Learn nouns in Spanish. In this slide, you will learn how to identify nouns in Spanish. In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine. You will understand how to distinguish between masculine and feminine nouns.

1. Nouns
In Spanish
Lesson 1
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2. In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine.
Some examples are given in the table below.
Masculine Feminine
El chico (boy) La chica (girl)
El perro (male dog) La perra (female dog)
El libro (book) La universidad (university)
El jardín (garden) La camisa (shirt)
El abuelo (grandfather) La abuela (grandmother)
El gato (male cat) La gata (female cat)
El niño (boy child) La niña (girl child)
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3. We use the definite article ‘el’ for masculine
nouns and ‘la’ for nouns that are feminine.
El gato
El perro
El libro
El chico
El niño
La gata
La perra
La pluma
La chica
La niña
Masculine Feminine
Note: ‘El’ and ‘la’ both mean ‘the’
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4. Nouns that end in –a are usually feminine
La gata
La perra
La corbata (necktie)
La camisa (shirt)
La chica (girl)
La cama (bed)
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5. Nouns that end in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad and
–tud are feminine
la televisión
la decisión
la conversación
La estación
la habitación
la nación
la oración
la ciudad
la verdad
la curiosidad
la universidad
la dificultad
la libertad
la facultad
la actitud
la gratitud
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6. Nouns that end in –ma are of Greek origin
and are considered masculine.
el telegrama
el programa
el problema
el sistema
el lema
el poema
el idioma
el clima
el tema
el drama
*Exception – la víctima (Spanish origin)
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7. Some nouns are similar for both masculine and
feminine. Only the definite article is changed to
indicate the gender.
Masculine Feminine
El artista La artista (artist)
El turista La turista (tourist)
El periodista La periodista (journalist)
El estudiante La estudiante
El pianist La pianista
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8. Nouns that end in –z are feminine
La luz (light)
La voz (voice)
La vez (time)
La vejez (old age)
La paz (peace)
Exceptions:
 El ajedrez (chess)
 El lápiz (pencil)
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9. Exceptions: Some nouns that end in –a are
masculine
el día el mapa el planeta el sofá
El agua (water)
El hacha (plough)
El águila (eagle)
In the plural form, these nouns change to feminine.
Las aguas
Las hachas
Las águilas
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10. Exceptions: Some nouns that end in –o are
feminine
La mano (hand)
La radio (radio)
La moto (motorcycle)
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