el
“el” means “the” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
the
📝 In Action
El perro está en el jardín.
A1The dog is in the garden.
Me gusta el color azul.
A1I like the color blue.
El lunes tengo una cita.
A2On Monday I have an appointment.
the one
Also: he who / the one who, that of
📝 In Action
¿Cuál coche prefieres? Prefiero el rojo.
A2Which car do you prefer? I prefer the red one.
Mi teléfono es viejo. El de mi hermana es nuevo.
B1My phone is old. My sister's (the one of my sister) is new.
El que no arriesga, no gana.
B1The one who doesn't risk, doesn't win.
🔀 Commonly Confused With
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: el
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence is correct?
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👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Comes from the Latin word 'ille', which meant 'that' or 'that one over there'. Over time, it shortened and became the standard word for 'the' in Spanish.
First recorded: Around the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between 'el' and 'él'?
It's all about the little line on top, the accent! 'El' (no accent) means 'the' and goes before masculine nouns (el coche - the car). 'Él' (with an accent) means 'he' or 'him' and refers to a person (Él es alto - He is tall).
Why do Spanish words have 'el' or 'la'? Why can't I just say the word?
In Spanish, almost every noun has a gender, either masculine or feminine. Using 'el' or 'la' is how you show that gender. It's a fundamental part of the language, like adding 's' for plurals in English. You'll get used to it with practice!
What are 'al' and 'del'?
They are mandatory shortcuts. Instead of saying 'a el' (to the), you must squish them together to say 'al'. Instead of 'de el' (of the/from the), you must say 'del'. For example, 'Voy al cine' (I'm going to the movies), not 'a el cine'.