs like gustar ’, you generally need to include a Spanish article.

This is because you need to think a little differently about the way sentences using verbs like gustar differ from their English equivalent.

For example, it is better to think of the following sentence:

I like football.

Instead as:

The football is pleasing to me.

And, note that when you change ‘football’ from the object of the sentence to the subject, it sounds better with ‘the’ at the start.

The same thing also happens in Spanish:

English: The football is pleasing to me (I like football).  Español: Me gusta el fútbol.

Here are some more examples:

English: My head hurts. Español: Me duele la cabeza.

English: I’m worried about work. Español: Me preocupa el trabajo.

Since there are lots of situations where Spanish definite and indefinite articles translate really well between Spanish and English, Spanish students tend to use them well.

But, of course, there are some important exceptions.

To help your Spanish sound more natural, pick a few exceptions you didn’t know before reading this article, then try to use them in your next Spanish class, language exchange, or any opportunity to use your Spanish.

How else can you use Spanish definite and indefinite articles?

Reader Interactions

August 9, 2019 at 11:11 am

I just want to say THANK YOU FOR WRITING THIS!! I live around Spanish-speakers and I’d often hear or read things with these minor differences between Spanish and English. I never understood completely what particular situations were right to use or omit articles. This is really helpful!

August 9, 2019 at 10:21 am

I’m trying to give corrective feedback to one of my students, and I know that they don’t need to use the indefinite article in the following example, but I don’t know why – other than it sounds funny. Can you please help me?

Here is the sentence” Tengo una familia que es más o menos de un tamaño medio.” I think it should just be “de tamaño medio”, but I can’t for the life of me figure out the reason why.

August 9, 2019 at 11:03 am

Hola Clarrish, great question!! The rule is that we don’t use articles in the second part of a compound noun with the following formula: (nombre) + (preposición) + (nombre). For example: – She is a university professor – Ella es profesora de universidad. Instead of “profesora de una universidad. – He has a collection of baseball cards – Tiene una colección de tarjetas de béisbol. Again in this example we can’t say “de unas tarjetas” or “de un béisbol”. I hope that helps!!

A great article – very informative

January 30, 2020 at 1:43 pm

I have seen the phrase “amante del queso” in a situation where I found it to be cheese in general, so I would think “amante de queso”. I know this is completely taken out of context.

This was a useful article. First I need to rethink my instincts and use or not use an article. Second I need to learn to better identify the “noun + de + noun” compound noun thing.

January 30, 2020 at 9:42 pm

Thanks for the feedback Maryjane!! Sometimes, as in the example you gave, “amante del queso” and “amante de queso”, both options are possible.

August 29, 2020 at 3:02 pm

It would have been nice to have included why articles are not used before explicit quantities.

In English: Can you give me “a” thousand dollars.

In Spanish the article is dropped, why? ¿Me puedes dar mil dólares?

August 29, 2020 at 4:30 pm

Hola Drz, yes, it’s a good question. In English, we have this strange phenomenon that for the first of a group of numbers we can use “one” or “a”: 1. I want one book vs a book 2. I want one thousand dollars vs a thousand dollars But, of course, we don’t say “I want ‘a two thousand’ dollars”. So, we should avoid thinking about the ‘first’ quantity as an article and instead we should think of it as an unusual substitution for the number “one”. If we just focus on the versions with “one” in them, they become easier to translate into Spanish: 1. I want one book – Quiero un libro 2. I want one thousand dollars – Quiero mil dólares Note that we also don’t need to say “un mil” since “mil” = “one thousand”. I hope that helps!

September 26, 2020 at 2:00 am

Great article (I’m still struggling with knowing when to include the article – there’s a lot to remember!)

September 26, 2020 at 9:47 am

Thanks Christopher! The key to remembering all of these situations is to spread your learning out over time. Try not to memorise everything at once. Take one example, situation or rule and master it!! Then come back later and find something else to master.

January 6, 2021 at 12:51 am

I thought I was onto something, when I read somewhere that you always use an article when the noun is the subject of the sentence. Well, that has failed for me, in the following sentence: “No quiero desayuno hoy.” I thought it should have been “el desayuno”. Are you able to explain why?

Thank you so much! Alison

January 6, 2021 at 8:26 pm

Thanks for the question Alison. As you can see from the article, it is difficult to come up with a simple rule that covers all scenarios. Just like English, Spanish has a lot of subtlety with different nouns in different situations (e.g. estoy en clase vs estoy en el colegio). The key is to keep practising and refining our skills over time as we get used to different nouns in different contexts.

January 5, 2022 at 12:29 pm

Thank you for this great guide to articles. But I have to question your reply to Allison, Jan. 6, 2021 and the sentence “No quiero desayuno hoy”. Shouldn’t the sentence say “No quiero desayunar hoy”. The infinitive is used when there are two consecutive verbs and there is no need for an article. I’m still a newbee at Spanish, so perhaps I am also missing something. Would appreciate your comments. Thanks

January 5, 2022 at 1:33 pm

Hola Louise, over the years I have learned it’s best to never say something is 100% correct or 100% wrong because there are always exceptions in language learning. So we have 3 potential Spanish sentences in question here: “no quiero desayuno”, “no quiero el desayuno” and “no quiero desayunar”. All 3 of these statements are possible in Spanish and we could hear a native using any of them. Of course, the first option is more like English, so English natives probably prefer it, but Spanish natives would probably use the second two options more often.

August 18, 2022 at 3:35 pm

Andrew, great write up. I live in Mexico and was hoping you could explain why when referring to a person by name an “el” or “la” is often inserted. Is there some guidance or rule surrounding this. EX: La Marisol

Gracias Kevin (or El Kevin?)

August 20, 2022 at 3:36 pm

Hola Kevin, this is a really intriguing question because I haven’t seen this before and I had to speak with one of the teachers in our school from Mexico to get the answer. She said that this use of articles with people’s names usually only occurs in the north of Mexico, specially in Sonora, Sinaloa and Monterrey. This use sounds strange in other parts of Mexico and the rest of the Spanish-speaking world. Our teacher said that it would sound really weird to hear her name with a “la” before it in her region of the country where she is from.

October 7, 2023 at 4:42 pm

Outstanding article. Thanks for taking the time to explain the exceptions.

October 9, 2023 at 6:42 pm

Thanks for the feedback Adele! 🙂

October 9, 2023 at 9:38 am

I always look forward to your emails.

In this one, I have one small point – I thought I understod the ways in which the indefinite article is used, but I’m puzzled by the example Who is Marisol? – ¿Quién es Marisol? She is a singer. – Es una cantante.

But I’m sure that I’ve come across many examples of the type – Marisol es cantante.

Perhaps you could clarify.

Thanks David

October 9, 2023 at 6:47 pm

Yes, please go back and read that section again, there is a subtle point to think about here. Usually when we refer to someone’s identity we drop the article but we will sometimes include the article again in certain situations, here when we are “referring to someone by their profession”.

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The definite articles ‘el, la, los, las’

(using the spanish definite articles), table of contents – definite articles.

On this page you will find the following:

Forms of the definite articles

• Usage of the definite articles
• Shortening of ‘el’
• Particularities
• Further explanations and exercises

What are the forms of the Spanish definite articles?

In the Spanish language, there are two definite articles (in Spanish: artículos determinados ): ‘ el ’ and ‘ la ’ – not only one as in English (the) . Both can also occur in the plural, which sums it up to four different forms altogether.

Important: The definite articles express grammatical gender , which is masculine or feminine. There is no neuter article , although ‘ lo ’ is regarded as neutral (for details, see the use of ‘lo’ ).

¹ Careful: Do not confuse the definite article ‘ el ’ with the personal pronoun ‘él’ . In contrast to the article , the pronoun is written with an accent mark.

How are the definite articles ‘el, la, los, las’ used?

Principally, the Spanish definite articles are used similarly to English, as they are also placed before nouns or their determiners . However, the articles must be in agreement with their antecedents in grammatical gender and number . So, the following applies:

• Singular: el antiguo edificio (the old building)
• Plural: los antiguos edificios (the old buildings)
• Singular: la buena relación (the good relationship)
• Plural: las buenas relaciones (the good relationships)

Sometimes, the usage differs from English, particularly whether an article is needed. Compare:

Article used in Spanish—but no article in English

• “ La doctora Ruiz no está disponible hoy.” (Doctor Ruiz is not available today.)
• “¿A qué hora llega el Sr. Vicente?” (What time is Mr Vicente coming?)
• For first names, the usage is the same as in English.
• There is also no article for direct forms of address (salutations).
• “ El papel todo lo aguanta.” (Anything can be said on paper.)
• “ Los idiomas me gustan mucho.” (I love languages.)
• “Quedamos a las cuatro.” (We are meeting at four o’clock.)
• “Son las dos.” (It’s two o’clock.)
• “Miguel tiene los ojos marrones.” (Miguel has brown eyes.)
• “Antes tuve el pelo largo.” (I used to have long hair.)
• “ El 30 % de la gente trabaja más de 40 horas a la semana.” (30% of the people work more than 40 hours a week.)
• The verb ‘ jugar ’ usually requires the preposition ‘ a ’ combined with the article ‘ el ’ and shortened to ‘ al ’.
• “ Juegan al tenis.” (They play tennis.)

Information: Sometimes, the order of article and determiner differs, which is the case with the word ‘todo’ (all) , for example:

• Here, in the Spanish clause, the adverb ‘ todo ’ comes first and then the definite article. In English, there is no article at all.

Article in Spanish—but a preposition in English

Some phrases require the use of a preposition where an article is a suitable counterpart in English:

• The masculine article ‘ el ’ appears before ‘mes’ (month), in contrast to English, where no article is utilized.
• In Spanish, the article ‘ el ’ is correct. In English, however, the preposition ‘ on ’ replaces the article.
• If a weekday is in the plural, the plural article ‘ los ’ is required (and not a preposition as in English).

When is the definite article ‘el’ shortened?

It is possible to join the definite masculine article in its singular form with the preposition ‘ de ’. Compare the different cases:

• “¿Vamos al cine?” (Are we going to the cinema?)
• “Mi hija ya ha regresado del supermercado.” (My daughter has already returned from the supermarket.)
• “Mi marido viene de El Cairo.” (My husband is from Cairo.)

What are the particularities of definite articles?

For reasons of pronunciation , the masculine article ‘ el ’ is utilized before feminine nouns that begin with a stressed ‘ a ’ or ‘ ha ’. However, we can apply this rule exclusively in the singular and only when the article comes directly before the noun. Compare:

• The adjective ‘fría’ (cold) shows that the noun ‘ agua ’ (water) is feminine.
• Here, ‘mucha’ shows that the word ‘ hambre ’ is feminine.
• The feminine noun ‘ hambre ’ (hunger) is used with the masculine ‘ el ’.
• In this word, the accent mark shows that the last syllable, ‘- ción ’, is stressed.

Further explanations referring to the topic ‘Definite articles’

These explanations relate to the ‘ Definite articles ( el, la, los, las ) in Spanish grammar’ and may be helpful too:

• The grammatical number in Spanish

Articles in Spanish Grammar

Table of definite and indefinite articles in spanish, spanish indefinite articles, spanish definite articles, articles and prepositions “al/del”.

• Lingolia Plus Spanish

What is an article in Spanish?

Articles (los artículos) are small words that come before nouns.

In Spanish, articles indicate gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). They can be indefinite (un, una, unos, unas) and definite articles (el/los, la/las, lo) .

Learn the difference between Spanish articles and how to use them correctly with Lingolia, then practise using them in the exercises.

María es una amiga de Laura y la novia de Carlos.

María ha comprado un helado. El helado está rico.

Feminine nouns that start with a stressed a/ha , take the definite article el . This is done for ease of pronunciation. The noun and its complements remain feminine. In the plural, the feminine article las is used.

