una
“una” means “a” in Spanish. It has 3 different meanings depending on context:
a, an
📝 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.
one
📝 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.
one
📝 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.
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✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: una
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly says 'It is one in the morning'?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
From the Latin word 'ūna', the feminine form of 'ūnus', which means 'one'. It has kept its meaning almost perfectly over thousands of years.
First recorded: Before the 10th century
Cognates (Related words)
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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').