Spanish NounsSpanish NounsGender and ArticlesGender and Articles

Feminine NounsFeminine NounsFeminine NounsFeminine Nouns

Words that refer to femalesWords that refer to females Most words that end in –aMost words that end in –a Most words that end in –ciMost words that end in –ción, sión, tad, dad, ón, sión, tad, dad, -umbre-umbre

ExamplesExamplesseñora, niña, mujer, madre, estudianteseñora, niña, mujer, madre, estudiantesilla, ventana, mesa, plumasilla, ventana, mesa, plumaconversación, libertad, costumbreconversación, libertad, costumbre

ExceptionException: mano: mano

Masculine NounsMasculine NounsMasculine NounsMasculine Nouns

Words that refer to malesWords that refer to males Most words that end in –oMost words that end in –o Most words that come from Greek that end in –Most words that come from Greek that end in –

ma, ma, -pa, and -ta-pa, and -ta

ExamplesExamplesseñor, niño, padre, hermano, estudianteseñor, niño, padre, hermano, estudianteperro, carro, cuaderno, libroperro, carro, cuaderno, librodrama, mapa, planetadrama, mapa, planeta

ExceptionException: día: día

Exceptions to the RuleExceptions to the Rule

Feminine NounsFeminine Nouns

flor (flower)flor (flower)

luz (light)luz (light)

pared (wall)pared (wall)

llave (key)llave (key)

Masculine NounsMasculine Nouns

pupitre (desk)pupitre (desk)

reloj (clock)reloj (clock)

áárbol (tree)rbol (tree)

papel (paper)papel (paper)

llápiz (pencil)ápiz (pencil)

borrador (eraser)borrador (eraser)

ArticlesArticles

Definite articlesDefinite articles equivalent to “the”equivalent to “the” Used when you are talking about a specific noun or Used when you are talking about a specific noun or

group of nounsgroup of nouns

1.1. elel (singular masculine) ex. (singular masculine) ex. el niel niñoño2.2. lala (singular feminine) ex. (singular feminine) ex. la nila niñaña3.3. loslos (Plural masculine) ex. (Plural masculine) ex. los nilos niñosños4.4. laslas (Plural feminine) ex. (Plural feminine) ex. las nilas niñasñas

ArticlesArticles

Indefinite articlesIndefinite articles equivalent to “a,” “an,” or “some”equivalent to “a,” “an,” or “some” Used when you are not talking about a specific noun Used when you are not talking about a specific noun

or group of nounsor group of nouns

1.1. unun (singular masculine) ex. (singular masculine) ex. un niun niñoño2.2. unauna (singular feminine) ex. (singular feminine) ex. una niuna niñaña3.3. unosunos (plural masculine) ex. (plural masculine) ex. unos niunos niñosños4.4. unasunas (plural feminine) ex. (plural feminine) ex. unas niunas niñasñas

Plural NounsPlural Nouns

Plural articles are used before plural nouns.Plural articles are used before plural nouns.Plural articles end in –s.Plural articles end in –s.

Plural Definite ArticlesPlural Definite Articles loslos and and laslas

Plural Indefinite ArticlesPlural Indefinite Articles unosunos and and unasunas

Plural NounsPlural Nouns If a noun ends with a vowel, add –sIf a noun ends with a vowel, add –s

Example: Example: el cuaderno – los cuadernosel cuaderno – los cuadernos

If a noun ends with a consonant, add –esIf a noun ends with a consonant, add –es Example: Example: el pizarrel pizarrón – los pizarronesón – los pizarrones

If a noun ends with “z”, change it to “c” and add If a noun ends with “z”, change it to “c” and add –es–es Example: Example: el lapiz – los lapicesel lapiz – los lapices

If a noun ends with “es” or “is”, it does not If a noun ends with “es” or “is”, it does not change in the plural.change in the plural. Example: Example: el lunes – los lunesel lunes – los lunes