Spanish Articles

Q: What are the definite and indefinite articles in Spanish?

The definite articles ("the") are el, la, los, and las. The indefinite articles ("a," "an," "some") are un, una, unos, and unas. Each one matches the gender and number of its noun: el libro, las casas, una idea.

Q: When do you use el vs la?

It depends on the noun's gender: el for masculine nouns (el libro), la for feminine ones (la casa). The one exception is feminine nouns starting with a stressed a, which take el in the singular: el agua.

Adapted from The Animated Book of Spanish, an interactive Spanish grammar book.

Spanish has definite articles (el, la: “the”) and indefinite articles (un, una: “a”). They match their noun's gender and number, and Spanish uses them in some places English doesn't, and not in others where it does.

The Spanish articles, masculine and feminine, singular and plural, plus the neuter lo
Meaning	Masculine	Feminine
thesingular	el	la
theplural	los	las
a, ansingular	un	una
someplural	unos	unas
theneuter	lothe … thing

For how to tell which gender a noun is, see noun gender. For plurals, see plural nouns.

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Al and del

When a (to) or de (of, from) comes right before el, the two always join into one word.

toa

theel

to theal

of, fromde

theel

of the, from thedel

Vamos al cine esta noche.
We’re going to the movies tonight.
Mi padre vuelve del trabajo a las seis.
My dad gets back from work at six.
Es el coche del profesor.
It’s the teacher’s car.

When Spanish uses “the” and English doesn't

Spanish uses the definite article in a lot of places where English leaves it out.

1
General statements and likes
Talking about something in general, including what you like or dislike.
- Me gusta el café.
  I like coffee.
- Los perros son muy leales.
  Dogs are very loyal.
- La salud es lo más importante.
  Health is the most important thing.
2
Titles, when talking about someone
Señor, señora, doctor, profesora… take the article when you talk about the person, but not when you talk to them.
1. About themTo them
2. About them
  El señor García no está.
  Mr. García isn’t in.
  To them
  Buenos días, señor García.
  Good morning, Mr. García.
3. About them
  La doctora López llega a las diez.
  Dr. López arrives at ten.
  To them
  Doctora López, ¿tiene un momento?
  Dr. López, do you have a moment?
3
Days of the week
Use el where English says “on Monday.” El is one day; los is every week.
- El lunes tengo una reunión.
  I have a meeting on Monday.
- Los sábados juego al fútbol.
  I play soccer on Saturdays.
- Nos vemos el viernes.
  See you on Friday.
4
Body parts and clothing
Use the definite article where English says “my” or “your.” The verb already shows whose it is.
- Me duele la cabeza.
  My head hurts.
- Ponte el abrigo, que hace frío.
  Put your coat on, it’s cold.
- Los niños se lavan las manos.
  The kids wash their hands.
5
Time and age
- a las tres
- a los veinte años
Hours always take las (or la for one o’clock), and so does age with a.
- Son las tres y media.
  It’s three thirty.
- La clase empieza a la una.
  Class starts at one.
- Empecé a trabajar a los dieciocho años.
  I started working at eighteen.

When Spanish drops “a”

Going the other way, English uses a in some places where Spanish doesn't use un or una.

1
Professions, nationality, and religion
After ser, with nothing else describing the person. Add an adjective, and un / una comes back.
1. Just the jobWith an adjective
2. Just the job
  Soy profesor.
  I’m a teacher.
  With an adjective
  Soy un profesor exigente.
  I’m a demanding teacher.
3. Just the job
  Mi madre es médica.
  My mom is a doctor.
  With an adjective
  Es una médica excelente.
  She’s an excellent doctor.
2
Set phrases
- otro
- medio
- cien
- mil
- ¡qué…!
These never take un or una, even though English says “a.”
- ¿Quieres otro café?
  Do you want another coffee?
- Compra medio kilo de tomates.
  Buy half a kilo of tomatoes.
- ¡Qué día!
  What a day!
- Te lo he dicho cien veces. ¡Mil veces!
  I’ve told you a hundred times. A thousand times!
3
After tener, buscar, and similar verbs
When the number doesn’t matter, only whether you have (or want) one at all.
- No tengo coche.
  I don’t have a car.
- ¿Tienes novio?
  Do you have a boyfriend?
- Estamos buscando piso.
  We’re looking for an apartment.

Unos or algunos?

Both can mean some, but they're used a little differently.

