Spanish is a relatively complex language, especially if your native language is English. Spanish verb tenses are complicated, and the gender of words is something that brings many students upside down.

Learning to differentiate the feminine and masculine in Spanish can be one of the most confusing and difficult tasks for some. So, in this guide you’ll be able to understand the gender in Spanish. Continue reading this article or switch to its Spanish or Italian version here.

Feminine and masculine words in Spanish

The 'normal' when you are starting to learn Spanish is to think that all masculine words end in -o and feminine words end in -a. Well, this rule may be valid for some words like perro/perra (dog), humano/humana (human) or hermano/hermana (brother/sister). But what about others like inteligente (smart), bola (ball) or (caballo) horse?

Here are some examples of Spanish words that do not follow the general rule of masculine -o and feminine -a.

The place where you walk is the suelo (floor), but suela (sole) is the lowest part of the shoe, the one that touches the ground. Therefore, the word suelo is masculine and has no feminine equivalent.

The velo (veil) is the cloth that covers the head, generally, of brides at weddings. Well, vela is not the feminine equivalent of this word. In fact, it has no feminine equivalent, although the word vela does exist and is a polysemous word, that is, it has several meanings. The vela can be a piece of wax with a wick used for lighting (candle) or the cloth that helps to push boats in the wind (sail).

Surely you know what a caballo (horse) is, but what is the feminine of this animal in Spanish? The female of the horse is the yegua (mare). And you should not confuse it with caballa, which is a word that does exist in Spanish, but has a different meaning. Caballa (mackerel) is a very popular type of fish in Spain.

The part of the body in Spanish that ends in the hand is called the brazo (arm). But braza has nothing to do with the human body. Braza (fathom) is equivalent to almost two meters (about 6 feet) and is used to delimit marine measures of length.

Summer in Spain is very hot, so it is good to have a granizado, which is a drink made with ice chips. Oppositely, if a granizada (hailstorm) comes, it is better to take shelter, since it is a meteorological phenomenon in which pieces of ice fall mixed with rain.

The last example is the word bolso (handbag or purse). Bolso is an object made of cloth or other material that is slung over the shoulder and is used to carry objects. But if you carry a bolsa (bag), what you have is a small cloth or plastic sack that you hold by the handle with your hand and use for shopping.

Special rules for feminine and masculine in Spanish

The general rule says that in Spanish nouns ending in -o are masculine (el dinero, el libro, el bolígrafo, etc.), while nouns ending in -a (la casa, la mesa, la rosa, etc.) are feminine. However, there are some exceptions that contradict this rule.

There are words that, despite ending in -a, are masculine. Examples: día (day), mapa (map), planeta (planet), programa (program) or sofa (sofa). And several words ending in -ema, esquema, poema, problema, sistema or tema, which are also masculine. Similarly, there are nouns ending in -o that are feminine: radio, mano, foto or moto.

Besides the ending in -o and -a, there are other endings that you should also be aware of because they have a specific gender:

• Nouns ending in -aje and -or are almost always masculine: el paisaje, el viaje, el color, el amor..., but there are exceptions: las flores is a feminine term.
• Alternatively, nouns are feminine if they end in -ción, -sión, -dad and -tad. For example: la canción (song), la relación (relationship), la excepción (expression), la mansión (mansion), la ciudad (city), la verdad (truth), la libertad (freedom), la amistad (friendship), etc.
• On the other hand, there are other nouns, regardless of the gender of the person, that have only one form. These nouns end in -ista and -ante: el/la artista, el/la dentista, el/la estudiante, el/la cantante, etc. Therefore, there are no Spanish forms such as la estudianta or el artisto.

In addition, there are Spanish nouns that can be used for both feminine and masculine. Generally, they end in -ente: inteligente, obediente or paciente. But there are also other nouns such as: intérprete (interpreter), atleta (athlete), policía (police), piloto (pilot) or estudiante (student). These names are used for both genders: el atleta/la atleta; el piloto/la piloto; el intérprete/la intérprete.

Finally, as you have seen before, there are nouns that have different forms according to gender:

• el hombre (man) -> la mujer (woman)
• el padre (father) -> la madre (mother)
• el actor -> la actriz (actress)
• el emperador (emperor) -> la emperatriz (empress)
• el alcalde (mayor) -> la alcaldesa (mayoress)
• el caballo (horse) -> la yegua (mare)
• el toro (bull) -> la vaca (cow)
• el gallo (rooster) -> la gallina (hen)

After reading this guide, you can say that there are nouns in Spanish that have no equivalent in feminine and masculine, others that do exist, but with a different meaning if you change the final letter and some that use a completely different word to designate their opposite in gender.

The feminine and masculine in Spanish is very curious and varied: it has words of all kinds, changes that you don't expect and rules that are broken. So, if you want to keep improving, don't hesitate to take Spanish courses in Spain to have the best teachers to guide you during your adventure in the language.

When we speak, we don't notice the words we use to connect sentences, but these particles are there, and they are important in grammar. These words are prepositions, something like the glue that holds words together and, with them, you can express the relationship between two ideas.

In Spanish there are a total of 23 prepositions, plus compound prepositions or prepositional locutions. So, if you want to know the list of prepositions in Spanish while you improve your knowledge of the language and prepare for your Spanish course in Spain, this is your article. You can also read this article in Spanish, French, Italian or Dutch.

What are Spanish prepositions?

Prepositions in Spanish, as in any other language, are words that establish a relationship between words in the same sentence. Their function is to connect nouns, pronouns or groups of words with other words to indicate a relationship of time, place, direction, cause or purpose in the same sentence.

On the other hand, there are Spanish prepositional locutions, a set of two or more words that function as a preposition. Although they are compound, they behave as a single preposition and have the same function as individual prepositions.

List of Spanish prepositions

Below you will find the list of Spanish prepositions:

• A (to/At)
• Ante (Before/In the presence of)
• Bajo (Under/Below)
• Cabe (Next to/Beside)
• Con (With)
• Contra (Against)
• De (Of/From)
• Desde (From/Since)
• Durante (During)
• En (In/On/Into/Upon/At/To)
• Entre (Among/Between)
• Hacia (Towards)
• Hasta (As far as/Until/Up to)
• Mediante (Through/By means of)
• Para (For/In order to)
• Por (For/Through/By)
• Según (According to)
• Sin (Without)
• So (Under)
• Sobre (On/Upon/About)
• Tras (After)
• Vía (Via/By way of)
• Versus (Versus/Against)

Although these are all the Spanish prepositions, some such as ‘cabe’ and ‘so’ are not used in spoken Spanish today; they appear sporadically in literary texts. Also, if you need a guide on how to use the prepositions por and para or the correct way to use contractions in Spanish, don't hesitate to visit our blog.

