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{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/Spanish|Spanish]]  → [[Language/Spanish/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Introduction to Spanish → Definite and Indefinite Articles</div>
__TOC__
== Introduction ==
Welcome to the lesson on definite and indefinite articles in Spanish! Articles are an essential part of any language, and in Spanish, they play a crucial role in determining the gender and number of nouns. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the articles 'el', 'la', 'los', and 'las' correctly in Spanish. Understanding articles is a fundamental step towards becoming fluent in Spanish, so let's get started!
== Definite Articles ==
In Spanish, the definite article is used to refer to specific nouns. It is equivalent to the English article 'the'. The definite articles in Spanish have four forms, each corresponding to a different gender and number combination. Let's take a look at them:
=== Masculine, Singular ===
The definite article for masculine, singular nouns is 'el'. It is pronounced as "ehl" and is used before singular nouns that are masculine. For example:


<div class="pg_page_title">Spanish Grammar → Introduction to Spanish → Definite and Indefinite Articles</div>
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| el niño || ehl nee-nyoh || the boy
|-
| el perro || ehl peh-roh || the dog
|-
| el libro || ehl lee-broh || the book
|}


__TOC__
=== Feminine, Singular ===


Hola amigos, welcome to the "Complete 0 to A1 Spanish Course". In this lesson, we are going to learn about definite and indefinite articles. This is an important topic that will help you understand the basic structure of Spanish and how to use articles properly in sentences.
The definite article for feminine, singular nouns is 'la'. It is pronounced as "lah" and is used before singular nouns that are feminine. For example:


== What are Articles? ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| la niña || lah nee-nyah || the girl
|-
| la gata || lah gah-tah || the cat
|-
| la casa || lah kah-sah || the house
|}


In English, we use the articles "the" for definite and "a/an" for indefinite. Similarly, in Spanish, definite articles indicate specific nouns, whereas indefinite articles point to nonspecific nouns.
=== Masculine, Plural ===


Below is a table that explains definite and indefinite articles in Spanish:
The definite article for masculine, plural nouns is 'los'. It is pronounced as "lohs" and is used before plural nouns that are masculine. For example:


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| El || [el] || The (masculine singular)
| los niños || lohs nee-nyohs || the boys
|-
|-
| La || [la] || The (feminine singular)
| los perros || lohs peh-rohs || the dogs
|-
| los libros || lohs lee-brohs || the books
|}
 
=== Feminine, Plural ===
 
The definite article for feminine, plural nouns is 'las'. It is pronounced as "lahs" and is used before plural nouns that are feminine. For example:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Los || [los] || The (masculine plural)
| las niñas || lahs nee-nyahs || the girls
|-
|-
| Las || [las] || The (feminine plural)
| las gatas || lahs gah-tahs || the cats
|-
|-
| Un || [oon]  || A / An (masculine singular)
| las casas || lahs kah-sahs || the houses
|}
 
== Indefinite Articles ==
 
In Spanish, the indefinite article is used to refer to nonspecific or unidentified nouns. It is equivalent to the English articles 'a' and 'an'. Like the definite articles, the indefinite articles also have four forms based on gender and number. Let's explore them:
 
=== Masculine, Singular ===
 
The indefinite article for masculine, singular nouns is 'un'. It is pronounced as "oon" and is used before singular nouns that are masculine. For example:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
|-
| Una || [oonah] || A / An (feminine singular)
| un niño || oon nee-nyoh || a boy
|-
|-
| Unos || [oonohs] || Some (masculine plural)
| un perro || oon peh-roh || a dog
|-
|-
| Unas || [oonahs] || Some (feminine plural)
| un libro || oon lee-broh || a book
|}
|}


It is essential to understand that depending on the gender and number of the noun, the use of articles will vary. In other words, articles must agree with the noun in gender and number.
=== Feminine, Singular ===
 
The indefinite article for feminine, singular nouns is 'una'. It is pronounced as "oonah" and is used before singular nouns that are feminine. For example:


== Definite Articles ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| una niña || oonah nee-nyah || a girl
|-
| una gata || oonah gah-tah || a cat
|-
| una casa || oonah kah-sah || a house
|}


Definite articles refer to something specific that the speaker is aware of, and the thing or person is previously known to the audience. We cannot use definite articles to indicate something in general. Here are some examples:
=== Masculine, Plural ===


* El perro es grande. - The dog is big.
The indefinite article for masculine, plural nouns is 'unos'. It is pronounced as "oonohs" and is used before plural nouns that are masculine. For example:
* La casa es hermosa. - The house is beautiful.
* Los niños corren en el parque. - The children are running in the park.
* Las niñas juegan con muñecas. - The girls play with dolls.


