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Definite articles

• Forms
• Uses

The definite article in English is the word "the." The primary Spanish definite articles are el, la, los, and las. This section is closely related to the section on nouns, and the two categories should be studied together for a complete view of the subject.

Forms

Spanish has four forms of the definite article, corresponding to the singular and plural of masculine and feminine nouns. It also has a neuter form that is used with adjectives.

Singular

• masculine: el (cañon)
• feminine: la (campaña)
• neuter: lo (malo)

  Plural

• masculine: los (fusiles)
• feminine: las (batallas)

Uses

• The definite article translates the word "the."
  
  • Ahorro el dinero. (I save the money.)
  • Sé las respuestas. (I know the answers.)
    
• The articles are used with the gender and number of their corresponding nouns, with one exception. When feminine singular nouns begin with a stressed a or ha they take the masculine definite article, but only in the singular.
  
  • el agua, las aguas (the water, the waters)
  • el arte, las artes (the art, the arts)
  • el hada, las hadas (the fairy, the fairies)
    
• It is used to refer to abstractions and generalities, unless the idea of "some" or "any" is implied, in which case the article is omitted.
  
  • Nos gusta la música merengue. (We like merengue music.)
  • Los clásicos me interesan. (I am interested in the classics.)
    
    But...
    
  • No tengo tiempo. [I haven't (any) time.]
    
• It is used with names of meals and languages. It is also used with titles, except when addressing someone directly or when using don or forms of Santo.
  
  • Siempre tomo el desayuno a las nueve. (I always eat breakfast at nine.)
  • El español es importantísimo. (Spanish is very important.)
  • La señora Alba viene. (Mrs. Alba is coming.)
    
    But...
    
  • Señor Blanco, ¿quiere usted acompañarnos? (Mr. Blanco, would you like to come with us?)
  • ¿Has leído la poesía de San Juan de la Cruz? (Have you read the poetry of San Juan de la Cruz?
    
• It is used with the names of languages, except after de and en and after unmodified hablar.
  
  • El ruso es difícil. (Russian is difficult.)
  • Hablan bien el japonés. [They speak Japanese well. (Note the use of bien.)]
    
    But...
    
  • Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)
  • El letrero es en alemán. (The sign is in German.)
  • Voy a mi clase de árabe. (I'm going to my Arabic class.)
    
• It is used to refer to time. It is used with the hours of the day, days of the week (except after ser), dates of the month, and seasons.
  
  • Son las cinco de la tarde. (It is five o'clock in the afternoon.)
  • Mi cumpleaños es el primero de marzo. (My birthday is the first of March.)
  • La primavera es una estación bonita. (Spring is a lovely month.)
  • Te llamo el lunes. (I'll call you on Monday)
    
    But...
    
  • Hoy es viernes. (Today is Friday.)
    
• It often substitutes the possessive when referring to articles of clothing or parts of the body.
  
  • Me puse el sombrero. (I put my hat on.)
  • Me hice daño al pie. (I hurt my foot.)
    
• It is used with many place names, especially of countries, but also of cities, states, and regions. It should be noted that this use is slowly disappearing.
  
  • Vamos al Perú. (Let's go to Peru.)
  • La Argentina es bonita. (Argentina is lovely.)
  • El Cuzco es una ciudad antigua. (Cuzco is an ancient city.)
    
• The prepositions de and a contract with the article el and form del and al, respectively.
  
• The definite article can also be used with de to mean "the one" or "those of" in the following contexts:
  
  • ¿Compraste el de la mujer rubia. (Did you buy the one from the blond woman?)
  • ¿Ayudaste a los del otro lado? (Did you help those of the other side?)
    
• The article can be used with que to mean "he, she, they, etc. who..."
  
  • El que llega primero gana. (He who arrives first wins.)
  • Los que hablan mucho dicen disparates. (Those who speak a lot say a lot of nonsense.)
    
• The definite article also combines with infinitives to be used as nouns.
  
  • El chirriar de la puerta me espantó. (The squeaking of the door startled me.)
    
• The neuter form precedes adjectives.
  
  • Esto es lo interesante. (This is the interesting part.)

Related topics:

Indefinite articles
Nouns