Spanish 1 / Unit 3: Nouns, Articles and Adjectives
3.1 Noun Gender
Notes
Every Spanish noun is masculine or feminine, even objects.
- Most nouns ending in -o are masculine: el libro, el chico.
- Most nouns ending in -a are feminine: la mesa, la chica.
- Nouns ending in -ción, -sión, -dad and -tad are feminine: la lección, la ciudad.
- Common exceptions: el día, el mapa, el problema, el programa (masculine); la mano, la foto (feminine).
- Many people nouns change the ending: el profesor / la profesora. Some stay the same: el estudiante / la estudiante.
- For nouns ending in -e or other consonants, memorize the gender with the article: el lápiz, la clase.
Practice
Which noun is feminine?
Nouns ending in -ción are feminine: la canción.
Which noun is masculine even though it ends in -a?
El mapa is a common exception.
What is the feminine form of "el profesor"?
Add -a to a person noun ending in -or: la profesora.
Ready for more? Take the Unit 3 test.