Spanish Noun Gender & Plural Rules

Masculine singular articles

El (the), un (a/an)

Masculine plural articles

Los (the), unos (some)

Feminine singular articles

La (the), una (a/an)

Feminine plural articles

Las (the), unas (some)

Common endings for masculine nouns referring to people

-o, -or

Examples of masculine nouns referring to people

Chico, pasajero, conductor, profesor

Common endings for feminine nouns referring to people

-a, -ora

Examples of feminine nouns referring to people

Chica, pasajera, conductora, profesora

Common endings for masculine non-living nouns

-o, -ma, -s

Examples of masculine non-living nouns ending in -o

Cuaderno, diario, diccionario, número, video

Examples of masculine nouns ending in -ma

Problema, programa

Examples of masculine nouns ending in -s

Autobús, país

Common endings for feminine non-living nouns

-a, -ción, -dad

Examples of feminine nouns ending in -a

Computadora, cosa, escuela, maleta, palabra

Examples of feminine nouns ending in -ción

Lección, conversación

Examples of feminine nouns ending in -dad

Nacionalidad, comunidad

Making nouns ending in a vowel plural

Add -s

Vowel-ending plural example

El chico → los chicos

Another vowel-ending plural example

El diario → los diarios

Making nouns ending in a consonant plural

Add -es

Consonant-ending plural example

La nacionalidad → las nacionalidades

Making nouns ending in -z plural

Change -z to -ces

Noun ending in -z plural example

La luz → las luces

Accent marks in plural nouns

The written accent may be added or removed depending on Spanish stress rules

Accent disappearing in plural example

La lección → las lecciones

Important noun gender rule

Endings are helpful clues, but there are exceptions

Masculine exception ending in -a

El día

Feminine exception ending in -o

La mano

Definite article

a SPECIFIC noun

Indefinite article

a GENERAL or NON-SPECIFIC noun