Adjectives in Spanish add color, shape, size, and personality to nouns by describing their qualities and characteristics. This guide highlights the key patterns that learners need to notice.
Gender and Number
Adjectives must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify. This means changing the ending to match.
Adjectives Ending in -o
Adjectives that end in -o have four forms to show gender and number: masculine singular, feminine singular, masculine plural, and feminine plural.
| Spanish Word | English Word | Spanish Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alto | tall | alta | tall | |
| altos | tall | altas | tall |
The boy is very tall.
Adjectives Ending in -e or Consonant
Adjectives that end in -e or a consonant usually have the same form for masculine and feminine in the singular, and add -s or -es to form the plural.
| Spanish Word | English Word | Spanish Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| inteligente | intelligent | inteligentes | intelligent | |
| azul | blue | azules | blue |
Adjectives Ending in -or/-a (and Similar)
Some adjectives ending in -or, -án, -ón, or -ín add an -a to form the feminine and add -es or -as for the plural.
| Spanish Word | English Word | Spanish Word | English Word | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trabajador | hardworking | trabajadora | hardworking | |
| trabajadores | hardworking | trabajadoras | hardworking |
Placement
Adjectives usually come after the noun in Spanish, which helps keep the natural emphasis on the described quality. Some adjectives change meaning depending on whether they come before or after the noun.
Meaning Changes
Certain adjectives change their meaning when placed before versus after the noun, so placement can affect whether the description is literal or more subjective.
Short Adjectives Before Noun
Short, common adjectives like bueno, malo, grande, pequeño, and viejo often appear before the noun for emphasis or when used figuratively; sometimes they shorten to buen or gran.
Adjectives Used as Nouns
Adjectives can turn into nouns when they refer to groups of people by adding the appropriate article; this is common with adjectives describing age, gender, or social groups.
Summary
Spanish adjectives describe qualities and must agree in gender and number with the noun. They usually follow the noun, but placement can change meaning, and some short adjectives appear before for effect.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025