Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles in Spanish mark nouns that are not specifically known to the listener and they agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Basic Articles
The basic indefinite articles are un, una, unos, and unas, and they attach to masculine or feminine nouns and to singular or plural forms.
| Spanish Word(s) | English Word(s) |
|---|---|
| un | a, an (masculine singular) |
| una | a, an (feminine singular) |
| unos | some (masculine plural) |
| unas | some (feminine plural) |
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 馃崐 Quiero comprar un kilo de naranjas. | I want to buy a kilo of oranges. |
| 馃崬 Ella compr贸 una baguette en la panader铆a. | She bought a baguette at the bakery. |
| 馃ガ Hay un mont贸n de lechugas en la mesa. | There is a bunch of lettuce on the table. |
| 馃Ш Puse una cesta de frutas en el coche. | I put a basket of fruit in the car. |
Use with Masculine Nouns
Use un for masculine singular nouns and unos for masculine plural when referring to an unspecified quantity or some examples.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 馃崒 Compr茅 un racimo de pl谩tanos. | I bought a bunch of bananas. |
| 馃 Hay un pan grande en la esquina. | There is a big loaf of bread on the corner. |
| 馃 Quiero un queso peque帽o. | I want a small cheese. |
| 馃嵍 Trajeron un litro de aceite. | They brought a liter of oil. |
Use with Feminine Nouns
Use una for feminine singular nouns and unas for feminine plural to mark an unspecific item or some items in that category.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 馃崜 Compr茅 una caja de fresas. | I bought a box of strawberries. |
| 馃 Ella tom贸 una croissant con caf茅. | She had a croissant with coffee. |
| 馃嵂 Quiero una botella de miel. | I want a bottle of honey. |
| 馃Т Compraron una bolsa de papel. | They bought a paper bag. |
Omission of Articles
Indefinite articles are omitted before uncountable nouns when speaking in general, and they are also left out after certain expressions of quantity.
| Spanish Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 馃崕 Compr茅 manzanas y naranjas. | I bought apples and oranges. | General sense |
| 馃ガ Hay lechuga y tomate en la nevera. | There is lettuce and tomato in the fridge. | Notice no articles |
| 馃Ь Voy al mercado. | I鈥檓 going to the market. | Before place name |
| 馃ィ Quiero probar sopa de calabaza. | I want to try pumpkin soup. | After probar |
Articles and Gender
Indefinite articles must match the gender of the noun: use un / unos for masculine and una / unas for feminine; changing the article changes the meaning if the noun changes gender.
| Spanish Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 馃 Hay un huevo y una docena de huevos. | There is an egg and a dozen eggs. |
| 馃崬 Compr茅 un pan y una barra de pan. | I bought a loaf of bread and a breadstick. |
| 馃崐 Quiero un jugo y una naranja. | I want a juice and an orange. |
| 馃Т Necesito un bote de aceite y una botella de vinagre. | I need a container of oil and a bottle of vinegar. |
Summary
Indefinite articles guide the listener to an unspecific noun, they agree in gender and number with the noun, and they are omitted in some general or quantitative contexts.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025