The masculine indefinite articles are un (singular) unos (plural). The feminine indefinite articles are una (singular) and unas (plural). We use the indefinite articles, similarly to the English indefinite articles a/an, in the following situations:

one of several friends

• to mention an approximate quantity in plural Example: Estamos a unos 15 kilómetros de la costa. We are about 15 kilometres from the coast.
• to describe specific characteristics of a person using a noun or adjective Example: Este niño es un ángel. This kid is an angel. Su hermano es un travieso. His brother is a naughty kid.
• with the impersonal form of the verb haber : hay. Ejemplo: En el museo hay una exposición de las pinturas negras de Goya. In the museum, there is an exhibition of Goya’s black paintings. Junto a la chimenea había una mecedora. Next to the chimney there was a rocking chair.

The masculine definite articles are el (singular) and los (plural). The feminine definite articles are la (singular) and las (plural). Sometimes the usage of the definite article in Spanish grammar is the same as the usage of the in English, but not always! The following list outlines when to use the definite article in Spanish.

We use el/los/la/las in the following cases:

• with a noun the refers to a specific person or thing Example: El último disco del artista es buenísimo. The artist’s last album is very good.
• with nouns that refer to something general Example: La fruta es la base de una dieta sana. Fruit is the basis of a healthy diet.
• with the days of the week Example: El viernes no trabajo. I’m not working on Friday. but: Hoy es miércoles. Today is Wednesday (no article after the verb ser )
• with instruments, games and sports after the verbs jugar and tocar Example: Toco el violín. I play the violin. Juego a las cartas con mi abuelo. I play cards with my grandfather. En este parque juegan los niños al fútbol. In this park, children play football.
• with a reflexive verb to talk about parts of the body, instead of a possessive determiner Example: Me duele la espalda desde ayer. My back has been hurting since yesterday
• to say the time Example: Son las dos y media. It’s half past two.
• in titles Example: La Doctora Fernández ha ganado el premio Nobel de Medicina. Doctor Fernández has won the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
• to refer to a family using their last name in plural Example: Los Pérez se han mudado. The Pérez family has moved.
• with the names of mountains, rivers, lakes, seas and oceans Example: El Teide es el pico más alto de España. The Teide is the highest mountain peak in Spain.
• with infinitives that function as nouns Example: El leer alimenta el alma. Reading feeds the soul.
• with percentages Example: Ha aprobado el 95% de los alumnos. 95% of the students passed the exam.

The neutral article “lo”

The definite article lo only exists in the singular and is never used before a noun (because there are no neutral nouns in Spanish). The article lo is used in the following cases:

• before adjectives , participles , and ordinal numbers that are not followed by a noun. Example: interesante → lo interesante interesting - the interesting thing pasado → lo pasado past - the past primero → lo primero first - the first
• as an alternative to exclamations with qué + adjective/adverb Example: ¡Qué rica está la tarta de manzana! → ¡ Lo rica que está la tarta de manzana! How delicious was the apple cake! ¡Qué rápido iba ese coche! → ¡ Lo rápido que iba ese coche! How fast was that car!

We generally don’t use an article in Spanish:

• with the verb ser + profession
• with the verb ser + nationality or religious faith
• with unspecified quantities
• before names for individual people, organisations and places (cities, countries, regions), except when the definite article is part of the name i.e. the United Kingdom
• with ordinal numbers in titles
• with languages or school subjects, except when the form the subject of the sentence
• before the names of months Example: Febrero tiene 28 días. February has 28 days.
• for seasons or means of transportation when used with the preposition en Example: en verano in the summer ir en coche to go by car
• before otro, medio Example: Quiero otro café. Nos encontramos a medio día. We’re meeting at noon.
• after llevar , tener Example: llevar gafas to wear glasses tener coche to have a car

The prepositions a/de and the masculine article el are usually combined into one word.

However, a preposition cannot combine with the indefinite article.

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Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish: A Comprehensive Guide to Using Articles Like a Pro

Articles are small but extremely common words that come before specific and general nouns—in English, they’re words like “the” and “an.”

Definite and indefinite articles in Spanish are words like  el, la, los,   las, lo, un, una, unos and unas.

In this post, you’ll learn exactly what they are, how they work, when to use them and more!

What Are Definite and Indefinite Articles?

Definite and indefinite articles in spanish, when to use definite articles in spanish, 1. to talk about likes and dislikes, 2. to tell time, 3. with days of the week, 4. to talk about general things, 5. with reflexive verbs, 6. when talking about someone’s title, 7. to say the names of languages, when to use indefinite articles in spanish, 1. to place emphasis on a word, 2. when listing one noun out of a group, 3. to describe people or things with nouns, 4. to say there’s only one, 5. to express approximate amounts, notes about using articles in spanish, omit them when talking about an unspecified quantity, omit them when talking about your profession, nationality, religion, etc., feminine nouns starting with “a” use the el article, and one more thing….

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Articles are words that refer to nouns. The English articles are “a,” “an,” “the” and “some.”

“The” is a definite article because it refers to a specific object:

Pass me the salt.

The car is around the corner.

“A,” “an” and “some” are indefinite articles because they refer to a general object rather than a specific object:

She has an older brother.

There’s some cheese in the refrigerator.

Now that we’re clear on what articles are, let’s have a look at what they are and how they’re used in Spanish.

In Spanish, the definite article has four forms: el, la, los  and las .

When deciding which form to use, you must first identify the quantity and gender of your noun.

For a run-down of Spanish gender, click here . Likewise, here’s an overview of Spanish plurals . If you’re already familiar with these two concepts, read on.

Here are the definite articles in Spanish and examples of how they’re used:

Now, let’s look at indefinite articles.

The Spanish indefinite articles are un, una, unos  and unas . Just like the definite articles, each corresponds to a gender and a number.

In English, when talking about our likes, loves and dislikes, we don’t generally use articles (like in the sentences “I like monster trucks” or “I hate black olives.”)

But in Spanish, you must use definite articles (el, la, los, las) when talking about these general likes and dislikes.

Me gusta el arte . (I like art.)

Odio las películas de terror . (I hate horror movies.)

Times in Spanish are all feminine, and you must always include the feminine definite article (la or las) when telling time.

When learning to tell time in Spanish, there are two important phrases to remember:

Son las… (it’s)

A las… (at)

For example:

Son las ocho de la mañana. (It’s 8:00 in the morning.)

El concierto empieza a las diez y media. (The concert begins at 10:30.)

The only exception to son las and a las is when you’re talking about the hour 1:00 because one is singular. So naturally, you’d use the singular feminine article la:

Voy a llegar a la una y veinte . (I’ll arrive at 1:20.)

¡Ya es la una y cuarto! (It’s already a quarter past 1!)

El partido terminó a la una menos diez. (The game ended at 10 to 1.)

In English, we’re used to using prepositions before saying a day of the week. For example:

I hope to see you on Thursday.

She won’t be here until Friday night.

But in Spanish, when you want to talk about something happening on a specific day of the week, you must use a definite pronoun before the day.

The days of the week are always masculine, so you’ll use either el or los .

When talking about one specific day of the week, use el:

Iré a Bogotá el lunes que viene.  (I will go to Bogota next Monday.)

When talking about something habitual or that happens every week, use los:

Voy al gimnasio todos los martes . (I go to the gym every Tuesday.)

Visito a mi abuela todos los miércoles. (I visit my grandmother every Wednesday.)

In English, we’re used to dropping the definite article (“the”) when talking about nouns in general. For example, if you think all dogs are cute (generally), you’d say “Dogs are cute.”

But in Spanish, we keep the definite article.

Take a look at these sentences as examples:

Los perros son lindos. (Dogs are cute.)

La comida india es picante. (Indian food is spicy.)

Me gusta el café.  (I like coffee.)

You’ll see this all the time with reflexive verbs—actions that you do to yourself.

For example, in English we say “I wash my hands,” but in Spanish, we say “I wash the hands”:

Me lavo las manos. (I wash my hands.)

Me lavo el pelo.  (I wash my hair.)

Me duele la cabeza.  (My head hurts.)

Here’s a bit more challenging sentence that uses the reflexive verb irse (to leave):

Si tú te vas, se me irá todo el valor.  (If you leave, all my courage will leave me.)

This is a lyric from the song “Si Tú Te Vas” (If You Leave), a popular love song by Enrique Iglesias. Notice how he doesn’t literally say  my courage—he says  the courage will leave me.

You can listen to Spanish songs like this one on FluentU , where the music video has interactive subtitles that help you spot instances of definite and indefinite articles in context.

This is another deviation from English, where we simply say “Dr. Smith” or “Professor Jones.”

In Spanish, titles require a definite article before them, even when you’re not saying  the doctor or  the  professor. This also applies to titles like “Mr.” and “Mrs.”

La profesora Garcia llega a las ocho.  (Professor Garcia arrives at eight o’clock.)

El doctor Ibarra es rico.  (Dr. Ibarra is rich.)

El señor Hernandez trabaja en la empresa. (Mr. Hernandez works at the company.)

When a language is the subject of a sentence—the thing being talked about—it needs a definite article. For example:

El ruso es el más dificil idioma que he estudiado.  (Russian is the most difficult language I have studied.)

El español y el japonés son mis idiomas favoritos. (Spanish and Japanese are my favorite languages.)

However, when a language is the object, you don’t need to use the article. For example:

Yo hablo inglés.  (I speak English.)

In Spanish, we frequently use the verb tener (to have) to express states of being.

For example, tener frío (to be cold), tener calor (to be hot), tener sed (to be thirsty), tener dolor (to be hurt), tener prisa (to be in a hurry), tener suerte (to be lucky) and so on.

With many of these expressions, you can insert the correct indefinite article (un, una) to add emphasis or urgency in colloquial settings.

Tengo un frío… odio el invierno, tío . (I’m so cold… I hate winter, dude.)

You also must add the indefinite article if you want to qualify the state of being with an adjective or with more information:

Tengo un poco de calor. (I’m a little hot.)

Tengo una prisa terrible, lo siento mucho. (I’m in an awful hurry, I’m really sorry.)

Just be careful with  tener sueño (to be sleepy).

If you add the indefinite article, you can sound super inspirational instead of super tired— tengo un sueño  can mean   “I have a dream.” You’ll indicate what you mean through intonation.

We have to use the indefinite article when talking about an unspecified person or object inside a group.

This happens because we randomly pick up one item from the group as an example to represent all of the items in the group.

Un cocinero es una persona que cocina.  (A cook is a person who cooks.)

Un libro puede tener muchas páginas.  (A book can have many pages.)

We are not talking about a specific cook called Gordon who lives in Manhattan. We’re talking about an unidentified cook representing the whole group of cooks worldwide.

When describing people with a noun, you’ll need to use an indefinite article.

The majority of times, we’ll use a masculine noun (and the corresponding masculine article) even for describing women.

Eres un sol.  (You are a sweetie. Literally, “You are a sun.” This can be applied to both men and woman and it does not need a change in gender).

Son unos locos.  (You all/they are crazy people.)

We also have to use the indefinite article when we describe something or someone by using a noun and an adjective:

Ana es  una  mujer muy guapa.  (Ana is a very beautiful woman.)

Esta rosa es  una  flor delicada.  (This rose is a delicate flower.)

El cáncer es  una  enfermedad muy peligrosa.  (Cancer is a   very dangerous disease.)

Another situation when we use the indefinite article is identical both in Spanish and English—when we are talking about a single unit (one) of something (or of somebody, as you will see in the examples).

It doesn’t matter if you’re talking about something known or unknown, specified or not.

If you have only one of them, you have to use the indefinite article un/una:

He comprado tan solo  un  regalo.  (I have only bought one present.)

Hay  un  niño en la cocina.  (There is one child in the kitchen.)

Tengo  una  hermana.  (I have one sister.)

As we saw before, the Spanish indefinite article has two plural forms ( unos, unas ). With the meaning of “some/a few,” we are obviously going to use them when talking about approximate amounts of things or people!

