Definite Articles (artículos definidos): the
There are four ways to express the word “the” in Spanish: el-la-los-las. The singular “the” forms el-la must be matched with singular nouns and the plural “the” forms must be matched with plural nouns.
With people
| |
Masculine |
|
Feminine |
|
| Singular |
el chico |
the boy |
la chica |
the girl |
| Plural |
los chicos |
the boys |
las chicas |
the girls |
| |
Masculine |
Feminine |
|
| Singular |
el profesor |
la profesora |
the professor |
| Plural |
los profesores |
las profesoras |
the professors |
Things
| |
Masculine |
|
Feminine |
|
| Singular |
el libro |
the book |
la mesa |
the table |
| Plural |
los libros |
los books |
las mesas |
the tables |
Irregular nouns
| |
Masculine |
|
Feminine |
|
| Singular |
el día |
the day |
la mano |
the hand |
| Plural |
los días |
the days |
las manos |
the hands |
Indefinite Articles (artículos indefinidos): a, an, some, a few
There are also four indefinite articles: un-una-unos-unas. The singular forms take on the meaning of “a” or “an”:
| |
Masculine |
|
Feminine |
|
| Singular |
un chico |
a boy |
una chica |
a girl |
| Singular |
un tío |
an uncle |
una tía |
an aunt |
However, the plural forms unos and unas mean “some” or “a few”:
| |
Masculine |
|
Feminine |
|
| Plural |
unos chicos |
some boys |
unas chicas |
some girls |
| Plural |
unos libros |
a few books |
unas mesas |
a few tables |
| Plural (irr.) |
unos días |
some days |
unas manos |
a few hands |