Definite Articles

Kurz erklärt

Spanish uses the definite article when referring to a particular or already known person, thing, or group. English usually expresses this with “the.” Spanish has four forms: el, la, los, and las. The form must match the noun in gender and number.

Bildung

masculine singular: el + noun; feminine singular: la + noun; masculine plural: los + noun; feminine plural: las + noun

Verwendung

• Use el or la with a specific singular noun: el libro, la mesa.
• Use los or las with specific plural nouns: los libros, las mesas.
• Choose the article that agrees with the noun, even when an adjective follows.

Beispiele

• El café está caliente. — The coffee is hot.
• La puerta está abierta. — The door is open.
• Los niños están en el parque. — The children are in the park.
• Las llaves están aquí. — The keys are here.

Typischer Fehler

❌ El casa es grande.

✅ La casa es grande.

Unlike English “the,” the Spanish article must agree with the noun. Casa is feminine, so it takes la.

Merke

Use el, la, los, or las according to the noun’s gender and number. All four can mean “the.”