Here you have some examples:

Necesito  unas  monedas.  (I need some coins.)

Compra  unas  manzanas.  (Buy a few apples.)

Hay  unos  gatos en el tejado.  (There are some cats on the roof.)

In English, when we talk about an unspecified quantity of something—or when we’re dealing with uncountable nouns —we generally use the qualifiers “some” or “any.”

(For example, “There isn’t any bread on the table” or “I have some green shirts in my closet.”)

Resist the urge to translate directly from English to Spanish!

In Spanish, you don’t need to use an article when talking about an indefinite amount or using an uncountable noun:

Hay leche en el vaso . (There’s some milk in the glass.)

No hay coches en el estacionamiento . (There aren’t any cars in the parking lot.)

In English, we use the indefinite articles a or an when talking about our professions, nationalities, religions and the other labels that make up our identities.

(For example, “I’m an anthropologist” or “She’s a Catholic.”)

In Spanish, you must leave those articles out:

Soy abogado. (I’m a lawyer.)

Soy brasileña . (I’m a Brazilian.)

However, if you wish to qualify that abstract concept with more information, you usually need to insert an indefinite article ( un, una ):

Soy un buen doctor . (I’m a good doctor.)

Soy un católico con mucha fe. (I’m a Catholic with a lot of faith.)

As we’ve learned, a singular, feminine noun always uses the article la .

However, the article will switch to el when the noun starts with the letter a, and the stress of the word also falls on that vowel.  This is the case with words like  agua  (water),  alma  (soul) and  arma  (weapon).

This exception exists to avoid the awkwardness of having two a ’s next to each other. For example:

(La) águila → el águila  (the eagle)

However, because this rule only exists to avoid having two a’s next to each other, if you’re using the plural form of the noun, you can switch back to the feminine article:

Las águilas  (the eagles)

Additionally, if there’s an adjective in between the article and the noun, you can use the feminine article la :

La gran águila (the big eagle)

And, of course, remember that any associated adjective must be feminine even if you use the article el :

El águila blanc a (the white eagle)

With these 12 rules in mind, you’ll be using definite and indefinite articles easily in no time.

Not to mention, you’ll also pick them up naturally when interacting with native speakers and watching Spanish media.

So don’t shy away from articles—they’re quite literally everywhere! 

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Guide To Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish

To speak Spanish like a native, you need to know the rules for Spanish definite and indefinite articles. 

It’s tempting to think that if Spanish has definite and indefinite articles like English does, you can simply translate them from one language to another. Unfortunately, you usually can’t. 

That’s where this article comes in handy! Read it to understand Spanish definite articles and how to use them correctly. I’ll throw in lots of examples. Take a quiz at the end to check your newly acquired knowledge.

What Are Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles?

Let’s briefly review what Spanish definite and indefinite articles are. 

Articles are the little words that go before a noun to define it better. They’re one of the 8 parts of speech in Spanish—along with nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, and interjections.  

In English, the definite article is ‘the.’ Indefinite articles are ‘a’ and ‘an.’ In Spanish, gender and number come into question, so you have more options to match the noun. 

Definite Articles in Spanish

You use definite articles in Spanish, like in English, to talk about something specific. In Spanish, you have 4 forms to choose from:

• el – singular and masculine
• la – singular and feminine
• los – plural and masculine
• las – plural and feminine

Why so many? Remember that in Spanish the article needs to match the gender and number of the noun. For example, if you use a singular and feminine noun, your definite article must also be singular and feminine.

El perro de Ana ladra mucho. Ana’s dog barks a lot.

La cama de mis padres es muy vieja. My parents’ bed is very old.

Las hijas de mi tío son mis primas. My uncle’s daughters are my cousins.

Los gatos de Juan son lindos.  Juan’s cats are cute.

Watch out for the exceptions. When a feminine, singular noun starts with a stressed a or ha , you use the masculine definite singular article ( el ) instead of the feminine one ( la ). When the same noun is plural, use the feminine definite article ( las ).

Pásame el agua. Pass me the water.

Las aguas de aquí pueden ser peligrosas. The waters here can be dangerous.

Other feminine nouns that use the singular masculine definite article are el águila (eagle), el alma (soul), and el hacha (axe).

When To Use a Definite Article in Spanish

As you may have noticed in the example sentences, Spanish articles do not necessarily match up with the English translation. 

That’s why you need to learn when to use the definite articles in Spanish instead of simply trying to translate them.

You already know that you should use the definite article when talking about specific things that both you and the person you’re talking to find familiar. But let’s see other uses. 

To Talk About Things in General

Watch out, as this is opposite to English use. When you want to talk about a group of things or people in general, you need to use a definite article in Spanish.

Los mexicanos comen mucha comida picante. Mexicans eat a lot of spicy food.

Los perros no me gustan. I don’t like dogs.

Los gatos cazan de noche. Cats hunt at night.

To Talk About Days of the Week

In Spanish, you use a definite article with days of the week. (And remember to write the days of the week in Spanish with lowercase letters.)

Nos vemos el miércoles. See you on Wednesday. 

Los sábados descanso. On Saturdays, I rest.

El viernes es mi día favorite. Friday is my favorite day.

The exception to the above rule is when you have to write a day of the week after the verb ser (to be). In this case, don’t put an article before.

Hoy es domingo. Today is Sunday.

To Talk About Languages

Contrary to English, Spanish uses a definite article with names of languages when they are the subject of a sentence.

El español es muy fácil. Spanish is very easy.

El inglés y el chino no se parecen nada. English and Chinese are not alike.

Remember, that you have to omit the article if the language is the object of a verb and not the subject of the sentence.

Quiero hablar español. I want to speak Spanish.

To Talk About Body Parts

Another difference between the use of definite articles in English and Spanish is how you talk about body parts. Instead of using possessive pronouns, you must use definite articles.

Me duele la cabeza. My head hurts.

Dame la mano. Give me your hand.

To Talk About Time

If somebody asks you about the hour, answer with a definite article.

Son las tres de la trade. It’s three o’clock.

Comemos a la una. We eat at one.

To Talk About Possessions

If you talk about possessions or creations in Spanish, use the definite article.

El carro de Juan es bonito. Juan’s car is nice.

Los libros de García Márquez me gustan mucho. I really like García Marquez’s books.

To Talk About People With Tiles

When talking about people with titles, add a definite article before.

El profesor Santamaría da buenas classes. Professor Santamaria gives good classes.

El doctor Rodríguez es bueno. Dr. Rodriguez is good.

However, if you address people with their titles, omit the article.

Profesor Santamaría, ¿podría ver mi trabajo? Professor Santamaría, could you see my work?

Muchas gracias, doctor Rodríguez. Thank you very much, Dr. Rodríguez.

Indefinite Articles in Spanish

Indefinite articles refer to a person or thing that is not defined or specific. In English, you use ‘a’, ‘an,’ and ‘some’. In Spanish, again 4 options are available depending on the number and gender.

• un – singular and masculine
• una – singular and feminine
• unos – plural and masculine
• unas – plural and feminine

Quiero un helado. I want ice cream.

Me compré una chaqueta nueva. I bought a new jacket.

Necesito unos marcadores nuevos. I need some new markers.

¿Me pasas unas hojas, por favor? Can I have some sheets, please?

Watch out for the exceptions. When a feminine, singular noun starts with a stressed a or ha , use the masculine indefinite singular article ( un ) instead of the feminine one ( una ). However, when the same noun is plural, use the feminine definite article ( unas ).

Un águila pasó encima de nosotros. An eagle passed over us.

Ayer vimos unas águilas volando. Yesterday, we saw some eagles flying.

When To Use the Indefinite Article in Spanish

Although you might say that quite often if there is an indefinite article in English you can translate it to an indefinite article in Spanish, it’s not always like this. It’s better to get used to not relying on translations and know the rules instead. 

To Talk About One Thing

When there’s exactly one of something, you’ll use the indefinite article for singular feminine and masculine nouns.

Necesito un vaso. I need a glass.

Quiero una taza. I want a cup.

To Describe a Person With a Noun

When you want to describe somebody with a noun, instead of using adjectives, put an indefinite article before the descriptive noun.

Mi hermano es un monstruo. My brother is a monster.

¡Ustedes son unos genios! You guys are geniuses!

To Describe an Approximate Amount

When you don’t know the exact amount of something, or the exact number is not stated, use the indefinite article before the noun.

Necesito unos papeles más para obtener la residencia. I need a few more papers to obtain residency.

Compra unas manzanas para la ensalada. Buy some apples for the salad.

Conozco unas veinte personas que saben más de 5 idiomas. I know about twenty people who know more than 5 languages.

When Not To Use Articles in Spanish 

As in English, there are situations when you don’t need an article. In Spanish, there are 7 cases when you shouldn’t use definite or indefinite articles . Here’s a quick summary of the situations when you shouldn’t use an article in Spanish.

1. To Talk About Identity

Mi padre es ingeniero. My father is an engineer.

Tomás es argentino y budista. Tomas is Argentine and Buddhist.

2. To Talk About Dates and Months

Tu cumpleaños es en junio. Your birthday is in June.

Hoy es jueves. Today is Thursday.

3. With Proper Names

Pregunta a Andrés. Ask Andres.

Puedo ir con Juan. I can go with Juan.

4. After the Verb Haber  

Hay trabajo por hacer. There is work to be done.

Hay dinero de por medio. There is money involved.

5. With Numbers in Titles

Juan Pablo Segundo fue el papa. Juan Pablo II was the pope.

6. To Talk About Plurals

Mi mamá cose vestidos. My mum sews dresses.

Me gustan zanahorias. I like carrots.

7. With Infinitives as Nouns

See also: How to Use Spanish Infinitives as Nouns

Fumar es malo. Smoking is bad.

Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles Summary

Before you get into some Spanish definite and indefinite articles practice, let’s wrap up what you’ve already learned:

Spanish Definite and Indefinite Articles Quiz

Now, it’s time for a quiz on Spanish definite and indefinite articles. Remember, there’s only one correct answer to each question.

1. Cómprate ______ libro, el que quieras.

2. ______ pájaro de pedro sabe hablar., 3. eres ______ genio., 4. ______ domingos no trabajo, nunca., 5. ______ gatos maullan., 6. me duele ______ alma., 7. me duele ______ estómago., 8. mi padre es ______ profesor., 9. necesito ______ cinco minutos, más o menos., 10. pásame ______ sal., study spanish definite and indefinite articles.

Practice makes perfect. Knowing the rules for Spanish definite and indefinite articles is just the first step. Now you need to use them—ideally in a conversation.

Remember, becoming bilingual is a long-term process. It takes time and motivation. However, it broadens your horizons not only geographically but also socially. Speaking fluent Spanish will open you up to nearly 41 million native Spanish speakers in the U.S., who according to CNN speak Spanish at their homes.

Sign up for a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy with one of our friendly, certified Spanish instructors from Guatemala to practice Spanish definite and indefinite articles in a conversation and much more.

Ready to learn more Spanish grammar? Check these out!

• 25 Common Subjunctive Phrases in Spanish Conversation
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• A Complete Guide to Imperfect Conjugation for Beginners
• How to Talk About the Temperature in Spanish: Fahrenheit, Celcius, and Descriptions
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Home » Articles » Everything You Need to Know About Definite Articles in Spanish

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written by Benny Lewis

Language: Spanish

Reading time: 11 minutes

Published: May 28, 2021

Updated: Aug 15, 2022

Everything You Need to Know About Definite Articles in Spanish

In English, we only have one definite article: “the”. But there are five definite articles in Spanish: el, la, los, las , and lo .

I’ve got good news for you: it’s really not complicated, and I’ll show you everything you need to master definite articles in Spanish. I’ve included a lot of examples to make learning easier.