Spanish prepositional locutions

Regarding prepositional locutions, they are usually formed by 'preposition + noun + preposition'; but they can also be composed of 'adverb + preposition'. These are the most frequent Spanish prepositional locutions:

• A cargo de (In charge of)
• A causa de (On account of)
• A costa de (At the expense of)
• A falta de (For lack of)
• A fin de (At the end of)
• A fuerza de (On account of)
• A pesar de (In spite of/Despite)
• A propósito de (In spite of/Despite)
• A través de (Through)
• Al lado de (Next to)
• Alrededor de (Around)
• Antes de (Before)
• Cerca de (About)
• Con respecto a (With respect to)
• Con excepción de (Except for)
• De cara a (Facing)
• De conformidad con (In accordance with)
• De parte de (Of part of)
• Debajo de (Under)
• Delante de (In front of)
• Dentro de (Within)
• Después de (After)
• Detrás de (Behind)
• Encima de (Above)
• En bien de (Instead of)
• En lugar de (Instead of)
• En cuanto a (As for)
• En frente de (In front of)
• En medio de (In the middle of)
• En torno a (Around)
• Frente a (In front of)
• Junto a (Next to)
• Lejos de (Away from)
• Por causa de (Because of)
• Por culpa de (Because of)

Examples of Spanish prepositions

Once you have learned the complete list of prepositions in Spanish, you must put your knowledge into practice. To do so, here are some examples of Spanish prepositions in sentences for you to understand their use:

• El gato está sobre la mesa (The cat is on the table)
• Voy a la tienda (I'm going to the store)
• El regalo es para ti (The gift is for you)
• Vivo en una ciudad pequeña al lado del río (I live in a small town by the river)
• Salimos con nuestros amigos el sábado (We go out with our friends on Saturday)
• El tren pasa por el túnel (The train goes through the tunnel)
• El libro es de mi hermana (The book is my sister's)
• Llegamos a pesar de la lluvia (We arrived despite the rain)
• El banco está junto a la panadería (The bank is next to the bakery)
• Por culpa del tráfico llegué tarde a la estación (Because of the traffic I was late at the station)
• Hablamos durante el camino a casa sobre los planes del fin de semana (We talked on the way home about the weekend plans)
• La casa está cerca de la playa (The house is near the beach)
• Estoy en contra de esa decisión (I am against that decision)
• El perro duerme debajo de la cama (The dog sleeps under the bed)
• Los niños corren alrededor de la fuente (The children run around the fountain)
• Nos encontramos en medio de una tormenta (We are in the middle of a storm)
• Desde mi trabajo se puede llegar al centro en media hora (From my job you can get to downtown in half an hour)

An important fact to note about prepositions in Spanish is that, unlike colors or articles, they have neither gender nor number. For example, in the sentence above: “El gato está sobre la mesa” (The cat is on the table), the preposition is “sobre” (on), which indicates the spatial relationship between the cat and the table.

Thus, prepositions in Spanish are a fundamental part of grammar and have a fundamental role in oral communication. Keep learning Spanish with donQuijote and don't hesitate to keep practicing your knowledge to become a fluent Spanish speaker.

Do you need to expand your vocabulary because you always use the same Spanish connectors? In essays, homeworks or talking to friends, if you always use the same connector to link all your sentences, in this donQuijote article you will find a complete list of Spanish connectors, so you'll have a choice and don't repeat the same one all the time.

Whether you must write a letter, a class assignment or when talking to your friends, find the Spanish connector that best suits each situation in this list. Expanding your vocabulary will improve the way you communicate, both written and spoken, and make you sound like a native Spanish speaker.

You can continue reading in English or read this article in Spanish while improve and learn Spanish with donQuijote.

What is a Spanish connector?

Connectors in Spanish, or in any other language, are words that have the function of joining sentences or paragraphs in a text to give it coherence and cohesion. In this way, connectors help to organize ideas and facilitate their comprehension.

There are different types of connectors, depending on the relationship they establish with the ideas in the speech or text. The most used connectors in Spanish are: ‘y’, ‘porque’, ‘pero’, ‘para’, ‘o’, ‘también’, ‘sí’, ‘además’.

Although these are the most common connectors, each one belongs to a different type, among them you can find: addition connectors, contrast connectors, cause and effect connectors, sequence connectors, comparison connectors, purpose connectors and summary connectors.

Below, you are going to learn the different types of connectors in Spanish that exist and some examples that will help you understand how to use them. Keep reading so you don't miss anything!

Addition connectors

Addition connectors add information to the above; they connect ideas or elements and add information.

• Además (In addition/Plus) - Tengo que ir a la compra, además me gustaría acercarme al gimnasio (I must go shopping, plus I would like to go to the gym).
• También (Also) - Estudia francés y también alemán (He studies French and also German).
• Incluso (Even) - Todos vinieron, incluso los que no confirmaron asistencia a la fiesta (Everyone came, even those who did not RSVP to the party).
• Asimismo (Also) - El proyecto es viable, asimismo, hay que planteárselo bien a tu jefe (The project is feasible, also, you have to raise it well with your boss).
• Y (And) - Compré pan y leche en el supermercado (I bought bread and milk at the supermarket).
• Más (More) - Necesito comprar más frutas y verduras para esta semana (I need to buy more fruits and vegetables for this week).
• Del mismo modo (Likewise) - Los resultados fueron positivos, del mismo modo, los participantes opinaron favorablemente (The results were positive, likewise, the participants were positive).

Contrast and opposition connectors

These Spanish connectors indicate opposition or contrast between ideas in the same sentence. Here are some examples:

• Sin embargo (However) - Estudió mucho, sin embargo, no aprobó el examen teórico (He studied hard; however, he did not pass the theory exam).
• No obstante (Nevertheless) - Es un bolso caro, no obstante, vale la pena (It's an expensive bag, nevertheless, it's worth it).
• Aunque (Although) - Iré al parque esta tarde, aunque llueva (I will go to the park this afternoon, even if it rains).
• Pero (But) - Es inteligente, pero no se esfuerza todo lo que podría (He's smart, but he doesn't try as hard as he could).
• A pesar de (Despite) - A pesar del mal tiempo, salimos a correr al parque (Despite the bad weather, we go for a run in the park).
• En cambio (On the other hand) - Ella es callada, en cambio, él es muy hablador (She is quiet, on the other hand, he is very talkative).
• Por el contrario (On the contrary) - No quería subir al noveno piso, por el contrario, fue muy fácil hacerlo en ascensor (I didn't want to go up to the ninth floor, on the contrary, it was very easy to do it by elevator).
• Mientras que (Whereas) - Yo prefiero el mar, mientras que mi primo prefiere la montaña (I prefer the sea, while my cousin prefers the mountain).
• Por un lado/Por otro lado (On the one hand/On the other hand) - Por un lado, el viaje a Roma fue maravilloso. Por otro lado, fueron unos días agotadores (On the one hand, the trip to Rome was wonderful. On the other hand, it was an exhausting few days).