As you can see, the definite article is necessary in each sentence to refer to a specific thing or person. Otherwise, the sentences would be incomplete or senseless.
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| unos niños || oonohs nee-nyohs || some boys
|-
| unos perros || oonohs peh-rohs || some dogs
|-
| unos libros || oonohs lee-brohs || some books
|}


== Indefinite Articles ==
=== Feminine, Plural ===


In contrast, indefinite articles refer to something unspecific that the speaker is not aware of, and the thing or person is unknown to the audience. We can use indefinite articles to indicate something in general. Here are some examples:
The indefinite article for feminine, plural nouns is 'unas'. It is pronounced as "oonahs" and is used before plural nouns that are feminine. For example:


* Un coche rojo pasa por aquí. - A red car passes here.
{| class="wikitable"
* Una chica estudia español. - A girl studies Spanish.
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
* Unos estudiantes hablan francés. - Some students speak French.
|-
* Unas amigas llegan a la fiesta. - Some friends arrive at the party.
| unas niñas || oonahs nee-nyahs || some girls
|-
| unas gatas || oonahs gah-tahs || some cats
|-
| unas casas || oonahs kah-sahs || some houses
|}


As you can see, indefinite articles are vital to complete the structure of a sentence, providing the necessary information that makes sense in context.
== Exceptions and Special Cases ==


Remember, to form sentences in Spanish, it is essential to use articles accordingly. Pay attention to the noun gender and agreement with the articles.
While the rules for definite and indefinite articles in Spanish are generally straightforward, there are a few exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Let's explore them:


== When not to use Articles in Spanish ==
=== Nouns Starting with 'a' ===


Although articles are critical for sentence construction, there are some instances where we don't use articles:
When a singular noun starts with a stressed 'a' sound, the definite article 'el' changes to 'al'. This change is made to avoid the awkward pronunciation of two consecutive 'a' sounds. For example:


* Before uncountable nouns: agua, pan, aceite (water, bread, oil)
{| class="wikitable"
* Before professions or religions: Soy doctor. (I'm a doctor.)
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
* Before locations: Vivo en Madrid. (I live in Madrid.)
|-
* Before languages: Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
| al agua || ahl ah-gwah || to the water
* Before possessive adjectives: Es mi coche. (It's my car.)
|-
| al árbol || ahl ahr-bohl || to the tree
|-
| al aula || ahl ahoo-lah || to the classroom
|}


Remember that when learning another language, it's essential to learn about the culture and traditions. Here are some interesting facts about Spain and the Spanish language:
=== Nouns Starting with 'ha-' ===


* Flamenco music and dance originated in southern Spain.
When a singular noun starts with 'ha-', the definite article 'el' also changes to 'al'. This change is made for phonetic reasons. For example:
* The word "siesta" comes from the Spanish word "Sexta," which refers to the sixth hour after sunrise.
* The Spanish language has 21 letters, but in 2010, the Royal Spanish Academy added the letters "ch," "ll," and "rr" as separate letters.
* Spain is the fourth country in the world in terms of wine production.
* Spanish is the official language of 21 countries, and the second most-spoken language in the world, after Chinese.


