problemas
/pro-BLEH-mas/
problems
This image shows a character facing multiple obstacles, illustrating the meaning of 'problemas' as general difficulties or troubles.
problemas(Noun)
📝 In Action
Tengo muchos problemas en el trabajo.
A1I have a lot of problems at work.
No hay problemas, podemos hacerlo mañana.
A2No problem, we can do it tomorrow.
Los problemas económicos afectan a todo el país.
B1The economic problems affect the whole country.
💡 Grammar Points
A Tricky Gender
Even though its singular form 'problema' ends in '-a', it's a masculine word. So we say 'un problema' and 'los problemas', not 'la' or 'las'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Singular for 'No Problem'
Mistake: "Using 'problemas' to say 'no problem'."
Correction: For the friendly phrase 'No problem!', use the singular form: 'No hay problema'. Use the plural 'No hay problemas' to say 'There are no problems'.
⭐ Usage Tips
A Common Phrase
The phrase 'No hay problema' is a very common and natural way to say 'it's okay,' 'don't worry about it,' or 'no worries'.
In academic contexts, 'problemas' refers to exercises or questions, often related to math or logic, symbolized here by sorting complex geometric shapes.
problemas(Noun)
📝 In Action
La maestra nos dio diez problemas de matemáticas.
A2The teacher gave us ten math problems.
No entiendo cómo resolver estos problemas de física.
B1I don't understand how to solve these physics problems.
💡 Grammar Points
Same Tricky Gender!
Just like the general meaning, this word is masculine. Always use 'el' or 'los' to talk about it, for example, 'los problemas de álgebra'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Context is Key
When you hear 'problemas' in a classroom or see it on a test, it almost always means exercises you need to solve, not personal troubles.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: problemas
Question 1 of 1
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 'problema' masculine if it ends in '-a'?
It's a rule-breaker that comes from its Greek origin. Many Spanish words that came from Greek and end in '-ma', '-pa', or '-ta' are masculine. Other examples are 'el mapa' (the map), 'el planeta' (the planet), and 'el tema' (the topic).