Adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe and their position can affect meaning and emphasis.
Gender Agreement
Adjectives typically change endings to match the noun's gender: masculine adjectives end in -o and feminine adjectives end in -a, though there are adjectives that are gender-neutral or have other endings.
Feminine Adjectives
Masculine Adjectives
Adjectives That Do Not Change
| Spanish Adjective | Spanish Adjective | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| popular | popular | popular | |
| inteligente | inteligente | intelligent | |
| azul | azul | blue | |
| feliz | feliz | happy |
Number Agreement
Adjectives add -s to agree with plural nouns, and they add -es if the adjective ends in a consonant; adjectives must match noun number exactly.
Singular Adjectives
Plural Adjectives
| Spanish Adjective | Spanish Adjective | English Translation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| pequeño | pequeño | small | |
| pequeña | pequeña | small | |
| pequeños | pequeños | small | |
| pequeñas | pequeñas | small |
Position
Adjectives usually follow the noun, but placing an adjective before the noun can change meaning or add emphasis; some adjectives change nuance depending on position.
Adjectives After the Noun
Adjectives Before the Noun
| Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | Spanish Phrase | English Phrase | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| un hombre pobre | a man who is poor | un pobre hombre | a pitiful man | |
| una ciudad grande | a large city | una gran ciudad | a great city |
Meaning Changes
Some adjectives change meaning when moved from after the noun to before, so position can signal whether the adjective describes an inherent quality or a more subjective judgment.
Examples
Summary
Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun, and their usual position is after the noun; placing an adjective before the noun can subtly change meaning or add emphasis.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025