A simple illustration of a vintage television set displaying a bright, colorful scene.

programa

/pro-GRA-ma/

NounmA1

program / show?television or radio,program / plan?a schedule or plan of action,program / software?computer application

Also:schedule?list of events or times,curriculum?course of study,brochure?for an event or theater

📝 In Action

¿Cuál es tu programa de televisión favorito?

What is your favorite television program/show?

El programa del festival incluye tres conciertos.

The festival's program/schedule includes three concerts.

Necesito instalar un programa para editar fotos en mi computadora.

I need to install a program/software to edit photos on my computer.

El programa de estudios para la clase de historia es muy interesante.

The curriculum for the history class is very interesting.

Word Connections

Synonyms

plan (plan)
horario (schedule)
emisión (broadcast)
aplicación (application (software))

Common Collocations

programa de televisión – television program
programa de radio – radio program
programa informático – computer program
programa de estudios – curriculum, syllabus
programa de lealtad – loyalty program

💡 Grammar Points

Masculine Nouns Ending in -MA

Watch out! Even though 'programa' ends in '-a', it's a masculine word. So, you always say 'el programa' or 'un programa'. This is a common pattern for words that come from the Greek language, like 'el problema' (the problem) and 'el tema' (the topic).

❌ Common Pitfalls

Using 'la' instead of 'el'

Mistake: "Me gusta mucho la programa nueva."

Correction: Me gusta mucho el programa nuevo. Because 'programa' is masculine, any words describing it (like 'nuevo') must also be in the masculine form.

⭐ Usage Tips

One Word, Many Contexts

Notice how 'programa' can talk about a TV show, a plan for a trip, or the software on your phone. The meaning is usually clear from the rest of the sentence. It always refers to some kind of organized set of information or events.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: programa

Question 1 of 2

Which sentence uses 'programa' correctly?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

programar(to program, to schedule) - verb

programador / programadora(programmer) - noun

programación(programming, schedule) - noun

programado(programmed, scheduled) - adjective

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is 'programa' masculine if it ends in '-a'?

It's a great question! Many Spanish nouns that end in '-ma', '-pa', or '-ta' and come from the Greek language are masculine. 'Programa' is one of them. Other common examples are 'el problema' (the problem), 'el tema' (the topic), 'el mapa' (the map), and 'el planeta' (the planet). It's a pattern you just have to get used to, but once you know it, you'll spot it everywhere!

What's the difference between 'programa' and 'horario'?

'Programa' is broader. It can be a plan or a list of activities, like 'el programa del festival'. 'Horario' specifically refers to a timetable with hours, like 'mi horario de clases' (my class schedule). So, a 'programa' might contain an 'horario'.