Noun Gender: Using el/la and un/una

In Spanish, every noun (a person, place, or thing) has a gender: it's either masculine or feminine. This isn't about biology, it's just a grammar rule. This gender determines which little word, or 'article', you use before the noun.

The Main Rule: -o and -a

The easiest way to know a noun's gender is by looking at its ending. This works most of the time!

Masculine Nouns

• Usually end in -o.
• Use the article el (meaning 'the') or un (meaning 'a' or 'an').
• Examples:
  • el libro (the book)
  • un niño (a boy)

Feminine Nouns

• Usually end in -a.
• Use the article la (meaning 'the') or una (meaning 'a' or 'an').
• Examples:
  • la casa (the house)
  • una niña (a girl)

Think of it this way:

• el / un + (word ending in -o)
• la / una + (word ending in -a)

A Quick Note on Exceptions

As you read more, you'll see some words that don't follow this rule. For example, el día (the day) ends in '-a' but is masculine, and la mano (the hand) ends in '-o' but is feminine. Don't worry about memorizing these now! Just be aware they exist. For now, focusing on the main '-o' and '-a' rule will help you understand the vast majority of nouns you encounter.