Here’s what we'll cover:

Table of contents

What is a definite article in spanish, how many definite articles are there in spanish, gender for definite articles in spanish, rule 1: use spanish definite articles to talk about something general, rule 2: use spanish definite articles to refer to something that is unique, has already been mentioned or is already defined for the reader/listener, rule 3: use spanish definite articles to mention a person’s title, unless you’re addressing them directly., rule 4: use spanish definite articles in front of possessive pronouns, rule 5: other ways to use spanish definite articles, rule for the contraction of the masculine singular definite article in spanish, when to use the definite article el with feminine nouns in spanish, what are definite and indefinite articles in spanish rule and examples, that’s spanish definite articles in a nutshell for you.

¿Listos? ¡Vamos! (“Ready? Let’s go!”)

What does artículo definido (“definite article”) mean in Spanish? Let’s break the term down.

In grammar, an article is a small word that goes in front of a noun. The article gives some indication about the identity of the noun. In English, the main articles we use are “a”, “an” and “the”.

A definite article is used to describe something specific. This can be something that has already been mentioned in the text or conversation, something unique, or something that is being identified. In English, there is only one definite article: “the”.

The Spanish definite articles are:

Note: Don’t confuse the article el with the subject pronoun él (“he”). The article doesn’t wear a tilde (“accent”). Here is a refresher on Spanish pronouns in case you need it.

When I was learning Spanish, I used a trick to remember the purpose of definite articles. I like to think that definite articles are the word form of a pointing finger:

• el amigo – “ the friend” la casa – “ the house”
• los estudiantes – “ the students”
• las hermanas – “ the sisters”

Definite articles show that you’re talking about the thing, not only a thing.

Here’s a downloadable infographic you can keep to remember the Spanish definite articles:

As you’ve seen in the chart above, there are five definite articles in Spanish:

• the masculine singular el
• the feminine singular la
• the masculine plural los
• the feminine plural las
• and the neutral lo

There are two interesting facts to notice at this point.

First, lo is often left out when you learn Spanish as a foreign language. That’s why you might have read that there are only four definite articles in Spanish.

And second, definite articles in Spanish (almost) always agree in number and gender with the noun they describe. (I’ll explain what I mean by “almost” later on.)

You might be wondering why there are so many ways to say “the” in Spanish. Let me explain.

Nouns in Spanish have a gender: they’re either feminine or masculine. Think of words like la casa (“the house”, feminine) and el árbol (“the tree”, masculine).

Mini identification hack: Feminine nouns usually end in -a , -ción , -sión , -zión , -dad , -tad , -ez , and -triz . E.g.: la pasión (“passion”), la bondad (“goodness”), la cicatriz (“scar”).

Now, Spanish is quite fussy about this gender thing: it wants all the words that describe a noun to share the noun’s gender. This means that a casa is roja (“red”, feminine), not rojo (“red, masculine). This rule also applies to definite articles: la casa , *el árbol.

The rule of agreement also works for number. If a Spanish noun is plural, all the words that describe this noun have to be plural: las casas , los árboles .

Mini memory hack: Number agreement sometimes happens in English too! Think of how you say “ this house” but “ these houses”.

Now that we’re on the same page about gender and number agreement, let’s jump into the rules for the use of definite articles in Spanish.

How Do You Use Definite Articles in Spanish? An Explanation With Examples

First, let’s talk about lo . Lo is not common in sentences at beginner or intermediate level because it’s used with abstract concepts. It has no plural form and often doesn’t translate to “the” in English.

• Lo abstracto no se puede tocar (“You can’t touch what is abstract.”)
• Lo mejor de mi viaje fue viajar contigo – “The best of my trip was travelling with you.”
• Lo único que puedo hacer es irme – “All I can do is leave.”

Now that you’re more familiar with lo , let’s go over the most important rules for using el, la, los, las .

As you will see in the examples, the Spanish definite article does not always translate to “the” in English. A phrase such as la hermana de mi madre (literally “the sister of my mother”) becomes “my mother’s sister”, without the definite article.

But keep in mind that nouns in Spanish almost always need an article. This article can either be definite or indefinite.

I’ll talk more about indefinite articles later in the post. For now, let’s explore the rules for the use of definite articles.

In English, you don’t use the definite article if you want to talk about dogs in general. You just say “Dogs are my favourite animals.”

In Spanish, however, the sentence wouldn’t make sense without the definite article. The right way to translate it is Los perros son mis animales favoritos.

• Las escuelas cierran en verano – “Schools close in the summer.”
• Me gustan los perros – “I like dogs.”

When the noun you’re referring to is evident, use the definite article.

• La reina de Inglaterra se llama Elizabeth* – “The Queen of England is called Elizabeth.”
• Mi padre me mandó una carta. La carta llegó hoy – “My father sent me a card. The card arrived today.”
• El libro de mi hermana es azul* – “My sister’s book is blue.”
• El Sr. Martínez es mi vecino – “Mr Martinez is my neighbour.”
• La Dra. García se fue – “Dr. Garcia has left.”
• Profesor Morales, ¿cómo está? – “Professor Morales, how are you?”

The Spanish possessive pronouns are:

• mío/a/as/os – “mine”
• tuyo/a/os/as “yours” with tú or vos
• suyo/a/os/as – “his”, “hers”, or “yours” with usted
• nuestro/a/os/as – “ours”
• vuestro/a/os/as “yours” with vosotros and vosotras
• suyo/a/os/as – “theirs”, or “yours” with ustedes
• ¿Cuál bicicleta usarás? La mía – “What bicycle will you use? Mine.”
• Usa tu teléfono, nosotros usaremos el nuestro – “Use your phone, we will use ours.”

Here are a few more examples of times when you have to use definite articles in Spanish.

→ In Spanish, definite articles come before the days of the week.

• el lunes – “Monday”
• ¡Te veo el jueves! – “See you on Thursday!”

→ Sometimes, the Spanish definite article is needed in front of language nouns: El español es mi idioma favorito (“Spanish is my favourite language”). It isn’t needed when the name of the language follows a verb: Estoy aprendiendo español (“I am learning Spanish”).

→ Use definite articles when you’re talking about the hour: La clase empieza a las dos (“The class starts at two”) and Se fue a la una (“He/She left at one”).

The singular definite articles in Spanish are the masculine el , the feminine la , and the neutral lo .

While la and lo always stay the same, el is sometimes joined with other words to make the combination sound less awkward to pronounce.

Don’t worry, this only happens in two cases: with the preposition a (“to”, “at”, “into”, “by”) and de (“of”, “from”).

In these cases, it would sound awkward to try to say a el or de el as separate words, so they get joined up into one word. A el becomes al , and de el becomes del .

Here’s a chart to help you:

• Sandra ha de saludar al medico – “Sandra has to greet the doctor.”
• Este es el auto del primo de mi esposa – “This is the car of my wife’s cousin.”

These are known in Spanish as artículos contractos (“contracted articles”).

There is no contraction when the masculine definite article is plural. Here are the same examples in plural form:

• *Sandra ha de saludar a los medicos – “Sandra has to greet the doctors.”
• Este es el auto de los primos de mi esposa – “This is the car of my wife’s cousins.”

Earlier in the post, you learned that el is the definite article that goes with masculine nouns and la goes with feminine nouns. But I also gave you a hint that there is an exception to this rule.

Sometimes, el is used with feminine nouns.

Don’t run away! I promise it’s not complicated, you just need to learn one basic rule.

The definite article el goes before a feminine noun when:

• the noun is singular, AND
• the noun starts with a stressed a , á , or ha

When the noun is plural, the definite article goes back to being feminine.

Here are some examples:

There are a few more rules about the exception:

• The rule only works with nouns, not adjectives. If there’s an adjective between the article and the noun, even if it starts with a stressed a, the article will be la . Examples: la gran hacha (“the big axe”) and la alta torre (“the high tower”)
• If the noun is a name, the article stays la . Example: la Ángela
• If the noun is feminine because it indicates feminine gender, use the article la . Example: la árabe (“the Arab”)

If you’re looking into definite articles in Spanish, you’ve probably heard of indefinite articles as well. And chances are, you’re wondering what the difference is.

Here’s the rule: while definite articles “point out” something specific, indefinite articles describe something general or unspecified.

In English, the indefinite articles are “a” and “an”.

These are the Spanish indefinite articles:

Watch how using an indefinite article instead of a definite article changes the meaning of a sentence:

• Marcos tiene un libro azul – “Marcos has a blue book” → You wouldn’t think that Marcos’s book is special. It’s just a blue book.
• Marcos tiene el libro azul – “Marcos has the blue book” → Now Marcos has the blue book. The speaker and listener know which blue book they’re talking about, it’s a specific one.

I’m happy to see that you’ve read this post until the end. Grammar might not be the most exciting topic when you study a foreign language, but at the end of the day, you can’t truly master the language without it.

Often, the smallest words in a language are the most important. Missing out on learning them can set you back in your plans to become fluent.

If you’re looking for more posts on essential Spanish, try our guide to Spanish reflexive verbs or this list of the 101 core Spanish words .

But maybe you already feel ready to interact with a native speaker. That’s one of the best ways to practice your Spanish, so go for it! If you’re looking for a conversation buddy, let me recommend Preply (our review is here ). It’s one of my favourite language learning resources.

Before saying goodbye, I want to encourage you to leave any questions you have about Spanish definite articles in the comments. I want to make sure you’ve got all the answers you need to improve your Spanish!

¡Nos vemos! (“See you!”)

Benny Lewis

Founder, Fluent in 3 Months

Fun-loving Irish guy, full-time globe trotter and international bestselling author. Benny believes the best approach to language learning is to speak from day one .

Speaks: Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Esperanto, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, Dutch, Irish

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Definite Articles in Spanish (El, La, Los, Las)

👉 how to use definite articles in spanish, – spanish grammar basics for beginners – .

In Spanish, nouns don’t like to be alone. They are always accompanied by an article that agrees in gender and number with the noun to which it refers.

The definite article is used when referring to a particular object, place or person. There are 4 main forms of the definite article: el, la, los and las.

How do you know which one to use? Here’s everything you need to know to avoid using the wrong definite article in your Spanish sentences.

Gender of Spanish words

Before using an article, make sure you know the gender of the word in Spanish.

Among the main differences between the two languages are:

• el coche (masculine) = the car (feminine)
• el mar (masculine) = the sea (feminine)
• el mapa (masculine) = the map (feminine)
• la nariz (feminine) = the nose (masculine)
• la sal (feminine) = the salt (masculine)
• la leche (feminine) = the milk (masculine)

Use of definite articles

El : the masculine singular article.

All words ending with the “o” sound are masculine, with very few exceptions.

Words ending in “or”, except “flor”, are also masculine. “El” is the definite article to be used before a masculine singular noun:

• The black cat = El gato negro
• El rey de España =   The king of Spain

Be careful! The article “el” is also used before some feminine words in the singular for phonetic reasons.

Indeed, when a feminine word begins with the sound “a”, whether it is spelled “a” or “ha”, the article “el” must be used. This exception avoids a repetition of the “a” sound.

• El agua está fría = The water is cold
• El hacha afilada = The axe is sharp

There are a few exceptions : la abuela, la avispa, etc.

La = the feminine singular article

All feminine words ending in “a” are feminine in Spanish.

There are a few well-known exceptions such as “el problema” or “el idioma”.

Nouns ending in “z”, “ción”, “sión”, “tad” and “dad” are generally feminine. The definite article to be used before a feminine singular word is “la”:

• La silla de madera = The wooden chair
• La madre de mi amigo = My friend’s mother
• La fidelidad es una cualidad importante = Loyalty is an important quality
• No encuentro la solución = I can’t find the solution

Los = the masculine plural article

The article “los” is used before all Spanish masculine nouns when they are in the plural:

• Me gustan los animales = I love animals
• Los padres de mis amigos = My friends’ parents

In Spanish, the masculine gender prevails when pluralizing. However, the use of “los” has an even more global meaning.

