In Spanish, every noun has a gender—either masculine or feminine. Understanding noun gender in Spanish is essential for proper sentence structure, as adjectives and articles must agree with the noun’s gender. This guide covers the basic rules, common patterns, exceptions, and plenty of examples with English translations to help you master Spanish noun genders.
What Is a Noun?
A noun is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. In Spanish, nouns are always classified as masculine (masculino) or feminine (femenino), which affects the articles and adjectives used with them.
Examples of Nouns in Spanish:
- Libro (Book) – Masculine (El)
- Casa (House) – Feminine (La)
- Perro (Dog) – Masculine (El)
- Gata (Cat – female) – Feminine (La)
General Rules for Gender of Nouns in Spanish
1. Masculine Nouns
Most masculine nouns end in:
- -o → El libro (The book)
- -or → El profesor (The professor)
- -aje → El viaje (The trip)
- -ambre → El hambre (The hunger – exception, feminine meaning but masculine form)
Examples:
- El niño (The boy)
- El teléfono (The phone)
- El amor (The love)
2. Feminine Nouns
Most feminine nouns end in:
- -a → La mesa (The table)
- -ción / -sión → La canción (The song), La televisión (The television)
- -dad / -tad → La ciudad (The city), La libertad (The freedom)
- -umbre → La costumbre (The habit)
Examples:
- La chica (The girl)
- La flor (The flower)
- La lección (The lesson)
3. Common Exceptions to Gender Rules
Some nouns break the usual patterns:
- El día (The day) – Ends in -a but masculine
- La mano (The hand) – Ends in -o but feminine
- El problema (The problem) – Ends in -a but masculine
- El agua (The water) – Feminine but uses “el” for pronunciation (but still takes feminine adjectives: agua fría)
Nouns That Change Meaning Based on Gender
Some nouns change meaning depending on gender:
- El capital (Money) vs. La capital (Capital city)
- El cura (The priest) vs. La cura (The cure)
- El frente (The front) vs. La frente (The forehead)
Gender and Number Agreement in Spanish
Nouns must also agree in number (singular/plural) with articles and adjectives. For a deeper dive into this topic, check out our guide on Gender and Number Agreement in Spanish.
Test Your Knowledge!
Think you’ve mastered noun genders? Take our Gender of Nouns Quiz to practice and reinforce your learning!
Tips for Learning Noun Genders
- Memorize nouns with their articles (el/la).
- Learn common word endings (-o = masculine, -a = feminine).
- Watch out for exceptions (like “el mapa,” “la radio”).
- Practice with flashcards to reinforce gender rules.
Conclusion
Mastering the gender of nouns in Spanish is crucial for fluency. While most nouns follow predictable patterns, some exceptions require memorization. Keep practicing with real-life examples, and soon, determining noun gender will become second nature!
Example Sentences Showing Noun Gender in Spanish
Masculine Nouns (with “el”) in Spanish
- El libro es interesante.
(The book is interesting.) - El perro negro corre en el parque.
(The black dog runs in the park.) - El profesor explica la lección.
(The professor explains the lesson.) - El teléfono nuevo es caro.
(The new phone is expensive.) - El niño pequeño juega con su amigo.
(The little boy plays with his friend.)
Feminine Nouns (with “la”) in Spanish
- La casa blanca es grande.
(The white house is big.) - La mesa está sucia.
(The table is dirty.) - La canción es hermosa.
(The song is beautiful.) - La ciudad tiene muchos museos.
(The city has many museums.) - La chica alta estudia español.
(The tall girl studies Spanish.)
Exceptions (Nouns That Defy Gender Rules) in Spanish
- El día está soleado. (The day is sunny.)
(Ends in -a but masculine) - La mano derecha duele. (The right hand hurts.)
(Ends in -o but feminine) - El problema es complicado. (The problem is complicated.)
(Ends in -a but masculine) - El agua fría está en la nevera. (The cold water is in the fridge.)
(Feminine noun but uses “el” for pronunciation)
Nouns That Change Meaning Based on Gender in Spanish
- El capital crece cada año. (The capital [money] grows every year.)
vs.
La capital de España es Madrid. (The capital [city] of Spain is Madrid.) - El cura habla en la iglesia. (The priest speaks in the church.)
vs.
La cura para la enfermedad es nueva. (The cure for the illness is new.)
Sentences Showing Plural Agreement in Spanish
- Los libros son interesantes. (The books are interesting.)
(Masculine plural: “los” + noun/adjective ending in -s) - Las casas blancas son bonitas. (The white houses are pretty.)
(Feminine plural: “las” + noun/adjective ending in -as) - Los problemas son graves. (The problems are serious.)
(Masculine plural exception: “problema” → “problemas”)
Key Takeaways
- Articles must match the noun’s gender and number (el/la, los/las).
- Adjectives must agree in gender and number (e.g., alto → alta, altos → altas).
- Practice with real sentences to internalize patterns and exceptions.
Gender of Nouns in Spanish Quizzes
Think you’ve mastered noun genders? Take our Gender of Nouns Quizzes to practice and reinforce your learning!
Spanish Noun Gender Quiz for English Speakers
1. What gender is “teléfono” (phone)?
2. Is “ciudad” (city) masculine or feminine?
3. The word “programa” (program) is:
4. How would you classify “motor” (engine)?
5. What about “flor” (flower)?
6. Is “sistema” (system) masculine or feminine?
7. The word “lección” (lesson) is:
8. How would you classify “lápiz” (pencil)?
9. What gender is “nube” (cloud)?
10. The word “puente” (bridge) is:
Quiz: Género de los Sustantivos en Español
1. ¿Cuál es el género de la palabra “libro”?
2. ¿Cómo es el género de “casa”?
3. El género de “problema” es:
4. ¿Qué género tiene “mapa”?
5. El género de “canción” es:
6. ¿Qué género tiene “día”?
7. ¿Cómo es el género de “mano”?
8. El género de “radio” es:
9. ¿Qué género tiene “tema”?
10. El género de “foto” es:
11. ¿Qué género tiene “agua”?
12. El género de “pan” es:
13. ¿Cómo es el género de “arte”?
14. ¿Qué género tiene “mar”?
15. El género de “modelo” es:
