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The Definite Article El in Spanish

Do you know how to use the definite article el in Spanish? It's one of the most common words in the language, but its usage can sometimes be tricky for learners. In this lesson, we will explore how and when to use el correctly, including its rules and exceptions. Let's dive into the world of definite articles in the language of Cervantes.

 

definite article el in spanish

 

Understanding the Definite Article El

Let's start with the basics of the definite article el.

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What is a Definite Article?

A definite article is used to indicate a specific noun that is known to the reader or listener. In English, the definite article is "the." In Spanish, the masculine singular form of the definite article is el.

 

When to Use El

We use el with masculine singular nouns. Here are some examples:

el libro (the book)
el perro (the dog)
el coche (the car)

 

Let's hear how to pronounce this article:

 

Sin duda, en la actualidad el perro es el animal que más se utiliza como apoyo en este tipo de intervenciones.

Without a doubt, nowadays the dog is the animal that is used the most for support in this type of intervention.

Captions 40-41, Isabel Lavesa Terapia asistida con animales

 Play Caption

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Special Cases and Exceptions

 

1. Nouns Starting with a Stressed 'A' or 'HA' Sound
When a feminine noun starts with a stressed "a" or "ha" sound, el is used instead of la to avoid a cacophony. However, the noun remains feminine. For example:

 

el agua (the water)

el águila (the eagle)

el hacha (the axe)

 

Note that in the plural form, "las" is used:

las aguas (the waters)

las águilas (the eagles)

las hachas (the axes)

 

2. Nouns That Are Always Masculine
Some nouns are always masculine, even though they might end in "a" or have other endings that might suggest they are feminine. For example:

 

el mapa (the map)

el día (the day)

el sofá (the sofa)

 

3. Compound Nouns
Many compound nouns that end in "-a" but are formed by combining two words are masculine. For example:
   

el sacapuntas (the pencil sharpener)

el paraguas (the umbrella)

el abrelatas (the can opener)

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Let's Practice Using El

Let's watch the following clip where you can listen to our friend Fermín using the definite article "el" with various words:

 

La parte delantera del vehículo se llama capó y es donde se encuentran el motor, la batería, el agua, el líquido de frenos y el aceite,

The front of the vehicle is called the hood and is where the engine, the battery, the water, the brake fluid, and the oil are located,

Captions 48-49, Fermín Vocabulario del coche y la conducción - Part 1

 Play Caption

 

Now, let's practice a little bit more with some examples.

 

Sentences with El

 

El libro es tan bueno como la película.

The book is as good as the movie.

Caption 20, Karla e Isabel Comparativos

 Play Caption

 

como: el mapa y el planeta.

like: the map and the planet.

Caption 47, Fundamentos del Español 2 - Nombres y Género

 Play Caption

 

Sentences with Special Cases

 

¡Muy bien! El águila.

Very good! The eagle.

Caption 73, El Aula Azul Adivinanzas de animales - Part 2

 Play Caption

 

Dejemos a un lado el hacha de guerra

Let's leave aside the axe of war

Caption 22, Bebé Kiéreme

 Play Caption

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

 

1. Mixing Up Gender Agreement

Remember that el is only for masculine singular nouns. Don't use el with feminine nouns that don't start with a stressed "a" or "ha" sound. For example:

 

Incorrect: el casa
Correct: la casa (the house)

 

2. Forgetting Plural Forms

When the noun is plural, use los for masculine nouns and las for feminine nouns. For example:

 

el librolos libros
el agualas aguas

 

That's it for today. We hope this lesson helped you understand how to use the definite article el in Spanish. Do you have any questions or comments? Please let us know!

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