1
Unos, unas: some, a few
- unos
- unas
A vague amount, like “a couple of.” With a number, it means “about.”
- Tengo unos amigos en Madrid.
  I have some friends in Madrid.
- Compré unas flores para mi madre.
  I bought some flowers for my mom.
- Cuesta unos veinte euros.
  It costs about twenty euros.
2
Algunos, algunas: some, but not all
- algunos
- algunas
Picks out part of a group, often in contrast with the rest. It can also stand on its own.
- Algunos estudiantes no vinieron.
  Some students didn’t come.
- Algunas tiendas cierran los domingos.
  Some stores close on Sundays.
- Algunos prefieren el té.
  Some people prefer tea.
3
Often, neither
Where English says “some” casually, Spanish often leaves it out.
- Compré manzanas.
  I bought some apples.
- ¿Quieres agua?
  Do you want some water?

The neuter article: lo

Spanish has no neuter nouns. Every noun is masculine or feminine. But it does have a neuter article, lo, which never goes with a noun. Instead, it turns other words into an idea.

1
Lo + adjective: the … thing
- lo bueno
- lo malo
- lo importante
- lo mejor
Talks about a quality as an idea. English often says “the … thing” or “the … part.”
- Lo bueno es que no llueve.
  The good thing is that it’s not raining.
- Lo importante es participar.
  What matters is taking part.
- Lo mejor del viaje fue la comida.
  The best part of the trip was the food.
2
Lo que: what, the thing that
Refers to something without naming it.
- Lo que quiero es dormir.
  What I want is to sleep.
- No entiendo lo que dices.
  I don’t understand what you’re saying.
- Haz lo que quieras.
  Do whatever you want.
3
Lo + adjective + que: how
- lo difícil que
- lo bien que
For how much something is true, often in exclamations.
- No sabes lo difícil que es.
  You don’t know how hard it is.
- Me sorprende lo bien que hablas español.
  I’m surprised at how well you speak Spanish.
- Mira lo rápido que corren.
  Look how fast they run.

Common mistakes English speakers make

Leaving out the article in general statements
Incorrect:Me gusta café.
Correct:Me gusta el café.
Talking about something in general takes the definite article in Spanish.
Using un with a profession
Incorrect:Soy un profesor.
Correct:Soy profesor.
After ser, professions don't take un or una unless there's an adjective.
Saying un otro
Incorrect:Quiero un otro café.
Correct:Quiero otro café.
Otro never takes un.
Forgetting to contract a + el
Incorrect:Vamos a el cine.
Correct:Vamos al cine.
A + el always becomes al.
Forgetting to contract de + el
Incorrect:Es el coche de el profesor.
Correct:Es el coche del profesor.
De + el always becomes del.
Using my with body parts
Sounds unnatural:Me duele mi cabeza.
Correct:Me duele la cabeza.
Me already shows whose head it is, so Spanish uses the article.

Questions about Spanish articles

What are the definite and indefinite articles in Spanish?

The definite articles ("the") are el, la, los, and las. The indefinite articles ("a," "an," "some") are un, una, unos, and unas. Each one matches the gender and number of its noun: el libro, las casas, una idea.

When do you use el vs la?

It depends on the noun's gender: el for masculine nouns (el libro), la for feminine ones (la casa). The one exception is feminine nouns starting with a stressed a, which take el in the singular: el agua.

Why do you say el lunes?

Spanish uses the article with days of the week where English uses "on": el lunes means "on Monday," and los lunes means "on Mondays." The only time you leave it out is after ser: Hoy es lunes.

When do you not use an article in Spanish?

Spanish leaves out "a" with professions and nationalities after ser (Soy profesor), with otro, medio, cien, and mil (otro café), and after verbs like tener when the number doesn't matter (No tengo coche).

What does lo mean in Spanish?

As an article, lo is neuter: it turns an adjective into an idea (lo bueno, "the good thing") and appears in lo que ("what"). Lo is also a direct object pronoun meaning "him" or "it": Lo veo ("I see him").

Next upAdjectivesMatching gender and number, where they go, buen and gran, and meaning changes.

Al and del

When Spanish uses “the” and English doesn't

General statements and likes

Titles, when talking about someone

Days of the week

Body parts and clothing

Time and age

When Spanish drops “a”

Professions, nationality, and religion

Set phrases

After tener, buscar, and similar verbs

Unos or algunos?

Unos, unas: some, a few

Algunos, algunas: some, but not all

Often, neither

The neuter article: lo

Lo + adjective: the … thing

Lo que: what, the thing that

Lo + adjective + que: how

Common mistakes English speakers make

Leaving out the article in general statements

Using un with a profession

Saying un otro

Forgetting to contract a + el

Forgetting to contract de + el

Using my with body parts

Questions about Spanish articles

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