Cause and consequence connectors

Cause and consequence connectors in Spanish establish a relationship between two ideas or actions of cause or consequence, hence their name. Examples:

• Porque (Because) - No fui a trabajar porque estaba enfermo (I didn't go to work because I was sick).
• Entonces (Then) - No había asientos suficientes, entonces tuvieron que quedarse de pie (There weren't enough seats, so they had to stand).
• Por lo tanto (Therefore) - La carretera está cortada, por lo tanto, hay que buscar otra forma de llegar a la ciudad (The road is cut off; therefore, you have to find another way to get to the city).
• Debido a (Because of) – Debido a la lluvia, se canceló el concierto (Because of the rain, the concert was cancelled).
• Ya que (Since) - No vino ya que estaba ocupado (He did not come as he was busy).
• Por eso (Therefore) - Llegó tarde a la estación, por eso perdió el tren (He was late to the station, therefore he missed the train).
• Así que (So) - Se rompió un vaso de cristal, así que tuve que recogerlo con cuidado (A crystal glass broke, so I had to pick it up carefully).
• En consecuencia (Consequently) – El proyecto fue un éxito, en consecuencia, recibimos más financiación (The project was a success, consequently, we received more funding).

Sequence connectors

Sequence connectors indicate the order of ideas or actions in a sentence:

• Primero (First) - Primero, desayunamos antes de empezar el viaje (First, we had breakfast before starting the trip).
• Luego (Then) - Terminé de leer el libro, luego lo devolví a la biblioteca (I finished reading the book, then I returned it to the library).
• Después (After) - Fui a comer al restaurante, después me fui al cine con mis amigas (I went to eat at the restaurant, then I went to the movies with my friends).
• A continuación (Next) - A continuación, os enseñaré a cocinar una tortilla de patatas (Next, I will teach you how to cook a potato omelet).
• Finalmente (Finally) - Finalmente, regresamos a casa tras un largo fin de semana (Finally, we came home after a long weekend).
• En primer lugar/En segundo lugar (Firstly/Secondly) - En primer lugar, quiero agradecerles su apoyo. En segundo lugar, discutiremos el presupuesto (First of all, I want to thank you for your support. Secondly, we will discuss the budget).

Comparative connectors

These connectors in Spanish oversee establishing comparisons between ideas:

• Como (As) - Es tan brillante como su hermana (She is as bright as her sister).
• Igual que (Just like)- Baila igual que un profesional (He dances just like a professional).
• Más que/Menos que (More than/Less than) - Es más alto que su hermano, pero su carácter es menos difícil que el de su hermana (He is taller than his brother, but his character is less difficult than his sister's).
• Similar a (Similar to) - Su estilo musical es similar al mío (His musical style is similar to mine).

Connectors of purpose

Purpose connectors indicate the purpose or intention of an action. There are some, in this type of Spanish connectors, that can easily be substituted for others since they have the same meaning. For example: ‘con la intención de’, ‘con el objetivo de’, ‘con el propósito de’ o ‘a fin de’. 

• Para - Estudia para ser médico (He studies to become a doctor)
• A fin de - Hace ejercicio a fin de mejorar su salud (He exercises in order to improve his health).
• Con la intención de - Viajó con la intención de aprender inglés (He traveled with the intention of learning English).
• A fin de que - A fin de que entendieras, te lo expliqué (In order for you to understand, I explained it to you).
• Para que (So that) - Lo hice para que no te preocupes (I did it so that you wouldn't worry).

Connectors to close a speech

These Spanish connectors serve to synthesize or conclude ideas in speeches, papers or in a conversation:

• En resumen (In summary) - En resumen, fue una gran experiencia (In summary, it was a great experience).
• En conclusión (In conclusion) - En conclusión, debemos seguir trabajando en el proyecto (In conclusion, we should continue working on the project).
• En pocas palabras (In a nutshell) - En pocas palabras, nos aprobaron el proyecto (In a nutshell, we got the project approved).
• Resumiendo (In summary) - Resumiendo, toda la convención fue un éxito (In summary, the whole convention was a success).
• En definitiva (Bottom line) - En definitiva, necesitamos más recursos (Bottom line, we need more resources).

Are you learning Spanish and need to differentiate prefixes and suffixes? DonQuijote Spanish school gives you the keys you need to learn Spanish prefixes and suffixes with several examples.

Read this article in Spanish here.

What are Spanish prefixes and suffixes?

Spanish prefixes and suffixes are affix elements that lack autonomy and need a lexical base to which they contribute a new meaning. These elements give rise to new words, so the Spanish prefixes and suffixes are not words as such.

The process of word formation that suffixes and prefixes create in Spanish is called derivación (stemming). Spanish suffixes are added behind the word, while Spanish prefixes are added in front.

Neither Spanish prefixes nor suffixes can be used by themselves because their meaning depends on the word they modify. Therefore, these morphemes are autonomous and have no meaning.

In addition, suffixes and prefixes are widely used in many languages, not only in Spanish since they make it possible to create new words by adding a morpheme before or after the root.

Spanish prefixes

Spanish prefixes are added before the word they are going to modify. In addition, prefixation changes the meaning of the words, but does not modify the grammatical category. 

These are some of the most common Spanish prefixes and their meanings:

• A-: means negation or lack of something. Example: apolítico (apolitical), amorfo (amorphous).
• Anti-: indicates opposition or contradiction. Example: antinatural (unnatural), antibiótico (antibiotic).
• Auto-: refers to something of one's own, to oneself or by oneself. Example: automóvil (automobile), autodidacta (self-taught), automata (automaton).
• Bi-: means double or two. Example: bilateral, bidireccional, bisexual, bipolar.
• Co-: shows union or participation. Example: cooperar (cooperate), cofundador (co-founder).
• De-, des-, di-, dis-: means negation, excess, out of, opposition or difficulty. Example: despeinar (unkempt), discordia (discord), desordenar (disorder), discapacidad (disability), deshacer (undo).
• Extra-: means from outside or too much. Example: extraterrestre (extraterrestrial), extraofficial (unofficial).
• Geo-: pertaining or relating to the earth. Example: geografía (geography), geolocalizar (geolocate).
• Hemi-: means half. Example: hemisferio (hemisphere), hemiciclo (hemicycle).
• Hipo-: below the expected or meager. Example: hipotermia (hypothermia), hipócrita (hypocrite).
• I, in-, im-: signals negation or inversion of what the root word expresses. Example: impostor, imposible, indecisión, inmoral, ilegible (unreadable), insoportable (unbearable).

