Indefinite articles introduce nouns in a general way and agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. They signal that we are referring to some rather than a specific entity.
Articles
The basic Spanish indefinite articles are un, una, unos and unas, and they must match the noun’s gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
| Spanish Article | English Article | Gender | Number | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| un | a / an | masculine | singular | |
| una | a / an | feminine | singular | |
| unos | some | masculine | plural | |
| unas | some | feminine | plural |
Examples
I want to buy a book at that store.
Usage
Indefinite articles are used when mentioning something for the first time, when the exact identity does not matter, and when talking about things in a general sense. They are omitted after certain expressions and when referring to uncountable nouns in a general way.
Examples
Special Cases
Some nouns change meaning when used with or without an article, and in short phrases like tener + noun, the article is often omitted. Plural articles can sometimes be dropped for professions or categories when speaking generally.
Examples
Summary
Indefinite articles mark gender and number and signal that a noun is non-specific. Use un, una, unos and unas to introduce nouns in a general way, and pay attention to cases where the article is omitted or changes meaning.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025