el, la, los, las (the)
Gender, plurals, and the exceptions.
12 minutes · A free lesson from A1: Primeros pasos (first steps) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
Every Spanish noun is masculine or feminine.
| masculine | feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| the (singular / plural) | el / losSay: ehl, lohsاےل, لوسMeans: the (masculine: one / more than one) | la / lasSay: la, lasلا, لاسMeans: the (feminine: one / more than one) |
| a / some | un / unosSay: oon, oonohsاُون, اُونوسMeans: a / some (masculine) | una / unasSay: oona, oonasاُونا, اُوناسMeans: a / some (feminine) |
Most nouns in -o are masculine (el libro) and most in -a are feminine (la casa) — but learn the exceptions: el día, el problema, el mapa, la mano, la foto, la radio.
| el libro | Say ehl leebroh | اےل لیبرو | Means: the book |
| la casa | Say la kasa | لا کاسا | Means: the house |
| el día, el problema, el mapa, la mano, la foto, la radio | Say ehl deea, ehl prohblehma, ehl mapa, la manoh, la fohtoh, la rradyoh | اےل دیا, اےل پروبلےما, اےل ماپا, لا مانو, لا فوتو, لا رّادیو | Means: the day, the problem, the map, the hand, the photo, the radio |
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which article goes with “problema”?
- el
- la
- los
Show the answer
A: el — problema ends in -a but is masculine: el problema. Learn the exceptions with their article.
Quick check: Which article goes with “mano”?
- el
- la
- los
Show the answer
B: la — mano ends in -o but is feminine: la mano.
Quick check: Which is the plural of “el libro”?
- las libros
- el libros
- los libros
Show the answer
C: los libros — el becomes los in the plural, and the noun adds -s.
Quick check: Which ending tells you a noun is feminine?
- -ema, as in el problema
- -ción, as in la canción
- -o, as in el libro
Show the answer
B: -ción, as in la canción — Nouns ending in -ción, -sión, -dad and -tad are feminine: la canción, la ciudad.
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