Spanish articles are short grammar words that go before nouns (people, animals, objects, places, ideas) and modify them. Like their English counterparts, Spanish articles may be definite or indefinite. But unlike English, Spanish articles must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the noun they modify.
La casa está en un bosque. / The house is in a forest.
- la: definite article
- un: indefinite article
- Definite articles (el, la, los, las, lo). They introduce a noun that is known to the listener or that is already clear from context. All definite articles are translated as “the”:
El perro es bueno.
The dog is good-natured.Las flores son hermosas.
The flowers are beautiful.
- Indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas). They introduce information that is new, unknown or unspecified. Indefinite articles may be translated as “a, an” or “some”:
Hay un niño en el parque.
There’s a kid at the park.Vi a unas amigas.
I saw some friends.
Quick tip: The gender of articles (feminine or masculine) is determined by the gender of the noun that follows, with most masculine forms ending in -o and most feminine forms ending in -a. Likewise, the number of articles (singular or plural) is determined by the noun, with plural forms ending in -s or -es.
Definite articles
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | el | la |
| Plural | los | las |
- El (masculine singular)
El niño juega tranquilo.
The kid plays quietly.
- La (feminine singular)
La computadora está apagada.
The computer is off.
- Los (masculine plural)
Los libros están sobre la mesa.
The books are on the table.
- Las (feminine plural)
Las ventanas de la casa son grandes.
The windows of the house are large.
Lo is the neutral article, which is used to introduce abstract ideas:
Lo esencial es invisible a los ojos.
What is essential is invisible to the eye.
When to use definite articles
Definite articles in Spanish are used:
- To refer to a specific thing, animal or person that is known or clear from context, or there is only one:
El sol es la estrella más grande del sistema solar.
The Sun is the biggest star in the solar system.
La profesora se enfermó.
The teacher got sick.
- With plural nouns to talk about things or people in general:
Los animales son bellos.
Animals are beautiful.Las plantas crecen mejor al sol.
Plants grow better under the sun.
- With singular countable nouns to talk about something in general:
El español es un idioma difícil.
Spanish is a difficult language.
Amo el azul.
I love blue.
- With the days of the week:
No me gustan los lunes.
I don’t like Mondays.Tengo una fiesta el viernes.
I have a party on Friday.
- With titles:
La señora García, el doctor González.
Mrs. García, Doctor González
- To talk about the time:
Son las 3 p.m.
It’s 3 p.m.Me acosté a la 1 a.m.
I went to bed at 1 a.m.
- See also: Time in Spanish
- With the name of instruments, sports and games:
La niña toca la guitarra.
The girl plays the guitar.El hockey es un deporte en equipo.
Hockey is a team sport.
- With body parts following reflexive verbs describing an ailment, like doler (hurt), quebrar (break), picar (itch). Unlike in English, possessive adjectives are not used:
Me duele la garganta.
My throat hurts.
Pedro se quebró el brazo.
Pedro broke his arm.
Quick tip: The article el is not accented, and should not be confused with the pronoun él, meaning “he”.
Indefinite articles
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | un | una |
| Plural | unos | unas |
- Un (masculine singular)
Hay un hombre en la puerta.
There’s a man at the door.
- Una (feminine singular)
Me encontré con una compañera de la escuela.
I met a schoolmate.
- Unos (masculine plural)
Envié unos paquetes por correo.
I sent some packages by mail.
- Unas (feminine plural)
Tengo unas ideas para compartir.
I have some ideas to share.
When to use indefinite articles
Indefinite articles in Spanish are used:
- To refer to a person, thing or animal that is new, unknown or unspecific from context:
Unas niñas preguntaron por ti.
Some girls asked for you.Un gato entró por la ventana.
A cat entered through the window.
- To refer to an unspecified amount in the plural:
Compré unos pomelos para hacer jugo.
I bought some grapefruits to make juice.Unas personas desconocidas rompieron la vidriera.
Some unknown people broke the shop window.
- To indicate a person's defining characteristic, used before nouns or adjectives:
María es un ángel.
María is an angel.¡Eres un tramposo!
You’re a cheater!
When not to use articles in Spanish
Spanish articles are not used with:
- Proper names. Ayer hablé con Juan. / Yesterday I talked to Juan.
- Nationalities. Soy española. / I’m Spanish.
- Religions. Nosotros somos católicos. / We’re Catholic.
Difference between definite and indefinite articles
Broadly speaking, it can be said that the difference between definite and indefinite articles in Spanish is the same as in English, with “known” information introduced by definite articles and “new” information by indefinite articles:
| Indefinite articles | Definite articles |
|---|---|
| Tengo un auto nuevo. I have a new car. | El auto está estacionado afuera. The car is parked outside |
| ¿Puedo hacer una pregunta? Can I ask a question? | ¿Podrías repetir la pregunta? Could you repeat the question? |
| París es una ciudad muy bella. Paris is a very beautiful city. | París es la capital de Francia. Paris is the capital of France. |
| ¿Hay un banco cerca de aquí? Is there a bank near here? | El banco más cercano está a 10 calles. The nearest bank is 10 blocks away. |
Contractions: al and del
The definite article el is contracted when preceded by the prepositions a (to) and de (of)):
- a + el ➝ al. When the preposition a is followed by the article el, together they become al:
Mis amigos fueron al teatro.
My friends went to the theater.
- de + el ➝ del. When the preposition de is followed by the article el, they become del:
El juguete del niño es nuevo.
The child’s toy is new.
All other definite and indefinite articles are not contracted.
Articles in Spanish vs. English
There are many cases in which articles are used in Spanish but not in English and vice versa, which can be very confusing. Below is a table outlining the main differences in the use of articles in Spanish and in English:
| Spanish | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Plurals to talk about things in general | The definite article los/las is used: Me encantan los perros. | No article is used: I love🔻dogs. |
| Abstract and uncountable nouns | The definite article is used before abstract and uncountable nouns: la amistad, el agua, las ideas, los sentimientos | No article is used: friendship, water, ideas, feelings |
| With professions | No article is used: Soy🔻profesora de español. (and not soy una profesora de español) | The indefinite article (a/an) is used: I’m a Spanish teacher. |
| With singular countable nouns to talk about things in general | The definite article el/la is used before a singular noun to talk about things in general: ¿Te gusta el rojo? | In most cases, no article is used: Do you like🔻red? |
| With titles | The definite article is used: la señora Gutiérrez | No article is used: Mrs. Gutiérrez |
| Names of meals | The definite article is used with the names of meals: ¿A qué hora se sirve el desayuno? | No article is used: What time is🔻breakfast served? |
| With certain adverbs of place (bed, school, university, hospital) | The definite article is used: Ella va a la escuela. | No article is used: She goes to🔻school. |
Related articles:
Practice: Definite and indefinite articles in Spanish
References
- Real Academia Española, Nueva gramática de la lengua española, under “Formas del artículo indeterminado,” accessed August 5, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Real Academia Española, Glosario de términos gramaticales, under “Artículo,” accessed August 5, 2024, https://www.rae.es/
- Oxford Spanish Dictionary, 3rd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2003), CD ROM.
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