• Los niños juegan en el parque = Children are playing in the park
• Los hermanos de mi amigo son mayores que el = My friend’s brothers and sisters are older than him

Las = the feminine plural article

In Spanish, feminine nouns have their own definite article: las.

Even feminine nouns that take the masculine article “el” in the singular for phonetic reasons, find the feminine article when they become plural.

• Las aguas son profundas = The waters are deep
• Me gustan las canciones de amor = I like love songs

Contraction and omission of the definite article

The masculine definite article “el” contracts when used after “a” or “de”:

• A + el = AL : Voy al ciné = I go to the cinema
• De + el = Del : Vengo del mar = I come from the sea

It is sometimes necessary to omit the definite article:

• Before the names of countries : El año próximo, visitaremos Francia = Next year, we will visit France
• Before the words casa, caza, pesca, misa, palacio , when used as a complement of place : Voy a casa = I’m going home
• Before the names of school subjects : Estudio inglés = I am learning English
• In some expressions to know : Tengo tiempo = I have time

👉 Practice – Exercise on definite articles

👉 Next lesson: Indefinite articles

👉 Previous lesson: Countable and uncountable nouns

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• Spanish Articles and Nouns

Definite Articles in Spanish: el & la = the [+6 Examples & Quiz]

• Sam Denishin
• April 10, 2021

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In this grammar lesson you will learn how to use definite articles in Spanish.

In this lesson you will learn about:

• how to use definite articles in Spanish
• how definite articles in Spanish are used in sentences
• how you can quiz yourself on how to use definite articles in Spanish
• how to practice with flashcards regarding how to use definite articles in Spanish
• how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn Spanish

Please refer to the Spanish A1 Page to get a better overview of Spanish grammar, if you are curious about how this fits in the overall structure of Spanish A1.

By the end of the lesson you will know all about how to use definite articles in Spanish!

Table of Contents

Definite articles in spanish: el & la = the.

You can say “the + [singular noun]” in the following ways in Spanish:

• el + [masculine singular noun]
• la + [feminine singular noun]

There are two options, because Spanish is a gendered language.

Every noun is either masculine or feminine.

“ El ” is used for masculine singular nouns.

“ La ” is used for feminine singular nouns.

In practice it looks like this:

El perro es grande. The dog is big.

El reloj es pesado. The watch is heavy.

El teléfono es nuevo. The phone is new.

La chica es joven. The girl is young .

La bicicleta es barata. The bicycle is cheap.

La casa es cara. The house is expensive.

If you are ever in doubt about whether something is a noun or not, then please think of the following:

• A noun is any word that you can put the word “the” in front of.

Example Sentences on How to use Definite Articles in Spanish

This section of the lesson on the how to use definite articles in Spanish is about seeing the idiom in action.

This is valuable because you can improve your understanding of how to say definite articles in Spanish through examples.

Quiz Yourself on How to use Definite Articles in Spanish

It’s not enough to just read this lesson.

You should test your knowledge to see if you really understood everything, and to be able to repeat the material.

At the end of every lesson you can do a small test.

You will see the sentences of the previous chapter. It is up to you to give the correct answer.

You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.

Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.

You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!

perro es grande. The dog is big.  

reloj es pesado. The watch is heavy.  

casa es cara. The house is expensive.  

How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson

Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!

It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.

Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information on flashcards and the best way to learn a new language.

There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.

• The Flashcards in our Courses

Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.

After you have downloaded Anki for free, you can get our Spanish A1 Anki Deck .

This Anki Deck contains 3,084 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for Spanish A1.

All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.

You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!

However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?

The Courses of Language Atlas

Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?

I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.

It never really seemed to work for me.

I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.

So I thought, “ why not make something myself? “.

Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.

I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.

However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.

These courses are easy to follow, clear, and allow you to become fluent in the most effective and efficient way.

The courses of Language Atlas have:

• 800+ Lessons with audio
• 800+ Quizzes
• 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
• A gamified way of learning a new language
• A vibrant community (including support from me)

You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!

This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).

All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!

Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!

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Definite Articles

In Spanish, few nouns can stand alone. Most need to be introduced or determined by an article . As in English, an article is characterized as either definite ( the ) or indefinite ( a , an ). Spanish articles must match the gender and the number of the noun they determine, resulting in four forms of the definite article, as seen in the table above.

Contractions  del   and  al  

The masculine singular definite article  el   is abbreviated when used with the preposition  de  of  and a  to .

• de + el = del
• a + el = al

Masculine Article with A-initial Feminine Nouns

When a feminine singular noun begins with a stressed  a-  or  ha- , the masculine article  un   or   el  is used instead the feminine  una   or  la , for ease of pronunciation and to maintain a separation between the two words. When the same noun is plural, the feminine article  unas  or  las   is used.  The following feminine nouns use the masculine article when singular.

• el alma – las almas   soul
• el hacha – las hachas  ax
• el hambre – las hambres  hunger
• el agua – las aguas  water
• el águila – las águilas eagle

Spanish uses the definite article in many places where English does. However, some uses of the definite article in Spanish can be tricky for English speakers because the English equivalent does not use  the ,  but rather just a bare noun (a noun with no determiner). Below are the uses of the definite article in Spanish, including both those similar to and different than English.

To Identify a Specific Noun

As in English, the definite article is used to identify a specific noun or to refer to a noun that has already been specified.

To Express General Truths or Concepts

Unlike English, Spanish uses the definite article to express general truths or concepts. Compare the following sentences with their English translation:

Sé que con esa carrera yo puedo, o sea, ayudar a la gente mucho más. I know that with that career I can help people much more. A mi mamá no le gustaban los Estados Unidos; la vida aquí era muy difícil. My mom didn’t like the United States; life here was very difficult.

To Express Likes and Dislikes

Unlike English, Spanish uses the definite article with verbs of preference, such as gustar, preferir, encantar, odiar . Compare the following sentence with its English translation:

Days of the Week

Unlike English, the definite article is used in Spanish with days of the week, also to indicate habitual recurrence. Compare the following sentence with its English translation:

Cities, continents, countries, states, and regions usually do not require an article in Spanish. For example:

Months never require an article: enero, febrero, marzo , etc. Also note that the months are not capitalized in Spanish.

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Definite And Indefinite Articles In Spanish: A Detailed Guide

• Read time 8 mins

Spanish definite and indefinite articles can be tricky for English speakers at first.

While English has a total of three articles, Spanish has a lot more which change depending on gender and number.

You can’t avoid the reality that mastering definite and indefinite articles in Spanish is essential.

So let’s get started.

What do we mean by a Spanish definite and indefinite article?

To explain what definite and indefinite articles in Spanish are, we should first consider what an article is.

An article is a small word that speakers use to demonstrate whether they are speaking about a specific noun or a general noun.

As you might have gathered, we can divide articles into definite and indefinite categories.

“The” is the definite article in English, and “a” and “an” are the indefinite articles.

But which words are the equivalent in Spanish?

What are the definite articles in Spanish?

There are four different definite articles in Spanish since nouns can either be masculine or feminine.

The four types of definite articles in Spanish are:

Here are some usage examples of how you can use these definite Spanish articles:

El lápiz de Lucía no funciona muy bien.

La lámpara de Sara brilla intensamente.

Los cerdos de Antonio viven en una granja.

Las flores de Alex crecen cada año.

Gender exceptions for definite Spanish articles

Keep in mind that there are a few gender exceptions when using definite Spanish articles.

A masculine definite article can modify feminine nouns if the noun begins with a stressed a or ha .

For example, the word hambre is feminine, but speakers use the masculine definite article el to modify or identify this noun.

This rule applies to nouns like alma and águila , which also use the masculine definite article.

When do we use definite articles in Spanish?

Some of the main uses of definite Spanish articles that you should be aware of include: talking about a day of the week, talking about topics in general terms, talking about languages, talking about body parts , possessions or items someone owns, and telling the time.

Let’s look at these usages in more detail.

Mentioning a day of the week with definite Spanish articles

Although we don’t use this rule in English, use definite articles when referring to a day of the week in Spanish if they’re the sentence’s subject.

Here are some usage examples:

Voy al parque todos los sábados.

Hasta el lunes. Buen fin de semana.

No me gustan los martes. Siempre tengo mucho trabajo.

Talking about topics in general terms using definite Spanish articles

If you’re describing a group of things in a general sense, use a definite article to refer to them.

Use the following sentences as examples:

Las vacas comen el césped.

Los gatos son muy lindos.

No me gusta la comida basura.

Talking about languages with definite Spanish articles

Although we don’t use definite articles to talk about languages in English, we do use them in Spanish.

A mí me encanta el francés.

A mí no me gusta el inglés.

Llevo siete años y medio estudiando el español.

Using definite articles in Spanish to talk about body parts

Again, even though we don’t use definite articles to talk about body parts in English, we do use them in Spanish.

Take a look at these examples:

Cuando me dió la vacuna, me dolió el brazo.

Me duele la cabeza. He trabajado demasiado.

Le duele el pie.

Talking about items that someone owns using definite Spanish articles

Use the definite Spanish article when you want to describe an object that someone else owns.

Here are a few usage examples to help you understand this rule:

El ordenador de Pepe es caro.

La mochila de Sofía es grande.

El vaso de Jaime es pequeño.

Using definite articles in Spanish to tell the time

You may have already learned in a Spanish course that if you want to tell the time in Spanish you should use the definite article.

Here are some examples:

Los españoles comen a las once de la noche.

Los ingleses comen a las siete de la noche.

Como a las ocho de la noche.

What are indefinite articles in Spanish?

There are four indefinite articles in Spanish, which are:

Here are some examples of how to use them:

Compré una bici para mi hijo.

Ellos compraron un ordenador nuevo.

Compraré unos pendientes para mi cumpleaños.

Ellas compraron unas casas baratas.

When do we use indefinite articles in Spanish?

We use definite and indefinite articles in Spanish in different contexts.

Spanish speakers use indefinite articles when they are referring to something undefined, but some of the rules for using indefinite articles in Spanish include: Speaking about a single object, using a descriptive noun to describe a person and giving approximations.

Let’s look at these rules with a few examples.

Using indefinite articles in Spanish to talk about a single object

If you are speaking about a single object, and there are no other objects around, use the indefinite article in Spanish.

Since there’s only one object, remember to use the singular indefinite article in this case.

For example:

Quería pedir una cita.

Necesito un bolígrafo.

Using indefinite articles in Spanish with descriptive nouns

When you use a descriptive noun or replace an adjective with a descriptive noun, use an indefinite article in your sentence before that noun. Here are a few examples:

Eres un pájaro.

Ella es una genia.

Giving approximations with indefinite articles in Spanish

If you want to give an approximation when you’re unsure of the exact number of things you’re describing, use an indefinite article in Spanish.

Take a look at the following examples:

Voy a comprar unos ingredientes para el pastel.

Compró unas flores para el jardín.

When you should avoid using articles in Spanish

Watch out for some of these rules, which indicate when you should avoid using articles in Spanish:

1. Don’t use articles in Spanish to talk about professions or identity

For example, although we might say “I am a doctor” in English, in Spanish we don’t use the article. We would say soy medico .

This is important when using vocabulary for occupations .

2. Avoid using articles in Spanish when referring to things that don’t have a specific quantity

For instance, if you want to say that you’re expecting several storms in the next months , you would say habrá tormentas en los próximos meses (without an article before the main noun tormentas ).

3. Don’t use articles in Spanish to talk about months

For example, if you are describing an event that will happen in August, you don’t need to use an article before the month (although you do need one before days of the week ).

You would say habrá muchas fiestas en agosto.

4. Don’t use articles when you use an ordinal number

For instance, if you want to say “Elizabeth the Second is Queen of England”, you would say Elizabeth Segundo es reina de Inglaterra .

Refer to this guide on Spanish ordinal numbers .

Practice using definite and indefinite articles in Spanish

Learning Spanish definite and indefinite articles is easy.

