Inklingo
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A simple storybook illustration featuring two identical, stylized girls standing side-by-side on a plain background.

ambas

ahm-bahs

PronounfA1
both?referring to two women or two feminine nouns
Also:both of them?when used alone as a pronoun

📝 In Action

Mis dos hijas son doctoras. Ambas trabajan en el mismo hospital.

A1

My two daughters are doctors. Both of them work in the same hospital.

Las mesas son muy viejas. Necesitamos reemplazar ambas.

A2

The tables are very old. We need to replace both (of them).

Ambas propuestas son excelentes, pero solo podemos elegir una.

B1

Both proposals are excellent, but we can only choose one.

Word Connections

Synonyms

  • las dos (the two (feminine))

Common Collocations

  • ambas partes – both sides/parties
  • ambas manos – both hands

💡 Grammar Points

Feminine Agreement

You MUST use 'ambas' (feminine) when you are talking about two things that are feminine nouns (like ciudades or ideas), or two female people.

Acting as an Adjective

'Ambas' can go right before a noun (like an adjective) to say 'both X': 'Ambas chicas' (Both girls). It can also stand alone (as a pronoun): 'Me gustan ambas' (I like both).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using the Masculine Form Incorrectly

Mistake: "Quiero las dos sillas. Quiero ambos."

Correction: Quiero las dos sillas. Quiero ambas. (Since 'sillas' is feminine, the pronoun must be 'ambas'.)

⭐ Usage Tips

Choose 'Ambas' or 'Las Dos'

'Ambas' is slightly more formal or concise than 'las dos,' but both are perfectly correct ways to say 'both' when referring to feminine things.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: ambas

Question 1 of 1

Which sentence correctly uses 'ambas'?

📚 More Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'ambas' and 'los dos/las dos'?

'Ambas' and 'las dos' (the feminine form of 'the two') mean the same thing and are interchangeable. 'Ambas' is usually seen as slightly more formal, but both are common in everyday conversation.

If I am talking about a group of two people, one male and one female, should I use 'ambos' or 'ambas'?

If the group includes even one male, you must use the masculine form, 'ambos,' to refer to the group as a whole. The masculine form is the default for mixed groups.