• Infra-: means below or inferior to. Example: infraestructura (infrastructure), infravalorado (undervalued), inframundo (underworld).
• Intra-: points inward or inside something. Example: Intramuros, intranet, intramuscular.
• Kilo-: means a thousand times. Example: kilogramo (kilogram), kilómetro (kilometer), kilovatio (kilowatt).
• Mega-: means very large, amplified or a million times. Examples: megáfono (megaphone), megavoltio (megavolt).
• Micro-: points to something very small or small. Example: microrrelato (microstory), microscópico (microscopic).
• Mini-: means small. Example: minifalda (miniskirt), minimalista (minimalist), minibús.
• Multi-: means many or multiple. Example: multicolor, multimillonario, multicultural.
• Post-, pos-: means behind or after. Examples: posdata (PS), posguerra (post-war), postoperatorio (post-surgery).
• Pre-: means before. Example: prehistoria (prehistory), predisponer (predispose), prejuicio (prejudice).
• Pro-: signals negation, continuity or before. Example: prólogo (prologue), proseguir (to continue), procrastinar (procrastinate).
• Re-: signals repetition or intensification. Examples: revisar (revise), renombrar (rename), rehacer (redo), recargar (reload).
• Semi-: signals half of something. Example: semicírculo (semicircle), semiabierto (semi-open), semiautomático (semiautomatic).
• Sin-: means lack or deprivation of something; similarity or union. Example: sinónimo (synonym), sinrazón (unreasonable), sinsabor (tasteless).
• Sobre-: signifies superimposition, addition, intensification, or repetition. Example: sobrepasar (surpass), sobrevalorado (overvalue), sobreentender (overunderstand).
• Super-: points to excellence or above something. Example: superdotado (gifted), supermercado (supermarket), superpoderes (superpowers).
• Ultra-: points beyond or extremely. Example: ultratumba (beyond the grave), ultrasonido (ultrasound), ultraprocesado (ultra-processed).

Spanish suffixes

Suffixes in Spanish are added after the word they are going to modify. Also, suffixation adds nuances of meaning and sometimes changes the class to which the original word belongs.

Here are some examples and their meanings of Spanish suffixes:

• -áceo: forms adjectives that indicate similarity or belonging. Example: grisácea (greyish), opiáceo (opiate), rosáceo (rose-colored).
• -al: forms nouns meaning abundance and, when forming adjectives, they indicate relationship or belonging. Example: cultural, frutal (fruity), arenal (sandy), otoñal (autumnal).
• -ante, -ente: form adjectives from verbs. Example: agobiante (overwhelming), dependiente (dependent), crujiente (crunchy).
• -azo: signals augmentative value and expresses affection or a blow given. Example: mazazo, codazo (elbow), portazo.
• -bilidad, -dad, -edad, -idad: all these Spanish suffixes form abstract nouns that derive from adjectives. Examples: estabilidad (stability), soledad (loneliness), maldad (evil), sociedad (society).
• -ción: points to the action of. Example: importación (import), certificación (certification), donación (donation).
• -dor: indicates agent, attribute, office, or instrument. Examples: aterrador (terrifying), entrenador (trainer), calculador (calculating).
• -eda: forms collective nouns and indicates abundance. Examples: arboleda (grove), viñedo (vineyard), alameda (poplar grove), rosaleda (rose garden).
• -filia, -filo: means liking, tendency or sympathy for something or someone. Example: bibliofilia (bibliophilic), cinéfilo (cinephile).
• -isimo: indicates superlative degree. Example: buenísimo, tardísimo, hermosísimo.
• -ismo: alludes to a political doctrine, religion, movement or current; although it can also mean attitude, tendency, or sports activities. Example: atletismo (athletics), socialismo (socialism), alpinismo (mountaineering), comunismo (communism).

• -itis: indicates inflammation. Examples: gastritis, otitis, faringitis (pharyngitis).
• -ito, -ita: functions as a diminutive. Example: calentito, fresquito, suavecito, amiguita, botellita.
• -logía: means treatise, study, or science. Example: simbología (symbology), geología (geology), psicología (psychology), sociología (sociology).
• -miento: form nouns from verbs and mean action and effect. Example: recibimiento (reception), conocimiento (knowledge), entretenimiento (entertainment).
• -ón: indicates augmentative, intense, or derogatory value; it also designates action or effect of something sudden. Examples: juguetón, comilón, almohadón, caserón.
• -oso, -osa: indicates abundance of what it expresses. Example: generoso (generous), perezoso (lazy), golosa (sweet-toothed), miedosa (fearful), revoltoso (unruly), estudiosa (studious).
• -torio: means place and detonates relation with what the root expresses. Example: escritorio (desk), consultorio (office), laboratorio (lab), reivindicatorio (vindicatory).
• -triz: means agent and forms words in feminine genre. Examples: emperatriz (empress), actriz (actress), matriz (womb), institutriz (governess).

It must be considered that, in Spanish, especially in the suffixes, the gender can vary, in masculine and feminine. For example, -isimo can result in guapísimo or guapísima. It is the same suffix, but with a different gender; and the same happens with -on or -dor.

There are many more prefixes and suffixes in Spanish, but the above list includes some of the most common and used ones. Did you know any of them? Which one surprised you the most?

Get into the language and keep learning to become a fluent Spanish speaker. If you still have doubts and don’t know yet how to improve your level, check donQuijote's Spanish courses in Spain, we will help you reach your goals in a short time and in an effective way.

One of the most difficult aspects for a student learning Spanish is the verb tenses. Studying the Spanish verb conjugation is a challenge because of the modes, tenses, and different conjugations they have. Unlike in English, in Spanish each verb has its own tense, mood, person, and number that must coincide when conjugating them.

If this is your case, donQuijote offers you a simple, quick, and easy guide with all the details you need to know how to differentiate the Spanish verb tenses. Learn Spanish by correctly using the verb modes, how to conjugate them and each existing tense with this article.

You can read this article in its Spanish version at this link.

Spanish verb tenses

Spanish verb tenses are very varied, they must agree in mood, tense, person, and number. Depending on the ending of the verb (-ar, -er or -ir) each one has a different conjugation.

In addition, tenses are classified in two. Simple tenses are those that express the action of the verb with a single word, for example: bailaba, comía or durmió. And compound tenses, those that express the action with the auxiliary verb “haber” followed by a participle, e.g.: ha resultado, haya escuchado or había comido. However, they are also affected by the mode, which expresses the intention of the speaker, and there are three: indicative mode, subjunctive mode, and imperative mode.

On the other hand, it is important for you to know that verb tense is the category that locates an action in time, that is, whether it occurs in the present, past, or future. In Spanish, the indicative and subjunctive moods include these three forms.

Below, you can find an explanation of each Spanish verb conjugation, what type of actions it is used and some examples.

Indicative mode

The indicative mode is the most used in Spanish and is used describe and talk about actions that are happening now, in the past or in the future. Let's look at the same three verbs (cantar, comer and salir) conjugated with the different Spanish verb tenses that exist in the indicative mode.

So, the indicative mode is divided into several verb tenses:

Presente (present): this Spanish verb tense expresses permanent, stable situations and describes actions that are repeated, so it places the action in the immediate moment.

For example, in the verb cantar (sing), comer (eat) and salir (go out) would be:

• Yo canto. Tú cantas. Él canta. Nosotros cantamos. Vosotros cantáis. Ellos cantan
• Yo como. Tú comes. Él come. Nosotros comemos. Vosotros coméis. Ellos comen
• Yo salgo. Tú sales. Él sale. Nosotros salimos. Vosotros salís. Ellos salen

Pretérito perfecto simple: expresses actions that began and ended in the past, that were punctual or interrupted other actions. Example:

• Yo canté. Tú cantaste. Él cantó. Nosotros cantamos. Vosotros cantasteis. Ellos cantaron
• Yo comí. Tú comiste. Él comió. Nosotros comimos. Vosotros comisteis. Ellos comieron
• Yo salí. Tú saliste. Él salió. Nosotros salimos. Vosotros salisteis. Ellos salieron

Pretérito imperfecto: this Spanish verb tense expresses past actions that we do not know when they began and if they ended. It also conveys the continuity of an action in the past. For example:

• Yo cantaba. Tú cantabas. Él cantaba. Nosotros cantábamos. Vosotros cantabais. Ellos cantaban
• Yo comía. Tú comías. Él comía. Nosotros comíamos. Vosotros comíais. Ellos comían
• Yo salía. Tú salías. Él salía. Nosotros salíamos. Vosotros salíais. Ellos salían

Pretérito perfecto compuesto: expresses actions in the past that are connected to the present or that are still happening. Since it is a compound tense, it needs the verb “haber” as an auxiliary verb. All compound tenses use this conjugated auxiliary verb + the participle of the main verb. For example:

• Yo he cantado. Tú has cantado. Él ha cantado. Nosotros hemos cantado. Vosotros habéis cantado. Ellos han cantado
• Yo he comido. Tú has comido. Él ha comido. Nosotros hemos comido. Vosotros habéis comido. Ellos han comido
• Yo he salido. Tú has salido. Él ha salido. Nosotros hemos cantado. Vosotros habéis cantado. Ellos han salido

Pretérito pluscuamperfecto: a verb tense that expresses a past action prior to another action that also occurred in the past. It is a compound verb that also uses the verb “haber”. For example:

• Yo había cantado. Tú habías cantado. Él había cantado. Nosotros habíamos cantado. Vosotros habíais cantado. Ellos habían cantado
• Yo había comido. Tú habías comido. Él había comido. Nosotros habíamos comido. Vosotros habíais comido. Ellos habían comido
• Yo había salido. Tú habías salido. Él había salido. Nosotros habíamos cantado. Vosotros habíais cantado. Ellos habían salido

Pretérito anterior: this is a Spanish verb tense that is rarely used, but which refers to an action that has concluded so that the following action can take place. For example:

• Yo hube cantado. Tú hubiste cantado. Él hubo cantado. Nosotros hubimos cantado. Vosotros hubisteis cantado. Ellos hubieron cantado
• Yo hube comido. Tú hubiste comido. Él hubo comido. Nosotros hubimos comido. Vosotros hubisteis comido. Ellos hubieron comido
• Yo hube salido. Tú hubiste salido. Él hubo salido. Nosotros hubimos cantado. Vosotros hubisteis cantado. Ellos hubieron salido

Futuro simple (future simple): it expresses an action that takes place later than the enunciation. For example:

• Yo cantaré. Tú cantarás. Él cantará. Nosotros cantaremos. Vosotros cantaréis. Ellos cantarán
• Yo comeré. Tú comerás. Él comerá. Nosotros comeremos. Vosotros comeréis. Ellos comerán
• Yo saldré. Tú saldrás. Él saldrá. Nosotros saldremos. Vosotros saldréis. Ellos saldrán

Future compuesto (compound future): expresses an action prior to another future action, but later with respect to the present; it can also express doubt in relation to a past action. It is a compound verb tense in Spanish. For example:

• Yo habré cantado. Tú habrás cantado. Él habrá cantado. Nosotros habremos cantado. Vosotros habréis cantado. Ellos habrán cantado
• Yo habré comido. Tú habrás comido. Él habrá comido. Nosotros habremos comido. Vosotros habréis comido. Ellos habrán comido
• Yo habré salido. Tú habrás salido. Él habrá salido. Nosotros habremos cantado. Vosotros habréis cantado. Ellos habrán salido

Condicional simple (simple conditional): expresses suppositions, hypotheses, or suggestions, it is also used to form questions, requests, or invitations. Examples:

• Yo cantaría. Tú cantarías. Él cantaría. Nosotros cantaríamos. Vosotros cantaríais. Ellos cantarían
• Yo comería. Tú comerías. Él comería. Nosotros comeríamos. Vosotros comeríais. Ellos comerían
• Yo saldría. Tú saldrías. Él saldría. Nosotros saldríamos. Vosotros saldríais. Ellos saldrían

Condicional compuesto (compound conditional): expresses past hypothetical situations that did not occur or past wishes that were impossible to fulfill. For example:

• Yo habría cantado. Tú habrías cantado. Él habría cantado. Nosotros habríamos cantado. Vosotros habríais cantado. Ellos habrían cantado
• Yo habría comido. Tú habrías comido. Él habría comido. Nosotros habríamos comido. Vosotros habríais comido. Ellos habrían comido
• Yo habría salido. Tú habrías salido. Él habría salido. Nosotros habríamos cantado. Vosotros habríais cantado. Ellos habrían salido

Subjunctive mode

The subjunctive mode is used to express possible, desired, or hypothetical actions, but which are not happening. The same as the indicative mood, it is divided into:

Presente: it expresses a present or future probability. It also expresses emotions, feelings, desires, advice, etc. Examples:

• Yo cante. Tú cantes. Él ante. Nosotros cantemos. Vosotros cantéis. Ellos canten
• Yo coma. Tú comas. Él coma. Nosotros comamos. Vosotros comáis. Ellos coman
• Yo salga. Tú salgas. Él salga. Nosotros salgamos. Vosotros salgáis. Ellos salgan

Pretérito perfecto compuesto: expresses actions that have already ended but are related to an action in the main sentence or actions that will end in the future. For example:

• Yo haya cantado. Tú hayas cantado. Él haya cantado. Nosotros hayamos cantado. Vosotros hayáis cantado. Ellos hayan cantado
• Yo haya comido. Tú hayas comido. Él haya comido. Nosotros hayamos comido. Vosotros hayáis comido. Ellos hayan comido
• Yo haya salido. Tú hayas salido. Él haya salido. Nosotros hayamos cantado. Vosotros hayáis cantado. Ellos hayan salido

Pretérito imperfecto: this Spanish verb tense expresses an action that occurred at the same time or after another. It is also used in conditional, concessive, or improbable sentences. For example:

• Yo cantara o cantase. Tú cantaras o cantases. Él cantara o cantase. Nosotros cantáramos o cantásemos. Vosotros cantarais o cantaseis. Ellos cantaran o cantasen
• Yo comiera o comiese. Tú comieras o comieses. Él comiera o comiese. Nosotros comiéramos o comiésemos. Vosotros comierais o comieseis. Ellos comieran o comiesen
• Yo saliera o saliese. Tú salieras o saliese. Él saliera o saliese. Nosotros saliéramos o saliésemos. Vosotros salierais o salieseis. Ellos salieran o saliesen

Pretérito pluscuamperfecto: this verb tense in Spanish conveys actions that could have happened or would have happened in the past. Examples:

