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Ever tried to describe a beautiful house in Spanish and accidentally called it handsome? Or described a group of smart women as a single smart man? If so, you’ve stumbled upon one of the cornerstones of Spanish grammar: adjective agreement.
It might sound intimidating, but don't worry. This guide will turn you into an adjective-agreement pro. We'll break it down into simple, bite-sized rules with tons of examples and interactive practice.
Ready to make your Spanish sound more natural and accurate? ¡Vamos! (Let's go!)
The Golden Rule of Spanish Adjectives
First things first: What are adjetivosadjectives? They're just describing words, like 'big', 'red', 'smart', or 'delicious'. They add color and detail to your sentences, helping you describe someone's personality or the world around you.
In English, adjectives are easy. We say "the tall man," "the tall woman," "the tall boys," and "the tall girls." The word "tall" never changes.
Spanish, however, plays by a different set of rules.
The Golden Rule
In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).
This means the adjective's ending will change to "match" the noun. Think of it like a puzzle piece that has to fit perfectly. Let's see how it works.
Part 1: Agreement in Gender (Masculino vs. Femenina)
In Spanish, every noun has a gender, either masculine or feminine. This is a fundamental concept, and you can learn more about it in our guide to Spanish noun gender and articles. This isn't about people; even inanimate objects like a librobook (masculine) or a mesatable (feminine) have a gender. The adjective has to match it.
Adjectives Ending in -o / -a
This is the most common and straightforward rule.
- If an adjective ends in -o, it's the masculine form.
- To make it feminine, you simply change the -o to an -a.
Let's look at the adjective rojo (red).
- Masculine noun: el cochecar rojo (the red car)
- Feminine noun: la manzanaapple roja (the red apple)
Check out this slider to see the change in action:
Drag the handle to compare
Adjectives Ending in -e or a Consonant
What about adjectives that don't end in -o, like inteligente (intelligent) or fácil (easy)?
Good news! These are often "neutral." They don't change for gender. You use the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns.
- Ending in -e:
- El chico inteligente (The smart boy)
- La chica inteligente (The smart girl)
- Ending in a consonant:
- Un examen difícil (A difficult test)
- Una pregunta difícil (A difficult question)
Common Neutral Endings
Adjectives ending in -e, -l, -n, -r, -s, or -z are usually gender-neutral. Just remember the exception for nationalities!
Exception Alert: Adjectives for nationality that end in a consonant do change. You add an -a for the feminine form.
- Juan es español. (Juan is Spanish.)
- Ana es española. (Ana is Spanish.)
Test Your Knowledge!
Let's do a quick check to see if you've got it.
Which adjective correctly describes 'la flor' (the flower)?
Part 2: Agreement in Number (Singular vs. Plural)
This part is even easier. Just like in English, if your noun is plural, your adjective needs to be plural, too.
Adjectives Ending in a Vowel (-o, -a, -e)
If your adjective ends in a vowel, just add an -s.
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| el coche rojo | los coches rojos |
| la casa blanca | las casas blancas |
| el perro grande | los perros grandes |
Adjectives Ending in a Consonant
If your adjective ends in a consonant, add -es.
- fácil → fáciles (easy)
- popular → populares (popular)
El examen fácil. → Los exámenes fáciles.
Spelling Change Alert!
Watch out for adjectives ending in -z! To make them plural, you change the z to a c and then add -es. For example, feliz (happy) becomes felices.
Time to Practice!
Unscramble the sentence below.
Arrange the words to form a correct sentence:
Putting It All Together: The Four Forms
Most adjectives that end in -o have four possible forms. Let's take the adjective pequeño (small) and see how it matches with different nouns.
| Singular | Plural | |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | el perro pequeño | los perros pequeños |
| Feminine | la casa pequeña | las casas pequeñas |
You just have to ask two questions:
- Is the noun masculine or feminine?
- Is the noun singular or plural?
Once you have those two answers, you know exactly which form of the adjective to use!
Summary: Your Adjective Agreement Cheat Sheet
You made it! Adjective agreement is a core skill in Spanish, and now you have the tools to master it.
Here are the key takeaways:
- ✅ The Golden Rule: Adjectives must match the noun's gender and number.
- ✅ Gender: For adjectives ending in -o, change it to -a for feminine nouns. Most others are neutral.
- ✅ Number: Add -s to adjectives ending in a vowel, and -es to those ending in a consonant.
- ✅ Mixed Groups: When describing a group of males and females, always use the masculine plural adjective.
It takes practice, but soon it will become second nature. The best way to improve is by seeing these rules in context. Try reading some of our Spanish stories to see adjective agreement in action. Keep describing the world around you in Spanish—la mesa grande, el cielo azul, las flores bonitas—and you'll be an expert in no time.