Spanish articles: types and uses

Did you know that some of the most used words in Spanish are the articles? These particles are essential to communicate effectively in the language, so learning to master them is the next step to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker.

At donQuijote we know that sometimes Spanish articles can be quite a challenge, so here you can find a post with everything you need to know about them, what they are, how they are used and the different types that exist.  Read on so you don't miss anything and come learn Spanish in Spain with us to experience the language firsthand.

You can read this same blog post in Spanish, French or Italian.

What is an article in Spanish?

A Spanish article is a word that accompanies a noun and determines its gender, masculine or feminine, and its number, singular or plural. Articles in Spanish can be definite or indefinite depending on the degree of specificity they express.

These particles are used every day, and they are essential for communication in Spanish. For example, in the sentence, “El perro de mi vecino es un dálmata” (my neighbor's dog is a Dalmatian), there are two articles: “el” and “un”.

Types of Spanish articles

There are two basic types of articles that you must differentiate in Spanish.

Definite article in Spanish

Definite Spanish articles are those that indicate that the noun they accompany is known or specific. The following can be distinguished: el, la, los, las, lo.

• Masculine singular: el → El libro es azul (The book is blue)
• Feminine singular: la → La mesa está rota (The table is broken)
• Masculine plural: los → Los alumnos se van de excursión (The students are going on a field trip)
• Feminine plural: las → Las ventanas están abiertas (The windows are open)

“Lo” is a neuter article that is rarely used but knowing that it exists will help you recognize it if you see it in a text.

Indefinite article in Spanish

On the other hand, the indefinite Spanish articles, which indicate that the noun they accompany is not specific or is unknown. They are: un, una, unos, unas.

• Masculine singular: un → He visto un pájaro en la ventana (I have seen a bird in the window)
• Feminine singular: una → Hay una mariposa en el cristal (There is a butterfly on the glass)
• Masculine plural: unos → ¿Te has comprador unos zapatos nuevos? (Did you buy some new shoes?)
• Feminine plural: unas → Vimos unas puertas gigantescas en la mansion (We saw some gigantic doors in the mansion)

In addition to definite and indefinite articles in Spanish, there are contracted articles, which is a definite Spanish article combined with the preposition 'a' or 'de' and form a contraction. For example: “Vamos al cine” (we’re going to the cinema). This article “al” is formed with the preposition “a” and the article “el”.

When to use articles in Spanish?

In Spanish, articles are important because they help you identify whether you are talking about something specific or not, and to know the gender and number of nouns.

Definite Spanish articles are used when you want to talk about something specific or that you already know.

• El perro está en el jardín (The dog is in the garden) A specific dog that everyone knows. A garden that everyone knows where it is.
• La casa es grande (The house is big) We are talking about a specific house.
• Los niños están jugando (The children are playing) A specific group of children.
• Las flores son hermosas (The flowers are beautiful) Flowers that can be identified.

A rule of thumb that can help you with the use of these articles is that when both you and the other person know what thing or person you are talking about, definite Spanish articles are used.

Indefinite Spanish articles, on the other hand, are used when you are talking about something non-specific, that is, something you don't know well, or it doesn't matter exactly what it is.

• He visto un gato en la calle (I saw a cat in the street) We don't know which cat it was.
• Dame una taza de té, por favor (Give me a cup of tea, please) Any cup will do.
• Compré unos libros interesantes (I bought some interesting books) Some books, not specific.
• Encontré unas fotos viejas (I found some old photos) Photos, not specific.

A rule of thumb for knowing when to use indefinite Spanish articles: when you talk about something that is not known to everyone or that you don't need to specify.

Another tricky aspect of Spanish articles is knowing how to choose gender and number. The first thing you need to know is that the Spanish article must match the gender and number of the noun it accompanies.

For example: un libro, el libro, los libros or una flor, la flor, las flores.

Also, when the definite Spanish article “el” is combined with the prepositions “a” or “de”, a contraction is formed: “al”: a + el and “del”: de + el. For example: Es el libro del professor de matemáticas (It is the math teacher's book).

Common errors in the use of Spanish articles

In Spanish, articles are almost always used with nouns, but they may not be used in your language.

• It would be incorrect to say “Perro está en jardín”
• The correct form would be: “El perro está en el jardín”

You should also not confuse gender and number, as the Spanish article must always agree with the noun.

• It is incorrect to say “el mesa”
• It would be correct to say “la mesa”

Beware of the neuter article “lo”. Although it is not very common, this article exists, and you can see it in some sentences. “Lo” is not a regular article, but is used with adjectives, abstract concepts or ideas, qualities or generalized ideas. For example:

• Lo importante es estudiar todos los días (The important thing is to study every day)
• Me encanta lo bonito de este lugar (I love how beautiful this place is)
• Lo mejor de las vacaciopnes fue la comida (The best part of the vacation was the food)

Examples with Spanish articles

Here are some sentences with definite and indefinite articles in Spanish so that you can see the use and position of each one:

• La casa es muy bonita (The house is very nice)
• Vi un coche rojo en la calle (I saw a red car in the street)
• Compré una flor para mi madre (I bought a flower for my mother)
• Los niños están jugando en el parque (The children are playing in the park)
• Las estrellas brillan mucho esta noche (The stars are very bright tonight)
• Necesito unos zapatos nuevos (I need some new shoes)
• Compré unas manzanas en el mercado (I bought some apples at the market)
• Fuimos al cine ayer (We went to the movies yesterday)
• La portada del libro es muy interesante (The cover of the book is very interesting)
• No me gusta el ruido de la ciudad (I don't like the noise of the city)
• ¿Dónde está la llave del coche? (Where is the car key?)
• Me encontré con un amigo de la infancia (I met a childhood friend)
• Ella es una persona muy generosa (She is a very generous person)
• Los perros de la vecina siempre ladran por la noche (The neighbor's dogs always bark at night)
• El gato duerme en el sofá (The cat sleeps on the sofa)

As a review: the main difference between definite Spanish articles (el, la, los, las, lo) and indefinite Spanish articles (un, una, unos, unas) lies in the degree of specificity. Definite articles in Spanish are used when you talk about something specific that you already know or that you can clearly identify. In contrast, indefinite articles in Spanish are used to refer to something unspecific or unknown.

Using the right article helps differentiate whether the noun is something concrete or general. When reading or listening to Spanish, look closely at the articles and how they accompany nouns. This way you will become familiar with them, and you will be able to distinguish them and use them without any problem.

Now all you need to do is practice, sign up for an intensive Spanish course, talk to your classmates and practice watching Spanish series and movies in their original version. Don't miss your chance and start improving your Spanish now!