If you’re looking for a more in-depth lesson on this topic with excellent audio examples, Rocket Spanish covers this topic well. I recommend checking that out next.

Remember the rules in this guide and keep at it.

What advice do you have for learning definite and indefinite articles in Spanish?

Share your knowledge in the comments section.

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Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish (+ Free PDF)

Definite and indefinite Spanish articles. What are they? When are they used? That’s what we will learn today.

Let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

Special rule.

Would you rather have this post in a PDF version? Download it below. 

Spanish Articles

The Spanish language has definite and indefinite articles.

La and las are definite articles. Let’s learn more about these words!

Definite Articles

In Spanish, there are four definite articles. They are el, la, los, las,  and they are all equivalent to the English word “the”.

• el carro (the car)

• el mapa (the map)

• el avión (the airplane)

• la silla (the chair)

• la flor (the flower)

• la mesa (the table)

• los carros (the cars)

• los mapas (the maps)

• los aviones (the airplanes)

• las sillas (the chairs)

• las flores (the flower)

• las mesas (the table)

Are there any exceptions to the rules above? Yes, there is one.

Learn how to identify masculine and feminine nouns in the post called Spanish Gender Rules: Masculine and Feminine Nouns.

There is one special rule to use the definite article el in Spanish.

This rule applies to some nouns that start with the vowel “a”. The rule goes like this:

If a feminine noun starts with the vowel “a” , and that vowel is stressed , use the definite article el instead of la .

Let me explain.

In Spanish, articles agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.

Therefore, we use feminine nouns with feminine articles. We say, for example, “ la niña (the girl).”

Some feminine nouns start with the vowel “a” in Spanish.  Some examples are agua (water) , águila (eagle) , aula (classroom) , and ave (bird).

The strength of the voice in those words falls in the first “a” of each word.

When a feminine word starts with a stressed vowel “a”, use el instead of la .

• el agua (the water)

• el águila (the eagle)

• el aula (the classroom)

• el ave (the bird)

Though all of the nouns above are feminine, the article that accompanies them is masculine.

Oh! And this rule applies to the Spanish indefinite article un , too. Let’s learn more about these articles!

• un águila (an eagle)

• un ave (a bird)

Indefinite Articles

In Spanish, there are four indefinite articles. They are un, una, unos, unas .

Un and una are equivalent to the English words “a” and “an”. Unos and unas are equivalent to the word “some”.

Use un with masculine nouns that are singular.

• un carro (a car)

• un mapa (a map)

• un avión (an airplane)

Use una with feminine nouns that are singular.

• una silla (a chair)

• una flor (a flower)

• una mesa (a table)

Use unos with masculine nouns that are plural.

• unos carros (some cars)

• unos mapas (some maps)

• unos aviones (some airplanes)

Use unas with feminine nouns that are plural.

• unas sillas (some chairs)

• unas flores (some flowers)

• unas mesas (some tables)

If in a conversation, you don’t want to mention the noun you are talking about, un becomes uno . Let me give you an example.

• ¿Quieres un burrito ? (Do you want a burrito?)

• Sí, quiero uno . (Yes, I want one.)

Do you have any questions about Spanish definite or indefinite articles? Feel free to drop me a line .

Think this is neat? Share it with your friends!

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Guide to Spanish Articles: The Only Lesson You’ll Ever Need

According to the Royal Spanish Academy’s most recent corpus, the articles la and el are the second and the fourth most used words in Spanish, respectively. So, if you ever wonder if articles in Spanish are important, the answer is without a doubt, yes! 

Articles are key to forming cohesive sentences in Spanish. So, if you’re looking to learn more about this essential topic, in this guide, you’ll find all the crucial information you need to understand and adequately use Spanish articles. 

Here is a quick overview of the topics covered in this guide:

• What Are Articles?
• Advanced lesson: neuter article ‘lo’

Indefinite Articles in Spanish

Difference between definite & indefinite articles.

• ​​ Spanish Articles and Spelling Considerations
• When Not to Use Articles?
• Key Points About Spanish Articles  

By the end of it, you’ll feel more confident about articles in Spanish. 

What Are Articles in Spanish?

Articles are small words that are classified as determiners . In simple terms, this means that Spanish articles are words that you place before a noun to provide certain details about the thing or person you’re talking about. When using Spanish articles, you convey the following information:

• The gender and number of the noun (feminine or masculine, singular or plural ). 
• If the people involved in the conversation already know or are aware of the specific object you’re talking about. 

Confused? Check these examples:

Siempre sí compré el celular .  I ended up buying the phone . 

Ayer compré unos celulares .  Yesterday, I bought some phones .  

If you compare example #1 vs. #2, you’ll realize that they’re talking about masculine nouns . However, #1 refers to a single phone, while #2 talks about multiple phones. 

Additionally, by using el, the first example implies that the people involved in the conversation already know which phone I’m talking about. This doesn’t happen in the second example, where people don’t know anything about the types of phones I got.  

Based on their degree of specificity , articles in Spanish are classified into:

• Definite articles : to refer to defined objects or people. 
• Indefinite articles: used to talk about undefined people or things. 

In the sections below, we’ll explore these types of articles in more detail. 

Spanish Definite Articles

As their name suggests, definite articles in Spanish work with a defined noun. This means that the people engaging in the conversation with you already know or have heard about the noun you’re talking about. 

So, in simple terms, you use definite articles to talk about particular things you previously mentioned and that you know people will be able to identify. Below is a table with definite articles in Spanish:

When to use definite articles

Identifying when you’re talking about something specific can be challenging as a new Spanish learner. So, if you still feel unsure about when to use definite articles in Spanish, here is a list of situations where you need to use these words:

• To describe specific objects or people. 
• To tell the time in Spanish .
• To emphasize that something is unique or the best of its kind.
• To talk about games, days of the week , instruments you play, ordinary numbers , body parts, dates, and sports.
• To express your likes and dislikes.
• To build superlative sentences in Spanish. 
• To refer to people’s titles or certain names of places. 
• To refer to objects that are near the speaker. 

Take Note: When the prepositions a or de come immediately before the article ‘el’, you need to contract both words (check the graphic below) to avoid awkward pronunciation. 

Examples of how to use definite articles in Spanish

Below are some examples of how to use definite articles in Spanish. Let’s see if you can identify all of the contexts listed above, shall we? Remember that these words need to agree in gender and number with the noun.

[Definite Article] + [noun]+ (complement)

No me gustó el pastel .  I didn’t like the cake . 

Tengo clase los lunes .  I have classes on Mondays . 

Tip: While we don’t do this in English, we always a masculine article (‘el’ or ‘los’) to refer to the days of the week in Spanish .

Creo que son las cinco .  I believe it is five . 

Celia se quebró el brazo .  Celia broke her arm . 

Tip: In English, you don’t use articles with the same frequency as we do in Spanish. As a result, there will be many situations that may seem weird to you. For example, body parts always work with definite articles because they’re something unique and specific . 

La casa de la esquina es azul.  The house on the corner is blue. 

¿Sabe a qué hora llega la doctora ? What time does the doctor arrive?

Tip: In this example, we know that the doctor is female. If the doctor was male, we would use ‘ el doctor’.

Juan Carlos toca la guitarra muy bien.  Juan Carlos plays the guitar very well. 

Mis primos son los más altos de la familia.  My cousins are the tallest in the family. 

Judith y Tony se mudaron a La Habana .  Judith and Tony moved to Havana . 

Pasa, Charlie, ¿puedes cerrar la puerta ? Come in, Charlie. Can you close the door ?

Ella es siempre la mujer para Sherlock Holmes.  She was always the woman for Sherlock Holmes.

Tip: In Spanish, there are many places (such as countries, rivers, cities, mountains, lakes, etc.) whose name is formed with a definite article . Some examples include:

Advanced Tip: Spanish speakers use definite articles to express possession as well. This meaning is only available when it’s more than clear that the object belongs to the speaker. In this case, you can use articles instead of possessive adjectives . 

As a result, you could say:

Me robaron el celular y la cartera.  Somebody stole my phone and my wallet. 

Neuter article ‘lo’

As you progress in your Spanish grammar , sooner or later, you’ll have to use the infamous neuter article lo. Jokes aside, many students assume that ‘lo’ is a masculine article. However, as a neuter article , ‘lo’ does not convey the gender of a noun. 

Unlike other Spanish definite articles, ‘lo’ only has this form and it doesn’t work with nouns because Spanish nouns always have a gender. As a result, the neuter article ‘lo’ is used to:

• Emphasize qualities.
• Refer to abstract concepts, such as ideas, wishes, or thoughts. 

When working as a neuter article, lo can be translated as ‘ how’ or ‘what ’. Keep in mind that we use the conjunction que to introduce ideas, wishes or thoughts. 

Lo + [adjective/adverb/que] + [complement]

No puedo creer lo rápido que comes.  I can’t believe how fast you eat. 

Lo que quiero es descansar.  What I want is to rest. 

Ojalá pudieras ver lo bonita que está la ciudad.  I wish you were able to see how pretty the city is. 

Take Note: Some people also use the neuter article ‘lo’ to refer to a person’s house or commercial business. While this application is not as common as it used to be, you may find it in books or in small towns. 

Ahorita vengo. Voy a lo de Sophie.  I’ll be right back. I’m going to Sophie’s. 

Spanish indefinite articles refer to imprecise and undefined people or things. This means that the listener or reader is not yet aware of the noun (object) you’re referring to, or he doesn’t have enough information to identify it. 

For this reason, indefinite articles in Spanish are used to introduce a person or object into the conversation. Below is a table with all the indefinite articles in Spanish:

When to use indefinite articles

Spanish indefinite articles have three main uses:

• Refer to an unspecified noun. 
• Express and emphasize the amount of a noun. 
• Emphasize the qualities or characteristics of a noun. 

Here are some examples of how to use these articles:

[Subject] + [verb conjugated] + [indefinite article] + adjective) + [noun]

Te compré un suéter .  I bought you a sweater . 

Jonathan, ¿quieres una manzana ? Jonathan, do you want an apple ?

Quiero un helado de chocolate.  I want a chocolate ice cream cone .

Tatiana es una buena hermana.  Tatiana is a good sister. 

Hay unos niños en la puerta.  There are some kids at the door.

As you can see in examples #1 and #5, we don’t have much information about the nouns. We don’t know who those kids are or what type of sweater I bought you. On the other hand, examples #2 and #3 express the quantity of ice cream and apples the person wants. Finally, the fourth example emphasizes Tatiana’s characteristics.

As you have learned so far, definite and indefinite articles in Spanish aren’t the same. The key difference between these sets of words is their degree of specificity . To put it in simple terms:  

• Definite articles accompany defined nouns that listeners can easily distinguish because they’ve heard or known about them before. 
• Indefinite articles work with undefined nouns that listeners cannot identify because they either don’t have enough information about that noun or haven’t heard about it. 

Check these simple examples:

Definite article

Quiero el pastel de chocolate , por favor.  I want the chocolate cake, please. 

Indefinite article 

Quiero un pastel, por favor.  I want a cake, please. 

Observe the sentences above. When using definite articles, I’m talking about something specific that the listeners can quickly identify. In this example, that would be the chocolate cake, and it’s implied that the person selling cakes knows what cake I’m talking about.  

However, if I use the indefinite article, aside from the quantity, I’m not giving much information about what I want. So, the clerk and I would need to have a conversation to define the type of cake I’m looking for. 

Take Note: Another key difference between definite and indefinite articles in Spanish is that definite articles never work with the verb haber. This use is only applicable to indefinite articles. 

Hay la rebanada de pizza en la mesa.   There’s the slice of pizza on the table. 

Hay una rebanada de pizza en la mesa.   There’s a slice of pizza on the table. 

