idioma
ee-dee-OH-mah
📝 In Action
El español es un idioma muy popular en el mundo.
A1Spanish is a very popular language in the world.
¿Cuántos idiomas puedes hablar con fluidez?
A2How many languages can you speak fluently?
Ella está aprendiendo el idioma japonés para su viaje.
A1She is learning the Japanese language for her trip.
💡 Grammar Points
The -ma Rule
Even though 'idioma' ends in -a, it is masculine. This is common for words that come from ancient Greek, like 'problema' (problem) and 'tema' (topic). Always use 'el' or 'un' with it.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Gender Error
Mistake: "La idioma"
Correction: The word 'idioma' is masculine. Say 'El idioma español es difícil.' (The Spanish language is difficult.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Idiomático
The related adjective is 'idiomático/a,' which means 'idiomatic' or 'characteristic of a particular language,' like a phrase that doesn't translate word-for-word.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: idioma
Question 1 of 2
Which article (the word for 'the') must be used before 'idioma'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'idioma' and 'lengua'?
'Idioma' and 'lengua' both mean 'language' and are often interchangeable. 'Idioma' is generally the more common and neutral choice in everyday speech. 'Lengua' can also refer specifically to the physical tongue in your mouth, or it might be preferred in more formal, academic, or governmental contexts (like 'lengua oficial').
Why is 'idioma' masculine if it ends in 'a'?
This is a great question! 'Idioma' is a remnant of ancient Greek. Many Spanish nouns that entered the language from Greek that end in -ma (like 'clima,' 'planeta,' 'tema') kept their original masculine gender, overriding the common Spanish rule that -a endings usually mean feminine.