una
/oo-nah/
Just like English uses 'a' or 'an', Spanish uses 'una' to talk about one single thing that is feminine, like 'una manzana' (an apple).
una (Article)
📝 In Action
Tengo una pregunta.
A1I have a question.
Compré una casa grande.
A1I bought a big house.
Necesito una idea.
A1I need an idea.
💡 Grammar Points
Choosing 'Un' or 'Una'
Use 'una' before things that are considered 'feminine' in Spanish, like 'una casa' (a house) or 'una mesa' (a table). Use its partner, 'un', for 'masculine' things.
The 'Una' to 'Un' Switch
To make pronunciation easier, Spanish sometimes changes 'una' to 'un' right before a feminine word that starts with a stressed 'a-' or 'ha-' sound, like 'un águila' (an eagle), even though 'águila' is a feminine word.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting to Match
Mistake: "Tengo un problema y un solución."
Correction: Tengo un problema y una solución. The word 'solución' is feminine, so it needs 'una', not 'un'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Think 'A Single Thing'
Whenever you would say 'a' or 'an' in English to talk about a single, non-specific item, you'll likely use 'un' or 'una' in Spanish.
When you don't want to repeat a word, 'una' can mean 'one', pointing to a specific (feminine) thing you've already talked about.
una (Pronoun)
📝 In Action
- ¿Quieres una galleta? - Sí, quiero una.
A2- Do you want a cookie? - Yes, I want one.
Tengo dos hermanas. Una es doctora y la otra es abogada.
A2I have two sisters. One is a doctor and the other is a lawyer.
De todas las opciones, prefiero una en particular.
B1Of all the options, I prefer one in particular.
💡 Grammar Points
A Stand-in Word
'Una' can take the place of a feminine word you just mentioned so you don't have to say it again. It's the feminine version of 'uno'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'Uno' for Feminine Things
Mistake: "- ¿Necesitas una silla? - Sí, necesito uno."
Correction: - ¿Necesitas una silla? - Sí, necesito una. Since 'silla' (chair) is feminine, you need to use the feminine stand-in word, 'una'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Sound More Natural
Using 'una' to replace a noun is a key part of sounding fluent. Instead of saying 'Quiero la camisa roja, no quiero la camisa azul,' you can say 'Quiero la camisa roja, no quiero la azul.' Or even more simply, 'Quiero una roja, no una azul.'
When telling time, Spanish uses 'una' specifically for one o'clock, because it refers to 'la una hora' (the one hour).
una (Numeral)
📝 In Action
Es la una de la tarde.
A1It is one in the afternoon.
La reunión empieza a la una.
A1The meeting starts at one.
Nos vemos a la una y media.
A2See you at one thirty.
💡 Grammar Points
The 'One' Exception
When telling time, use 'son las' for every hour (son las dos, son las tres) EXCEPT for one o'clock, where you must use 'es la una'.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Saying 'Son la una'
Mistake: "Son la una de la tarde."
Correction: Es la una de la tarde. Because 'una' is singular (one hour), you use the singular verb 'es'. All other hours are plural, so they use 'son'.
⭐ Usage Tips
Why 'la una'?
Think of it as a shortened version of 'la una hora' (the one hour). Since 'hora' is a feminine word, you use 'la' and 'una'.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: una
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'It is one in the morning'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do you say 'un águila' (an eagle) instead of 'una águila' if 'águila' is feminine?
This is a special rule to make the words flow better. When a feminine word starts with a stressed 'a' or 'ha' sound, the 'una' changes to 'un' to avoid the two 'a' sounds running together ('una águila'). It's just for pronunciation; the word 'águila' is still considered feminine. So you would say 'un águila majestuosa' (a majestic eagle), using the feminine ending for 'majestuosa'.
What's the difference between 'una' and 'la'?
'Una' means 'a' or 'an'. It's used for a general, non-specific thing (e.g., 'Quiero una manzana' - I want an apple, any apple). 'La' means 'the'. It's used for a specific thing you and the listener both know about (e.g., 'Quiero la manzana' - I want the apple, that specific one we see).
When do I use 'uno' versus 'una'?
It's all about matching the 'gender' of the word. Use 'una' when talking about or replacing a feminine noun (like 'casa' or 'mesa'). Use 'uno' when talking about or replacing a masculine noun (like 'libro' or 'coche'). For example: 'Necesito una silla' (I need a chair), but 'Necesito uno nuevo' (I need a new one, referring to a masculine 'libro').