Spanish Articles and Spelling Considerations

We’ve already established that Spanish nouns always have a gender and that you have to choose the article that agrees with the object’s gender. However, when it comes to Spanish articles, there’s an exception to this rule that you should know. 

When a feminine singular noun begins with a stressed ‘a’ sound, you will have to use a singular masculine article to ease the pronunciation.

Want to check it for yourself? Try to read the sentences below. Did you notice how smooth the pronunciation is with the correct examples?

This rule doesn’t apply if:

• There’s an adjective between the article and the noun. 
• The noun is in its diminutive form or other variations. 
• The article is used to establish the gender of a noun.
• The noun refers to the name of a letter or initials. 

Check these examples:

[Article] + (adjective) + [noun]

  La pequeña hada voló a su casa.  The little fairy flew to her house. 

Vimos una aguilita en la montaña. We saw a little eagle on the mountain. 

Mi comida favorita es la árabe .  My favorite food is Arabic . 

En español, la hache es muda.  In Spanish, the letter H is mute. 

When to Omit Articles in Spanish?

Although they are a common element in a sentence, articles in Spanish have to be omitted in certain situations. The following cases do not require the use of articles:

• Saying a person’s profession
• Referring to months or years
• Referring to proper nouns
• Talking about uncountable nouns or unspecified amounts

Here are some examples:

Lenny es un enfermero .  Lenny is a nurse . 

Lenny es enfermero .  Lenny is a nurse . 

Bonnie es una periodista .  Bonnie is a journalist . 

Bonnie es periodista .  Bonnie is a journalist . 

Tip: Even though in English you use articles to refer to a person’s profession, in Spanish we don’t have this application. However, you will need to add an indefinite article if you’re describing how people are in their professional life. 

Sonia es una excelente enfermera.  Sonia is an excellent nurse. 

Nací en el 1991 .  I was born in 1991 .  

Nací en 1991 .  I was born in 1991 .  

Vivo en la China .   I live in China . 

Vivo en China .   I live in China . 

Tp: As you already know, there are certain rivers, mountains, cities, and countries whose names in Spanish are formed with a definite article. In this case, you cannot omit the article because it’s part of that proper noun. 

Necesitamos la leche .   We need milk . 

¿Todavía tenemos un vino ? Do we still have a wine ?

Necesitamos leche .   We need milk . 

¿Todavía tenemos vino ? Do we still have wine ?

Tip: Articles and uncountable nouns in Spanish can be confusing. In this case, you only need to use articles if the object you’re referring to is very specific. Check the examples below. 

¿Dónde está la leche que compré? Where is the milk that I bought?  

¿Todavía tenemos el vino que nos dio Gus? Do we still have the Italian wine that Gus gave us? 

Key Points & Rules for Articles

Spanish articles can be challenging. To help you overcome this, here are some key points that you should never forget:

• Articles in Spanish are always placed before the noun. 
• Spanish articles have to agree in number and gender with the noun. 
• Articles express if the people involved in the conversation already know or are aware of the object or person you’re talking about. 
• Articles are classified as either definite or indefinite articles. 
• La, el, los, las and lo are definite articles in Spanish. 
• ‘ Al’ and ‘ del’ are mandatory contractions formed when the prepositions a or de are in front of the article ‘el’.
• Tell the time in Spanish .
• Talk about specific objects.
• Emphasize that a noun is unique or the best of its kind.
• Build superlative structures . 
• Refer to a person’s title. 
• Express your likes and dislikes. 
• Talk about days of the week , instruments you play, body parts, dates, and sports. 
• The neuter article ‘lo’ does not work with nouns . It emphasizes qualities or refers to abstract concepts. 
• Indefinite articles are un, uno, una and unas.
• Express the quantity of a certain noun. 
• Emphasize the qualities of a noun. 
• When a singular feminine noun starts with a stressed ‘a’ sound, the feminine article must be replaced by ‘el’ or ‘ un’ to ease the pronunciation.
• Articles have to be omitted in certain situations. 

Daniela Sanchez

¡Hola! Soy Daniela Sanchez, I've been studying Spanish professionally as well as teaching it in Mexico and online for over 10 years. I’ve taught Spanish to a wide array of foreigners from many backgrounds. Over the years, I've made it my mission to work hard on refining many challenging to understand grammar topics to make my students' learning experiences easier, faster and more enjoyable. Read More About Me

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Articles in Spanish: A Guide

Learn the types, differences and usage of spanish definite and indefinite articles, i want to learn....

Articles are words that go before a noun and help to define it in a better way. In English, articles are ‘the’, ‘a’ or ‘an’ we use in everyday sentences.

In Spanish there are definite and indefinite articles , just like English, but articles are also further defined depending on the noun in question. Confused? Don’t worry, our simple guide will help you get to grips with which Spanish articles to use when and why.

What are articles in Spanish?

In Spanish, just like in English, articles help define a noun. Nouns name people, places, animals, objects, feelings and ideas.

Spanish, nouns are gendered and their endings vary depending on whether they’re feminine or masculine, singular or plural.

Likewise, articles in Spanish change to indicate the gender, masculinity or femininity, and number (singular or plural) of the noun in question.

Still confused with Spanish articles?

Say adiós to confusion with articles in Spanish and start using them with ease with Busuu! Our free online courses and learning resources are designed to help you master using definite and indefinite articles in no time.

Types of articles

In English, there are only two types of articles. The definite article is “the.” The indefinite articles are “a” and “an.”

In Spanish, articles vary to match gender and number of nouns. The indefinite articles are un, una, unos, and unas , and the definite articles are: _el/los, la/las _and lo .

Use the definite articles el, la, los, las to talk about something the listener already knows:

• El perro es negro . The dog is black.
• La rosa es mía . The rose is mine.

Use indefinite articles un, una, unos, unas to talk about something new:

• Un gato negro - a black cat
• Unas uvas - some grapes

Spanish definite and indefinite articles

Definite articles in singular and plural.

Be careful! ¡Ten cuidado! There are 5 types of definite articles, depending on the gender and the number of the noun in question. The five forms of the Spanish definite article are el, la, los, las, and lo .

Definite articles in Spanish

Bear in mind that these forms directly depend on the gender and number of the noun you are using.

So the first step is always to identify the noun’s gender.

Spanish noun endings -a, -ción, -ía, or -dad, -ed, -id, -od, -eza, -is are usually feminine.

Feminine noun endings

Spanish masculine nouns endings are -o, -an, -en, -in, -on, -un , an accented vowel, -or, -ate, -ete, -ote, or -aje .

Masculine noun endings

Step 2: Identify the number: singular or plural?

It's quite easy to spot plural nouns in Spanish, look at the following table to see the most common singular and plural noun endings.

Common Spanish noun endings

Now it's time to put all this together. Let's take a look at the following examples:

Examples of singular and plural definite articles

Here are some other examples:

• Singular: el (The) - el perro (the dog)
• Singular: la (The) - la niña (the girl)
• Plural: los (The) - los juguetes (the toys)
• Plural: las (The) - las manos (the hands)

When to use definite articles

Talking about things in general Use definite articles in Spanish to refer to people or things in general. Watch out here, as this is the opposite in English.

• Los perros son peligrosos . Dogs are dangerous.
• Las frutas son saludables . Fruits are healthy.

Talking about a specific person or thing When you want to refer to someone or something specific in Spanish, you also use definite articles.

• La última película de los Avengers es buena .
• The Avengers' latest movie is good.

Talking about days of the week Use definite articles to introduce days of the week - remember you don’t capitalize days of the week in Spanish.

• El sábado fui al cine . On Saturday, I went to the movies.
• Te veo el sábado . See you on Saturday.

Talking about languages In Spanish, you use a definite article with names of languages when they are the subject of a sentence. This is also the opposite in English.

• El inglés es fácil . English is easy.
• El francés es un idioma romántico . French is a romance language.

Talking about body parts Use definite articles to refer to body parts in Spanish. This is another difference between English and Spanish, as in English, we’d use a possessive pronoun.

• Me duele el estomago . My stomach hurts.
• Las manos están sucias . The hands are dirty.

Talking about time If you´re going to tell time, use definite articles.

• Salimos a las 5 pm . We leave at 5 o'clock.
• Es la 1 de la tarde . It's one o’clock.

Talking about possession Use definite articles to talk about possession.

• La casa de Maria es blanca . Maria´s house is white.
• Los perros de mi hermano son negros . My brother's dogs are black.

Note: The definite article ‘el’ and the pronoun ‘él’.

The definite article el (the) differs from the pronoun él (he) as él can work as a subject in a sentence on its own, whereas el needs a noun for it to make sense. Look at the following example:

• Él tiene el último jugo. He has the last juice.

Indefinite articles in singular and plural

When using indefinite articles, you’re referring to something new. It can be a person, thing or animal that is not defined or specified.

In English, indefinite articles in singular are “a,” “an” or “some” in plural, whereas in Spanish, there are 4 indefinite articles, which also follow the gender and the number rule.

Singular and plural indefinite articles

When to use indefinite articles.

Talking about one thing Use the indefinite article in Spanish for singular feminine and masculine nouns if there is one thing involved.

• Hay un gato . There is a cat.
• Eso es una flor . That is a flower.

Describing a person with a noun Rather than using adjectives to describe someone, you can add an indefinite article before the noun being modified.

• Él es un genio . He is a genius.

Describing an approximate amount Use the indefinite article before the noun when the exact number isn't stated, so you give an estimated amount.

• Tengo unos amigos . I have some friends.
• Compre unas sodas . I bought some sodas.

Differences between definite and indefinite articles in Spanish

The main difference between the definite article and the indefinite article is that when using definite articles, the listener already knows what you´re talking about. You use indefinite articles, when you’re talking about something new or not mentioned before.

• Quiero un carro . I want a car.
• Quiero el carro rojo . I want the red car.

As you can see, the definite article “the” specifically describes the red car; whereas, the indefinite article “a '' describes a car in general.

When to omit articles

Ordinal numbers.

You can omit the definite article if you are using ordinal numbers for names of kings and queens:

• Leticia primera - Leticia the first

Days of the week

You can also omit the definite article when days of the week show the current day and are followed by the verb ser.

• Hoy es lunes . Today is Monday.

After the verb ser

You can omit the Spanish indefinite article “a” after the verb ser when the noun is related to a profession, a nationality, or a religion, among others.

• Soy doctora . - I am a doctor.
• Él es maestro . - He is a teacher.

When not to use articles in Spanish

There are certain situations in which you shouldn’t use an article in Spanish because you don’t need it.

Talking about identity Soy nicaragüense . - I am Nicaraguan.

Talking about dates and months Hoy es lunes 23 de agosto . - Today is Monday August 23rd.

With proper names Ella está con Maria . - She is with Maria. Ve con Emma . - Go with Emma.

After the verb haber (there is) Hay comida en la mesa . – There is food on the table. Hay libros en el escritorio . - There are books on the desk.

With numbers in titles Enrique segundo fue un buen rey . - Enrique II was a good king.

Talking about plurals Tengo muchos libros . - I have many books.

With infinitives as nouns Caminar es saludable . - Walking is healthy.

Contractions del and al

You can abbreviate the article “e” when you use it with the prepositions “a” and “de.”

Let’s see the following examples:

Vamos al cine . - Let’s go to the cinema.

Mi mama va al supermercado . - My mom goes to the supermarket.

• de + el= del

Nosotras vinimos del partido de fútbol . - We came from the soccer match.

Ella viene del colegio . - She comes from the school.

Put your new knowledge into practice

Try Busuu, the award winning language-learning app and learn the Spanish definite and indefinite articles you’ll actually use on a daily basis!

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Articles in Spanish: A Beginner’s Guide

This beginner’s guide covers the basics of articles in Spanish, including the different types of articles and how to use them in context. There are two types of articles in Spanish: definite and indefinite .