I hope you enjoyed this lesson on definite and indefinite articles, keep practicing and ¡mucho éxito! (good luck!)
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| al hotel || ahl oh-tehl || to the hotel
|-
| al huevo || ahl weh-boh || to the egg
|-
| al hacha || ahl ah-chah || to the ax
|}
 
=== Nouns Starting with 'o-' or 'ho-' ===
 
When a singular noun starts with 'o-' or 'ho-', the indefinite article 'un' changes to 'un'. This change is made for phonetic reasons. For example:
 
{| class="wikitable"
! Spanish !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| un oso || oon oh-soh || a bear
|-
| un hombre || oon ohm-breh || a man
|-
| un hotel || oon oh-tehl || a hotel
|}


== Sources ==
== Conclusion ==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Definite_article Definite Article]
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indefinite_article Indefinite Article]
Congratulations! You've successfully learned how to use the definite and indefinite articles in Spanish. These articles are essential for proper noun usage and understanding gender and number in the language. Keep practicing and incorporating them into your Spanish conversations and writing. In the next lesson, we will explore subject pronouns, another crucial aspect of Spanish grammar. ¡Hasta luego!


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|title=Spanish Grammar → Introduction to Spanish → Definite and Indefinite Articles
|keywords=Spanish articles, definite articles in Spanish, indefinite articles in Spanish, grammar Spanish, Spanish grammar rules, Spanish courses, learn Spanish
|keywords=Spanish grammar, definite articles, indefinite articles, Spanish articles, Spanish nouns, Spanish gender, Spanish number
|description=In this lesson, we will help you understand the basic structure of Spanish and how to use articles properly in sentences. }}
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to use the articles 'el', 'la', 'los', and 'las' in Spanish. Understand the rules and exceptions for definite and indefinite articles in Spanish.
}}


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==Videos==
==Videos==
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==Related Lessons==
 
==Sources==
* [https://espanol.lingolia.com/en/grammar/direct-indirect-articles Articles in Spanish Grammar]
* [https://vamospanish.com/discover/definite-indefinite-articles-spanish/ Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish | Vamos Spanish Academy]
* [https://www.busuu.com/en/spanish/articles Definite and Indefinite Spanish Articles - Busuu]
 
 
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Past-Perfect-Tense|Past Perfect Tense]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Past-Perfect-Tense|Past Perfect Tense]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Tener|Tener]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Tener|Tener]]
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* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Imperfect-Tense|Imperfect Tense]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Imperfect-Tense|Imperfect Tense]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Past-Participle|Past Participle]]
* [[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Past-Participle|Past Participle]]


{{Spanish-Page-Bottom}}
{{Spanish-Page-Bottom}}
<span pgnav>
{| class="wikitable pg_template_nav"
|[[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Nouns-and-Gender|◀️ Nouns and Gender — Previous Lesson]]
|[[Language/Spanish/Grammar/Subject-Pronouns|Next Lesson — Subject Pronouns ▶️]]
|}
</span>

Latest revision as of 16:14, 16 June 2023

◀️ Nouns and Gender — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Subject Pronouns ▶️

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Spanish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Spanish → Definite and Indefinite Articles

Introduction[edit | edit source]

Welcome to the lesson on definite and indefinite articles in Spanish! Articles are an essential part of any language, and in Spanish, they play a crucial role in determining the gender and number of nouns. In this lesson, you will learn how to use the articles 'el', 'la', 'los', and 'las' correctly in Spanish. Understanding articles is a fundamental step towards becoming fluent in Spanish, so let's get started!

Definite Articles[edit | edit source]

In Spanish, the definite article is used to refer to specific nouns. It is equivalent to the English article 'the'. The definite articles in Spanish have four forms, each corresponding to a different gender and number combination. Let's take a look at them:

Masculine, Singular[edit | edit source]

The definite article for masculine, singular nouns is 'el'. It is pronounced as "ehl" and is used before singular nouns that are masculine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
el niño ehl nee-nyoh the boy
el perro ehl peh-roh the dog
el libro ehl lee-broh the book

Feminine, Singular[edit | edit source]

The definite article for feminine, singular nouns is 'la'. It is pronounced as "lah" and is used before singular nouns that are feminine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
la niña lah nee-nyah the girl
la gata lah gah-tah the cat
la casa lah kah-sah the house

Masculine, Plural[edit | edit source]