• Yo hubiera o hubiese cantado. Tú hubieras o hubieses cantado. Él hubiera o hubiese cantado. Nosotros hubiéramos o hubiésemos cantado. Vosotros hubierais o hubieseis cantado. Ellos hubieran o hubiesen cantado
• Yo hubiera o hubiese comido. Tú hubieras o hubieses comido. Él hubiera o hubiese comido. Nosotros hubiéramos o hubiésemos comido. Vosotros hubierais o hubieseis comido. Ellos hubieran o hubiesen comido
• Yo hubiera o hubiese salido. Tú hubieras o hubieses salido. Él hubiera o hubiese salido. Nosotros hubiéramos o hubiésemos cantado. Vosotros hubierais o hubieseis cantado. Ellos hubieran o hubiesen salido

Futuro simple: in the subjunctive mood, the future simple is a verb tense used to refer to a future, hypothetical action, or situation. For example:

• Yo cantare. Tú cantares. Él cantare. Nosotros cantáremos. Vosotros cantareis. Ellos cantaren
• Yo comiere. Tú comieres. Él comiere. Nosotros comiéremos. Vosotros comiereis. Ellos comieren
• Yo saliere. Tú salieres. Él saliere. Nosotros saliéremos. Vosotros saliereis. Ellos salieren

Futuro compuesto: this verb tense in Spanish expresses a future action that would have already ended with respect to a future tense, but that would occur only if the previous situation were fulfilled. Examples:

• Yo hubiere cantado. Tú hubieres cantado. Él hubiere cantado. Nosotros hubiéremos cantado. Vosotros hubiereis cantado. Ellos hubieren cantado
• Yo hubiere comido. Tú hubieres comido. Él hubiere comido. Nosotros hubiéremos comido. Vosotros hubiereis comido. Ellos hubieren comido
• Yo hubiere salido. Tú hubieres salido. Él hubiere salido. Nosotros hubiéremos cantado. Vosotros hubiereis cantado. Ellos hubieren salido

Imperative mode

The imperative mode is used to give orders or advice, make requests, or give instructions. Unlike the indicative and subjunctive moods, this mode does not differentiate verb tenses and only presents the second person of both singular and plural, i.e. tú and vosotros, as well as usted in Spanish. Although in the imperative mood, the subject is usually omitted most of the time since this verb conjugation is used to give orders or instructions.

For example:

• Canta (tú). Cante (usted). Cantad (vosotros). Canten (ustedes)
• Come (tú). Coma (usted). Comed (vosotros). Coman (ustedes)
• Sal (tú). Salga (usted). Salid (vosotros). Salgan (ustedes)

These are all the Spanish verb tenses that exist, depending on the verb, they are conjugated in one way or another. As in English, there are regular and irregular verbs, so each verb is unique and has a different way of being conjugated. So come and study a Spanish course in Spain with donQuijote and learn from professional teachers the best tricks to understand and internalize the Spanish verb conjugation and tenses.

Are you learning Spanish and need to know how to use possessives adjectives in your conversations? You've come to the right page! In this donQuijote article you will learn what are the possessive adjectives and pronouns in Spanish, how to use them and several examples to make it easier for you to understand them.

If you prefer to read in Spanish what are the possessives adjectives in Spanish, you can do it from here.

What are possessives in Spanish?

Spanish possessives are words that indicate possession or belonging to an animal, object, or thing. They are divided into two categories: possessive adjectives, also called possessive determiners, and possessive pronouns.

These Spanish words are essential for expressing relationships between people and objects, as well as for describing possession in a conversation or in a text. Here you will find a list of possessives adjectives in Spanish and some examples of how to use them.

Possessives adjectives in Spanish

Spanish possessive determiners or adjectives accompany a noun and are used to indicate to whom something belongs. The possessives adjectives in Spanish agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they accompany.

This is the list of possessive adjectives in Spanish: mi, mis, tu, tus, su, sus, nuestro/a, nuestros/as, vuestro/a, vuestras/os. In English, these possessive adjectives correspond to: my, your, his, her, its, our, your and their.

In Spanish, each one corresponds to a personal pronoun, depending on who is speaking, for example, “mi” belongs to the person speaking, while “su” can refer to the third person singular or plural.

Here are some examples:

• Mi casa es grande (My house is big)
• Mi gato es naranja (My cat is orange)
• ¿Dónde están tus llaves? (Where are your keys?)
• Juan lava su coche (Juan washes his car)
• Es su responsabilidad, no la mía (It's his responsibility, not mine)
• Luis recoge su moto del taller (Luis picks up his bike from the garage)
• Nuestros amigos nos visitarán pronto (Our friends will visit us soon)
• ¿Dónde están sus mochilas? (Where are their backpacks?)
• Ellos han dejado sus abrigos tirados en el suelo (They have left their coats lying on the floor)
• Vuestro perro es muy juguetón (Your dog is very playful)

Possessive pronouns in Spanish

On the other hand, you can find the possessive pronouns in Spanish, which replace the noun and accompany it to indicate possession. These words also agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.

The list of possessive pronouns in Spanish is: mío/a, mías/os, tuyo/a, tuyas/os, suyo/a, suyos/as, nuestras/os, nuestro/a, vuestra/o, vuestras/os. In English correspond to: mine, ours, yours, his, her, theirs and whose.

Here are some examples:

• Ese libro es mío (That book is mine)
• Esta bufanda es tuya (This scarf is yours)
• ¿Ese coche es suyo? (That car is yours?)
• Esta es nuestra casa (This is our house)
• Estas son vuestras llaves (These are your keys)
• Es su plato de comida (This is your dinner plate)
• Las galletas que hay en la mesa no son nuestras (The cookies on the table are not ours)
• No se llevaron sus maletas, sino las nuestras (They didn't take your suitcases, they took ours)

In addition, it is important to remember that possessives vary according to the context and the relationship between people. Therefore, it is important that you practice the use of possessive adjectives and pronouns in Spanish to know how to use them in different situations and how to indicate that something is yours or someone else's. Improve your understanding and skills by practicing with exchange groups or by signing up for a Spanish course in Spain.

During your Spanish learning journey, comparatives and superlatives are crucial to express differences and similarities between elements. These linguistic constructions allow you to calibrate magnitudes and qualities, giving precision to expressions and phrases.

Therefore, in this post you will learn everything you need to know and use comparatives and superlatives in Spanish. If you prefer to read this article in Spanish, you can do it in this link.

Comparatives in Spanish

Comparatives are grammatical structures that allow you to establish relationships of greater or lesser degree between two elements. These elements can be nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. Comparisons in Spanish are made by using specific words and structures.

In Spanish, comparatives are constructed in different ways depending on the type of words being compared. There are three main types of comparatives: equality, superiority, and inferiority.

Comparatives of equality

Comparatives of equality in Spanish are used to express two elements that have the same quantity or quality. The basic structure is composed of “tan” + adjective/adverb + “como”.  Although other formulas such as “igual de” + adjective/adverb + “que” or “lo mismo que” can also be used.