Definite Articles in Spanish

Definite articles are used to refer to a specific noun . In English, the definite article is “the.” In Spanish, the definite articles are:

Indefinite Articles in Spanish 

Indefinite articles are used to refer to an unspecified noun . In English, the indefinite articles are “a” and “an.” In Spanish, the indefinite articles are:

The use of articles in Spanish depends on the gender and number of the noun they precede. Here are some general rules to follow:

• Definite Articles: Use “ el ” for masculine singular nouns, and “ la ” for feminine singular nouns. Example: el libro (the book), la mesa (the table). 

Use “ los ” for masculine plural nouns, and “ las ” for feminine plural nouns. Example: los libros (the books), las mesas (the tables).

• Indefinite Articles: Use “ un ” for masculine singular nouns, and “ una ” for feminine singular nouns. Example: un libro (a book), una mesa (a table). 

Use “ unos ” for masculine plural nouns, and “ unas ” for feminine plural nouns. Example: unos libros (some books), unas mesas (some tables).

Exceptions to the Rules:

Like in any language, there are always exceptions to the rules when it comes to articles in Spanish. Some nouns can use a different article than what would be expected based on the rules mentioned above. It’s important to learn these exceptions through practice and exposure to the language.

Spanish Articles LA / EL Practise

Spanish articles una / un practise, spanish articles quiz practise, we cover this topics and many more in the spanish for beginners online course.

Hi there! I’m Flor , and I’m thrilled to be able to help you with your Spanish! I’m a Spanish online teacher and course creator from the vibrant city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Whether you’re just starting your language learning journey or looking to further enhance your skills, I’m here to guide you every step of the way. Let’s embark on this exciting learning adventure together!

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Watch CBS News

Woman suspected of kidnapping and killing girl is beaten to death by mob in Mexican tourist city

Updated on: March 29, 2024 / 7:47 AM EDT / CBS/AP

A mob in the Mexican tourist city of Taxco brutally beat a woman to death Thursday because she was suspected of kidnapping and killing a young girl, rampaging just hours before the city's famous Holy Week procession.

The mob formed after an 8-year-old girl disappeared Wednesday. Her body was found on a road on the outskirts of the city early Thursday. Security camera footage appeared to show a woman and a man loading a bundle, which may have been the girl's body, into a taxi.

The mob surrounded the woman's house Thursday, threatening to drag her out. Police took the woman into the bed of a police pickup truck, but then stood by - apparently intimidated by the crowd - as members of the mob dragged her out of the truck and down onto the street where they stomped, kicked and pummeled her until she lay, partly stripped and motionless.

Police then picked her up and took her away, leaving the pavement stained with blood. The Guerrero state prosecutors' office later confirmed the woman died of her injuries.

"This is the result of the bad government we have," said a member of the mob, who gave her name as Andrea but refused to give her last name. "This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened," she said, referring to the murder of the girl, "but this is the first time the people have done something."

"We are fed up," she said. "This time it was an 8-year-old girl."

The mayor of Taxco, Mario Figueroa, said he shared residents' outrage over the killing. Figueroa said a total of three people beaten by the mob - the woman and two men - had been taken away by police. Video from the scene suggested they had also been beaten, though The Associated Press witnessed only the beating of the woman.

The state prosecutors' office said the two men were hospitalized. There was no immediate information on their condition.

In a statement issued soon after the event, Figueroa complained he did not get any help from the state government for his small, outnumbered municipal police force.

"Unfortunately, up to now we have not received any help or answers," Figueroa said.

The Good Friday eve religious procession, which dates back centuries in the old silver-mining town, went off as planned Thursday night.

People crowded Taxco's colonial streets to watch hooded men walking while whipping themselves or carrying heavy bundles of thorns across their bare shoulders in penitence to emulate the suffering of Jesus Christ carrying the cross.

But the earlier flash of violence cast a pall over the already solemn procession, which draws thousands to the small town.

Many participants wore small white ribbons of mourning.

"I never thought that in a touristic place like Taxco we would experience a lynching," said Felipa Lagunas, a local elementary school teacher. "I saw it as something distant, in places far from civilization ... I never imagined that my community would experience this on such a special day."

Mob attacks in rural Mexico are common. In 2018, two men were torched by an angry crowd in the central state of Puebla, and the next day a man and woman were dragged from their vehicle, beaten and set afire in the neighboring state of Hidalgo.

But Taxco and other cities in Guerrero state have been particularly prone to violence.

In late January, Taxco endured a days-long strike by private taxi and van drivers who suffered threats from one of several drug gangs fighting for control of the area. The situation was so bad that police had to give people rides in the back of their patrol vehicles.

Around the same time, the bullet-ridden bodies of two detectives were found on the outskirts of Taxco. Local media said their bodies showed signs of torture.

In February, Figueroa's own bulletproof car was shot up by gunmen on motorcycles.

In Taxco and throughout Guerrero state, drug cartels and gangs routinely prey on the local population, demanding protection payments from store owners, taxi and bus drivers. They kill those who refuse to pay.

Cartel violence in Guerrero has continued unabated this year.

In February, investigators in Guerrero said they confirmed the contents of a grisly drug cartel video showing gunmen shooting, kicking and burning the corpses of their enemies. Prosecutors said they had reached the remote scene of the crime in the mountain township of Totolapan and  found five charred bodies .  

In January, an alleged  cartel attack in Guerrero  killed at least six people and injured 13 others.

The U.S. State Department urges Americans not to travel to Guerrero, citing widespread crime and violence. "Armed groups operate independently of the government in many areas of Guerrero," the U.S. advisory says . "Members of these groups frequently maintain roadblocks and may use violence towards travelers."

Residents said they have had enough, even though the violence may further affect tourism.

"We know the town lives off of Holy Week (tourism) and that this is going to mess it up. There will be a lot of people who won't want to come anymore," said Andrea, the woman who was in the mob. "We make our living off tourism, but we cannot continue to allow them to do these things to us."

More from CBS News

Man who allegedly filmed sister's "honor" killing is arrested

Man apparently fell to death while chasing dog near waterfall

Mexican mayor shot dead while at restaurant with his son

Avalanche kills U.S. teen, 2 other people near Swiss resort

April 1, 2024

Chatbots Struggle to Answer Medical Questions in Widely Spoken Languages

Two popular chatbots showed some difficulty in providing medical information when asked in Spanish, Hindi or Mandarin

Moor Studio/Getty Images

Plugging medical symptoms into Google is so common that clinicians have nicknamed the search engine “Doctor Google.” But a newcomer is quickly taking its place: “Doctor Chatbot.” People with medical questions are drawn to generative artificial intelligence because chatbots can answer conversationally worded questions with simplified summaries of complex technical information. Users who direct medical questions to, say, OpenAI’s ChatGPT or Google’s Gemini may also trust the AI tool’s chatty responses more than a list of search results .

But that trust might not always be wise. Concerns remain as to whether these models can consistently provide safe and accurate answers. New study findings, set to be presented at the Association for Computing Machinery’s Web Conference in Singapore this May, underscore that point: OpenAI’s general-purpose GPT-3.5 and another AI program called MedAlpaca, which is trained on medical texts, are both more likely to produce incorrect responses to health care queries in Mandarin Chinese, Hindi and Spanish compared with English.

In a world where less than 20 percent of the population speaks English, these new findings show the need for closer human oversight of AI-generated responses in multiple languages—especially in the medical realm, where misunderstanding a single word can be deadly. About 14 percent of Earth’s people speak Mandarin, and Spanish and Hindi are used by about 8 percent each, making these the three most commonly spoken languages after English.

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“Most patients in the world do not speak English, and so developing models which can serve them should be an important priority,” says ophthalmologist Arun Thirunavukarasu, a digital health specialist at John Radcliffe Hospital and the University of Oxford, who was not involved in the study. More work is needed before these models’ performance in non-English languages matches what they promise the English-speaking world, he adds.

In the new preprint study , researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology asked the two chatbots more than 2,000 questions similar to those typically asked by the public about diseases, medical procedures, medications, and other general health topics.* The queries in the experiment, chosen from three English-language medical datasets, were then translated into Mandarin Chinese, Hindi and Spanish.

For each language, the team checked whether the chatbots answered questions correctly, comprehensively and appropriately—qualities that would be expected of a human expert’s answer. The study authors used an AI tool (GPT-3.5) to compare generated responses against the answers provided in the three medical datasets. Finally, human assessors double-checked a portion of those evaluations to confirm the AI judge was accurate. Thirunavukarasu, though, says he wonders about the extent to which artificial intelligence and human evaluators agree; people can, after all, disagree over critiques of comprehension and other subjective traits. Additional human study of the generated answers would help clarify conclusions about chatbots’ medical usefulness, he adds.

The authors found that according to GPT-3.5’s own evaluation, GPT-3.5 produced more unacceptable replies in Chinese (23 percent of answers) and Spanish (20 percent), compared with English (10 percent). Its performance was poorest in Hindi, generating answers that were contradictory, not comprehensive or inappropriate about 45 percent of the time. Answer quality was much worse for MedAlpaca: more than 67 percent of the answers it generated to questions in Chinese, Hindi and Spanish were deemed irrelevant or contradictory. Because people might use chatbots to verify information about medications and medical procedures, the team also tested the AI’s capability to distinguish between correct and erroneous statements; the chatbots performed better when the claims were in English or Spanish, compared with Chinese or Hindi.

One reason large language models, or LLMs (the text-generating technology behind these chatbots), generated irrelevant answers was because the models struggled to figure out the context of the questions, says Mohit Chandra, co-lead author of the study. Scientific American asked OpenAI and the creators of MedAlpaca for comment but did not receive a response by the time of this article’s publication.

MedAlpaca tended to repeat words when responding to non-English queries. For instance, when asked in Hindi about the outlook for chronic kidney disease, it started generating a general answer about the problems of the disease but went on to continuously repeat the phrase “at the last stage.” The researchers also noticed that the model occasionally produced answers in English to questions in Chinese or Hindi—or did not generate an answer at all. These strange results might have occurred because “the MedAlpaca model is significantly smaller than ChatGPT, and its training data is also limited,” says the study’s co-lead author Yiqiao Jin, a graduate student at the Georgia Institute of Technology.

The team found that the answers in English and Spanish, compared with those in Chinese and Hindi, had better consistency across a parameter that artificial intelligence developers call “temperature.” That’s a value that determines the creativity of generated text: the higher an AI’s temperature, the less predictable it becomes when generating a response. At lower temperatures, the models might respond to each health care question with, “Check with your health care professional for more information.” (While this is a safe reply, it’s perhaps not always a helpful one.) The comparable performance across model temperatures might be because of the similarity between English and Spanish words and syntax, Jin says. “Maybe in the internal functioning of those models, English and Spanish are placed somewhat closer,” he adds.

The overall worse performance in non-English languages may result from the way these models were trained, the study authors say. LLMs learn how to string words together from data scraped online, where most text is in English. And Chandra points out that even in nations where English isn’t the majority language, it’s the language of most medical education. The researchers think a straightforward way to tackle this might be to translate health care texts from English into other languages. But building multilingual text datasets at the huge quantities required to train LLMs is a major challenge. One option could be to leverage LLMs’ own capability to translate between languages by designing specific models that are trained on English-only data and generate answers in a different language.

But this trick might not work neatly in the medical domain. “One of the problems human translators, as well as machine translation models, face is that the key scientific words are very hard to translate. You might know the English version of the particular scientific term, but the Hindi or Chinese version might be really different,” says Chandra, who also notes that errors in the translation quality of texts in Chinese and Hindi could contribute to the LLM mistakes found in the study.

Additionally, Chandra says, it may be wise to include more medical experts and doctors, especially from the Global South, when training and evaluating these LLMs in non-English use. “Most of the evaluations for health care LLMs, even today, are done with a homogeneous set of experts, which leads to the language disparity we see in this study,” he adds. “We need a more responsible approach.”

*Editor’s Note (4/1/24): This sentence was edited after posting to reflect the current status of the study.