The definite article for masculine, plural nouns is 'los'. It is pronounced as "lohs" and is used before plural nouns that are masculine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
los niños lohs nee-nyohs the boys
los perros lohs peh-rohs the dogs
los libros lohs lee-brohs the books

Feminine, Plural[edit | edit source]

The definite article for feminine, plural nouns is 'las'. It is pronounced as "lahs" and is used before plural nouns that are feminine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
las niñas lahs nee-nyahs the girls
las gatas lahs gah-tahs the cats
las casas lahs kah-sahs the houses

Indefinite Articles[edit | edit source]

In Spanish, the indefinite article is used to refer to nonspecific or unidentified nouns. It is equivalent to the English articles 'a' and 'an'. Like the definite articles, the indefinite articles also have four forms based on gender and number. Let's explore them:

Masculine, Singular[edit | edit source]

The indefinite article for masculine, singular nouns is 'un'. It is pronounced as "oon" and is used before singular nouns that are masculine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
un niño oon nee-nyoh a boy
un perro oon peh-roh a dog
un libro oon lee-broh a book

Feminine, Singular[edit | edit source]

The indefinite article for feminine, singular nouns is 'una'. It is pronounced as "oonah" and is used before singular nouns that are feminine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
una niña oonah nee-nyah a girl
una gata oonah gah-tah a cat
una casa oonah kah-sah a house

Masculine, Plural[edit | edit source]

The indefinite article for masculine, plural nouns is 'unos'. It is pronounced as "oonohs" and is used before plural nouns that are masculine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
unos niños oonohs nee-nyohs some boys
unos perros oonohs peh-rohs some dogs
unos libros oonohs lee-brohs some books

Feminine, Plural[edit | edit source]

The indefinite article for feminine, plural nouns is 'unas'. It is pronounced as "oonahs" and is used before plural nouns that are feminine. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
unas niñas oonahs nee-nyahs some girls
unas gatas oonahs gah-tahs some cats
unas casas oonahs kah-sahs some houses

Exceptions and Special Cases[edit | edit source]

While the rules for definite and indefinite articles in Spanish are generally straightforward, there are a few exceptions and special cases to be aware of. Let's explore them:

Nouns Starting with 'a'[edit | edit source]

When a singular noun starts with a stressed 'a' sound, the definite article 'el' changes to 'al'. This change is made to avoid the awkward pronunciation of two consecutive 'a' sounds. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
al agua ahl ah-gwah to the water
al árbol ahl ahr-bohl to the tree
al aula ahl ahoo-lah to the classroom

Nouns Starting with 'ha-'[edit | edit source]

When a singular noun starts with 'ha-', the definite article 'el' also changes to 'al'. This change is made for phonetic reasons. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
al hotel ahl oh-tehl to the hotel
al huevo ahl weh-boh to the egg
al hacha ahl ah-chah to the ax

Nouns Starting with 'o-' or 'ho-'[edit | edit source]

When a singular noun starts with 'o-' or 'ho-', the indefinite article 'un' changes to 'un'. This change is made for phonetic reasons. For example:

Spanish Pronunciation English
un oso oon oh-soh a bear
un hombre oon ohm-breh a man
un hotel oon oh-tehl a hotel

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You've successfully learned how to use the definite and indefinite articles in Spanish. These articles are essential for proper noun usage and understanding gender and number in the language. Keep practicing and incorporating them into your Spanish conversations and writing. In the next lesson, we will explore subject pronouns, another crucial aspect of Spanish grammar. ¡Hasta luego!

Table of Contents - Spanish Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Introduction to Spanish


Verbs


Adjectives


Pronouns


Common Words and Phrases


Food and Drink


Travel and Directions


Spanish-Speaking Countries


Celebrations and Festivals


Hispanic Heritage Month

Videos[edit | edit source]

Definite & Indefinite Articles in Spanish - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Definite/indefinite articles in Spanish beginner explanation: artículos ...[edit | edit source]

Spanish Indefinite Articles - YouTube[edit | edit source]

Spanish Articles: Definite and Indefinite - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



◀️ Nouns and Gender — Previous Lesson Next Lesson — Subject Pronouns ▶️

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