The Definite Articles

Spanish: Los Artículos Definidos

Level: A1 Beginner

Category: articles

Explanation

In Spanish, definite articles are words that accompany nouns to indicate something specific or already known. They are equivalent to the word 'the' in English, but unlike English, they change according to the gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) of the noun. There are four forms: 'el' (masculine singular), 'la' (feminine singular), 'los' (masculine plural), and 'las' (feminine plural). For example: el libro (the book), la mesa (the table), los libros (the books), las mesas (the tables). Generally, nouns ending in -o are masculine and those ending in -a are feminine, though there are exceptions. It is important to use the correct article because it must always agree with the noun. We say 'la casa' and never 'el casa'. Learning the gender of each noun from the start will help you speak correctly.

Examples

• El libro está en la mesa. - The book is on the table.
• La casa es muy grande. - The house is very big.
• Los niños juegan en el parque. - The children play in the park.
• Las flores son bonitas. - The flowers are pretty.
• El perro y la gata duermen. - The dog and the cat are sleeping.