Here are some examples:

• Juan es tan perspicaz como María (Juan is as sharp as María)
• El coche es tan rápido como la moto (The car is as fast as the motorcycle)
• La hormiga es tan lenta como la tortuga (The ant is as slow as the tortoise)
• La entrada de cine cuesta lo mismo que la del teatro (The movie ticket costs the same as a theater ticket)
• La tarta es igual de dulce que el flan (The cake is as sweet as the custard)

Comparatives of superiority

When you want to indicate that one element is superior in magnitude or quality to another, you can use the comparative of superiority. These are formed by using the word “más” with adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables. Some examples are:

• Este libro es más interesante que el anterior (This book is more interesting than the previous one)
• María es más alta que Juan (Maria is taller than Juan)
• El gato es más ágil que el perro (The cat is more agile than the dog)
• Mi hermana es más organizada que yo (My sister is more organized than I am)
• El clima en la costa es más agradable que en el interior del país (The weather on the coast is nicer than in the interior of the country)

Comparatives of inferiority

Finally, comparatives of inferiority indicate that one element is inferior in magnitude or quality to the other. They are constructed using the word “menos” with adjectives and adverbs of two or more syllables. Examples include:

• Este ejercicio es menos complicado que el anterior (This exercise is less complicated than the previous one)
• Juan es menos hábil que María (Juan is less skilled than Maria)
• El invierno es menos cálido que el verano (Winter is less warm than summer)
• Este coche es menos costoso que el que vimos ayer (This car is less expensive than the one we saw yesterday)
• El examen de hoy fue menos difícil que el de la semana pasada (Today's test was less difficult than last week's test)

Special forms

Some adjectives and adverbs in Spanish have different forms to express degree or difference. These are the most common ones:

• Mejor – bueno / bien
• Peor - malo / mal
• Mayor - grande / más viejo
• Menor – pequeño / más joven

Superlatives in Spanish

Superlatives offer the possibility of expressing the highest, greatest, smallest, or most notable of a category, providing precision and emphasis to conversations. They are grammatical structures used to indicate the maximum magnitude or quality of a noun, adjective or adverb.

In Spanish, there are different ways of expressing the superlative, each adapted to the characteristics of the word being modified.

Absolute superlatives

These superlatives emphasize the quality in its highest degree without making comparisons. They are formed by adding the suffixes “-ísísimo”, “-ísima”, “-ísimos” or “-ísimas” to the adjective. For example:

• Hermoso – Hermosísimo (Beautiful)
• Rápido → Rápidísimo (Fast)

Some examples in sentences are:

• El paisaje desde la montaña es bellísimo (The scenery from the mountain is beautiful)
• Este postre está riquísimo (This dessert is delicious)
• La tormenta fue intensísima anoche (The storm was very intense last night)

Relative superlatives

Relative superlatives compare an element with others of the same category, highlighting the most prominent or the least prominent. The words “más” and “menos” + “de” are used before the noun. Here are some example sentences:

• Pablo es el más talentoso de todos los músicos (Pablo is the most talented of all the musicians)
• Marta es la menos extrovertida de las amigas (Marta is the least extroverted of her friends)
• Luis es el más alto de la clase (Luis is the tallest in the class)

Superlatives of inferiority

These superlatives indicate the maximum magnitude in the negative degree, highlighting the lesser quality or quantity. The words "más" and "menos" are used together with the noun. Some examples are:

• Este libro es el más aburrido que he leído (This book is the most boring book I have ever read)
• Luis es el menos comprometido con el proyecto (Luis is the least committed to the project)
• Juan es el menos hábil en la cocina (John is the least skilled in the kitchen)
• Esta clase es la menos interesante de toda la carrera (This class is the least interesting of the whole career)

Comparatives in Spanish not only enrich your expressive ability, but also reveal the subtleties and particularities of the language. From comparisons of equality to comparisons of superiority and superlatives, each grammatical construction brings nuances that contribute to more precise and enriching communication.

Although the differences between Spanish and your native language may be different, mastering these structures in Spanish brings you closer to an advanced command of the language. Learning Spanish in Spain with don Quijote's intensive Spanish courses will allow you to discover extraordinary cities and improve your command of the language in a short period of time.

Do you want to expand your knowledge of Spanish? Dive into food vocabulary in Spanish to help you communicate with Spanish speakers. If you are taking your first steps in learning Spanish, or if you are planning a visit to a country like Spain or Mexico, in this post you will learn the key to Spanish vocabulary about food.

If you prefer to read this article in Spanish, you can click here. Let's get started!

Basic meals

The first step is to know how to distinguish the types of food in Spanish, i.e., the basic meals of a day. In addition, in Spain you will also hear about the “aperitivo” or “merienda”.

The first meal of the day: breakfast. After waking up, starting the day with energy is possible thanks to breakfast. You can say: “Me gusta empezar el día con un buen desayuno. Un café con leche y unas tostadas con jamón serrano” (“I like to start the day with a good breakfast. A coffee with milk and toast with serrano ham”).

The “aperitivo” (aperitif) is a typical meal in Mediterranean countries such as Spain or France. It is a light meal designed to whet the appetite before the main meal.

The midday lunch is the main time to savour delicious Spanish dishes. You can choose from a wide variety of food to try typical dishes from Galicia, Valencia or Madrid.

Also typical of Spanish-speaking countries, the “merienda” (snack) is a type of meal eaten mid-afternoon, before dinner. It is very common at this time to have some fruit or sweets.

Finally, dinner is the perfect occasion to enjoy lighter or more substantial dishes. It is even the ideal time to go out with friends to enjoy a delicious dinner and spend a quiet evening in good company.

Types of food

Now that you know the different times of the day to eat, it is time to start dividing foods into various types. To make it easier for you, we are going to divide them into: fruit; vegetables; meat, fish and eggs; milk and dairy products; legumes and nuts; and drinks.

This Spanish food vocabulary will be very useful in supermarkets, restaurants or conversations with friends.

Fruits

• Manzana (Apple)
• Plátano (Banana)
• Naranja (Orange)
• Pera (Pear)
• Piña (Pineapple)
• Fresa (Strawberry)
• Sandía (Watermelon)
• Uva (Grape)
• Limón (Lemon)
• Melón (Melon)
• Cereza (Cherry)
• Arándano (Blueberry)
• Coco (Coconut)
• Kiwi (Kiwi)
• Melocotón (Peach)
• Tomate (Tomato)

Vegetables:

• Lechuga (Lettuce)
• Brócoli (Broccoli)
• Zanahoria (Carrot)
• Aguacate (Avocado)
• Pepino (Cucumber)
• Cebolla (Onion)
• Pimiento (Pepper)
• Patata (Potato)
• Espinacas (Spinach)
• Ajo (Garlic)
• Apio (Celery)
• Espárrago (Asparagus)
• Guisantes (Peas)
• Maíz (Corn)
• Coliflor (Cauliflower)
• Calabacín (Courgette)
• Berenjena (Aubergine or Eggplant)
• Champiñón (Mushroom)

Meat, fish and eggs:

• Huevo (Egg)
• Pollo (Chicken)
• Jamón (Ham)
• Carne de vaca (Beef)
• Chorizo (Chorizo or Spicy pork sausage)
• Ternera (Veal)
• Cerdo (Pork)
• Cordero (Lamb)
• Pato (Duck)
• Beicon (Bacon)
• Pavo (Turkey)
• Salchichas (Sausages)
• Pescado (Fish)
• Marisco (Seafood)
• Salmón (Salmon)
• Atún (Tuna)
• Camarón (Shrimp)
• Gamba (Prawn)

Milk and dairy products:

• Leche (Milk)
• Mantequilla (Butter)
• Queso (Cheese)
• Yogur (Yoghurt)
• Nata (Cream)
• Helado (Ice cream)

Legumes and nuts:

• Arroz (Rice)
• Garbanzos (Chickpeas)
• Lentejas (Lentils)
• Judías (Beans)
• Fideos (Noodles)
• Nueces (Nuts)
• Anacardos (Cashew nuts)
• Pistachos (Pistachios)
• Almendras (Almonds)

Drinks:

• Agua (Water)
• Café (Coffee)
• Refresco (Soda)
• Vino (Wine)
• Cerveza (Beer)
• Batido (Milkshake)
• Té (Tea)
• Zumo (Juice)

Others:

• Pan (Bread)
• Pasta (Pasta)
• Avena (Oats)
• Mermelada (Jam)
• Mayonesa (Mayonnaise)
• Tortilla (Omelette)
• Azúcar (Sugar)
• Chocolate (Chocolate)
• Galletas (Cookies)
• Chuches (Candy)
• Tarta (Cake or pie)
• Palomitas (Popcorn)
• Cereales (Cereals)
• Miel (Honey)

Did you know all these foods in Spanish? Remember that the best way to learn Spanish food vocabulary is to practice. So, you can do the exercise of trying to incorporate these words into your daily life.

But if you prefer to learn Spanish in Spain surrounded by culture, history and life, you can sign up for don Quijote Spanish courses. Choose from 11 destinations throughout Spain or visit Mexico at our school in Playa del Carmen. Dive into Spanish culture and discover unique and delicious cuisine, while improving your Spanish food vocabulary.

Do you want to expand your Spanish grammar? Today you are going to learn an important aspect of Spanish grammar: demonstratives. These little words help you point out and focus on specific objects, people or places.

If you are a student looking to improve your Spanish grammar, you are in the right place! In this article you will learn the demonstratives in Spanish with practical and easy examples.

If you prefer practicing your skills, you can click here to read this article in Spanish.

What are demonstratives?

Spanish demonstratives are used to indicate the location or identity of something in relation to the person speaking (me), the person being spoken to (you), or the person or thing being talked about. Demonstratives can be adjectives or pronouns and vary in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).

Adjective demonstratives in Spanish

Adjective demonstratives are used to accompany a noun and agree with it in gender and number. The demonstratives in Spanish are: “este”, “ese”, “aquel”, and their feminine and plural variants.

• Este (masculine singular) and esta (feminine singular) (This).

They are used to refer to objects or people that are close in space or time in relation to the person speaking. For example: “Este libro es interesante” (“This book is interesting”) or “Esta película es emocionante” (“This movie is exciting”).

• Estos (masculine plural) and estas (feminine plural) (These).

Indicates close objects in the plural. Examples: “Estos coches son rápidos” (“These cars are fast”) or “Estas flores son bonitas” (“These flowers are beautiful”).

• Ese (masculine singular) and esa (feminine singular) (That).

They are used to refer to objects or people that are at a certain distance in space or time in relation to the person speaking. For example: “Ese edificio es alto” (“That building is tall”) or “Esa película fue muy divertida” (“That movie was a lot of fun”).

• Esos (masculine plural) and esas (feminine plural) (Those).

Indicates objects or people at a certain distance in the plural. Example: “Esos perros están jugetones” (“Those dogs are playful”) or “Esas montañas están nevadas” (“Those mountains are snowy”).

• Aquel (masculine singular) and aquella (feminine singular) (That).

They are used to refer to objects or persons that are far away in space or time in relation to the person speaking. For example: “Aquel castillo es viejo” (“That castle is old”) or “Aquella canción era popular en los años 80” (“That song was popular in the 80's”).

• Aquellos (masculine plural) and aquellas (feminine plural) (Those).

Neutral demonstratives and adverbs of place

In addition to these demonstratives, in Spanish you can also find the neutral demonstratives: esto, eso and aquello. These demonstratives are used to refer to something in an abstract way, without specifying gender or number. For example:

• “Eso que me contó me sorprendió” (“What he told me surprised me a lot”)
• “Esto que me cuentas es interesante” (“What you are telling me is interesting”)

On the other hand, we find demonstratives in Spanish that are associated with adverbs of place and indicate three degrees of distance: aquí, ahí and allí. Here are some examples:

• “Aquí está mi coche” (“Here is my car”). It is used to indicate that it is close to the speaker.
• “Ahí me encontré con mi amigo” (“There I met my friend”). It is used to indicate that it is a little far from the speaker.
• “Allí se produjo el accidente” (“There the incident took place”). It is used to indicate that it is far away from the speaker.

Demonstrative pronouns in Spanish

Demonstratives pronouns stand in for a noun and agree in gender and number. When the noun to which they refer has already been mentioned, it can be deleted. The demonstrative pronouns in Spanish are: éste, ése, aquél and their feminine and plural variants.

For example, in a conversation you can hear: "Me gustan estos zapatos" ("I like these shoes") and "Yo prefiero éstos otros en marron" ("I prefer those others in brown"). The demonstrative agrees in gender and number referring to the noun “zapatos”.

Practical examples with demonstratives in Spanish

Here are some more examples with demonstratives in Spanish:

Imagine you are in a clothes shop, and you want to say that you like a particular garment. You can say: “Me gusta esta camiseta” (“I like this T-shirt”) or “Me gusta esta blusa” (“I like this blouse”). The demonstrative in Spanish distinguishes between masculine, the T-shirt, and feminine, the blouse.

On the other hand, suppose you are talking about something that is far away from you, like a mountain. You would say, “Esa montaña es imponente” (“That mountain is imposing”). On the other hand, if you are pointing to something that is really far away, such as a building on the other side of town, you might say, “Aquel edificio es muy alto” (“That building is very tall”).

For the plural, the dynamic is the same. Imagine you are in a market, and you want to comment with another person on the condition of the fruit. You can use phrases like: “Esas manzanas parecen deliciosas” (“Those apples look delicious”) or “Estos platanos están maduros” (“These bananas are ripe”).

In summary, Spanish demonstratives are very flexible and can be used in many different situations. The key to mastering them is to practice and observe how they are used in real contexts. Don't be afraid to make mistakes; practice is the key to improving your Spanish skills.

Also, if you want to learn Spanish in Spain, don't hesitate to take a look at our Spanish courses in 11 different destinations. The courses start every Monday of the year and are suitable for all ages and levels.