A1 Spanish grammar

Spanish Noun Gender: Masculine and Feminine Patterns

Spanish noun gender affects articles and later adjective agreement. Common endings give useful clues, but they are patterns rather than perfect rules, so important exceptions should be learned together with their articles.

Use common Spanish noun gender patterns

The endings -o and -a are helpful starting points: el libro and la casa. Many nouns ending in -ción or -dad are also feminine, as in la canción and la ciudad.

El libro está en la mesa.
The book is on the table.Libro follows a common masculine pattern, while mesa follows a common feminine pattern.

Quick check

Which article usually matches libro?

Learn frequent exceptions as complete chunks

An ending is only a clue. Common nouns such as el problema, el día, and la mano do not follow the basic -o and -a pattern, so remember each one with its article.

El problema es importante.
The problem is important.Problema ends in -a but is masculine, so it is useful to learn el problema as one chunk.

Let the article reveal the noun's gender

The article makes grammatical gender visible. When you learn la foto or el mapa instead of only foto or mapa, you keep the information needed for future agreement.

La mano está fría.
The hand is cold.Mano ends in -o but is feminine and therefore uses la.

Common mistakes

La problema

El problema

Problema is a common masculine exception even though it ends in -a.

El mano

La mano

Mano is feminine even though it ends in -o.

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Noun gender FAQ

What is Spanish noun gender?

Every Spanish noun is grammatically masculine or feminine. Its gender affects articles and words that agree with it.

Are all Spanish nouns ending in -o masculine?

No. It is a useful pattern, but exceptions such as la mano must be learned separately.

Are all nouns ending in -a feminine?

No. Many are feminine, but common masculine exceptions include el problema, el mapa, and el día.

What is the easiest way to remember noun gender?

Learn each noun with its article, such as la ciudad or el coche, rather than memorising the noun alone.

Continue learning

Spanish articlesLearn how Spanish definite and indefinite articles agree with noun gender and number, with beginner examples and practice.Plural nounsLearn how to form Spanish plural nouns with -s and -es, change words ending in z, and match plural articles correctly.Adjective gender agreementLearn Spanish adjective gender agreement with masculine and feminine forms, adjectives ending in -e, and useful consonant-ending patterns.Essential Spanish nounsSee common beginner nouns in useful vocabulary groups.Practise nouns with articlesUse spaced vocabulary practice to remember each noun and its gender.