Definite Articles
In Spanish, definite articles mark nouns as specific and come in four forms that agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. This short guide covers each article and gives quick examples.
Articles
The basic Spanish definite articles are el, la, los, and las, used to signal a particular thing or group. They must match the noun in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
| Spanish Article | English Article | Spanish Article | English Article |
|---|---|---|---|
| el | the (masc. sing.) | los | the (masc. pl.) |
| la | the (fem. sing.) | las | the (fem. pl.) |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☕ La taza está en la mesa. | The cup is on the table. |
| 🍞 El pan está en la cesta. | The bread is in the basket. |
| 🥬 Las hojas de lechuga están limpias. | The lettuce leaves are clean. |
| 🧃 Los jugos están en la nevera. | The juices are in the fridge. |
Usage
Definite articles are used with nouns that are known, previously mentioned, or unique in context. They also appear before general categories, days, and certain abstract nouns.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🍊 La naranja está madura. | The orange is ripe. |
| 🧀 El queso es de cabra. | The cheese is goat’s milk. |
| 🍓 Las fresas están dulces. | The strawberries are sweet. |
| 🍌 Los plátanos están amarillos. | The bananas are yellow. |
| 📅 La fiesta es mañana. | The party is tomorrow. |
| 🚗 El coche está estacionado. | The car is parked. |
| 🧍 La mujer habla. | The woman is speaking. |
| 👨 El hombre escucha. | The man is listening. |
Special Cases
In some cases, el appears before feminine nouns that begin with a stressed a sound to avoid awkwardness, but the noun remains feminine and plural articles follow normally. Articles are also used in set expressions and with titles when talking about someone in general.
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🧑🎓 El estudiante estudia. | The student studies. | M. form before vowel sound |
| 🧑🏫 La profesora enseña. | The teacher teaches. | F. form before consonant |
| 👴 El abuelo llegó. | The grandfather arrived. | M. form for male regardless of ending |
| 👵 La abuela cocinó. | The grandmother cooked. | F. form for female |
| 🍉 El agua está fría. | The water is cold. | Uses el before stressed a- |
| 💧 El aceite es bueno. | The oil is good. | Same as above |
| 🧴 La botella de agua. | The bottle of water. | Article agrees with botella |
| 🥚 Las claras de huevo. | The egg whites. | Plural agreement |
Summary
Definite articles signal that a noun is specific and must agree in gender and number. Remember the four forms—el, la, los, and las—and watch for special cases like feminine nouns that start with a stressed a.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025