Grammar guide

Gender & Articles

Género y artículos

Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine and usually use el/un or la/una.

Gender & Articles

Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine and usually use el/un or la/una.

el libro

the book

Focus: el

la mesa

the table

Focus: la

Say casa and zapato aloud with Spain c/z distinction: casa has /k/, zapato has /θ/ in most of Spain.

Pattern tables

See the grammar pattern.

Gender & Articles patterns

SpanishEnglishNote
el libro the book el
la mesa the table la

Practice prompts

Try a few examples.

___ casa (the house)

Answer: la

Many nouns ending in -a are feminine, including casa.

Which phrase uses the masculine article?
  • el libro
  • la mesa

Answer: el libro

Libro is masculine, so the phrase is el libro.

___ café (the coffee)

Answer: el

Some nouns do not end in -o/-a. Learn them with the article: el café.

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