Noun, articles and gender in Spanish: 100 Example Sentences | My Language Classes

Noun, articles and gender and their correlation in Spanish language

📘 Review the grammar lessons for Noun, Gender, Definite and Indefinite articles and Plural forms of Nouns in Spanish

In the Spanish language, nouns (sustantivos) are words that name people, animals, places, things, or abstract ideas—just like in English. However, one of the key things that makes Spanish grammar unique is that every noun has a gender—it’s either masculine or feminine. This concept of grammatical gender might feel strange to English speakers, but it’s a core part of how the language works.

Along with gender, nouns also require articles. These articles—definite (“the”) and indefinite (“a,” “an,” or “some”)—must agree with the gender and number (singular or plural) of the noun. So when you’re learning Spanish, you’re not just learning vocabulary—you’re learning how to match nouns with the correct articles based on both gender and number.

Let’s break down each component clearly to understand: What Are Nouns, Articles, and Gender in Spanish?

📌 What Is a Noun in Spanish?

A noun in Spanish names something or someone.
Examples:

• niño – boy
• mujer – woman
• ciudad – city
• amor – love

There are two key types of nouns:

• Concrete nouns (can be seen or touched): libro (book), gato (cat), coche (car)
• Abstract nouns (ideas or feelings): felicidad (happiness), libertad (freedom), tiempo (time)

📌 What Is Gender in Spanish?

Every Spanish noun is either masculine or feminine—and this is called grammatical gender, not biological gender.
You’ll notice that:

• Most masculine nouns end in -o (e.g., niño, libro)
• Most feminine nouns end in -a (e.g., niña, casa)

But there are many exceptions!

Other endings to watch for:

• Masculine: -ma, -r, -l, -s, -aje (e.g., problema, papel, país)
• Feminine: -ción, -sión, -dad, -tad, -umbre (e.g., canción, universidad, costumbre)

💡 Tip: When learning a new noun, always learn it with its article so you remember the gender:
✅ el gato (the cat), ✅ la casa (the house)

📌 What Are Articles in Spanish?

Articles are words used before nouns to indicate whether you’re referring to something specific or non-specific.

✔️ Definite Articles (The)

Used when talking about a specific person or thing:

• el (masculine singular) → el perro (the dog)
• la (feminine singular) → la flor (the flower)
• los (masculine plural) → los niños (the boys)
• las (feminine plural) → las mesas (the tables)

✔️ Indefinite Articles (A, An, Some)

Used when referring to something general or non-specific:

• un (masculine singular) → un libro (a book)
• una (feminine singular) → una silla (a chair)
• unos (masculine plural) → unos zapatos (some shoes)
• unas (feminine plural) → unas casas (some houses)

🧩 How Do Nouns, Articles, and Gender Work Together?

You can’t just plug any article in front of any noun. In Spanish, the article must agree with the gender and number of the noun.

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

• ❌ Saying la libro instead of ✅ el libro
• ❌ Mixing up un and una
• ❌ Using plural articles with singular nouns (e.g., los coche)

Always double-check:

1. Is the noun masculine or feminine?
2. Is it singular or plural?
3. Match the article accordingly.

💯 100 Spanish Example Sentences with Nouns, Articles, and Gender (with English Translations)

Below are 100 real-life example sentences that show how nouns, articles, and gender work together in Spanish. Each sentence includes a variety of vocabulary—singular/plural, masculine/feminine, definite/indefinite articles—to help you understand how these rules apply in different contexts.

✅ Masculine Nouns with Definite Articles (el / los)

1. El libro está sobre la mesa. (The book is on the table.)
2. El coche es nuevo. (The car is new.)
3. El perro corre en el parque. (The dog runs in the park.)
4. El chico juega al fútbol. (The boy plays soccer.)
5. El sol brilla hoy. (The sun is shining today.)
6. El reloj está roto. (The watch is broken.)
7. El maestro enseña matemáticas. (The teacher teaches math.)
8. El hotel está cerrado. (The hotel is closed.)
9. El pan está caliente. (The bread is hot.)
10. El teléfono suena mucho. (The phone rings a lot.)
11. Los niños están en la escuela. (The boys are at school.)
12. Los libros son interesantes. (The books are interesting.)
13. Los zapatos están limpios. (The shoes are clean.)
14. Los amigos vienen hoy. (The friends are coming today.)
15. Los platos están en la cocina. (The plates are in the kitchen.)

✅ Feminine Nouns with Definite Articles (la / las)

16. La casa es grande. (The house is big.)
17. La flor es bonita. (The flower is beautiful.)
18. La niña canta bien. (The girl sings well.)
19. La silla es cómoda. (The chair is comfortable.)
20. La puerta está abierta. (The door is open.)
21. La madre cocina arroz. (The mother cooks rice.)
22. La camisa es roja. (The shirt is red.)
23. La luna se ve clara. (The moon looks clear.)
24. La fruta es dulce. (The fruit is sweet.)
25. La mesa es de madera. (The table is made of wood.)
26. Las chicas están en el parque. (The girls are in the park.)
27. Las flores huelen bien. (The flowers smell good.)
28. Las ventanas están sucias. (The windows are dirty.)
29. Las manzanas son rojas. (The apples are red.)
30. Las manos están limpias. (The hands are clean.)

✅ Masculine Nouns with Indefinite Articles (un / unos)

31. Un gato duerme en el sofá. (A cat is sleeping on the sofa.)
32. Un árbol crece en el jardín. (A tree grows in the garden.)
33. Un niño juega con el balón. (A boy plays with the ball.)
34. Un vaso está lleno de agua. (A glass is full of water.)
35. Un amigo me llamó ayer. (A friend called me yesterday.)
36. Unos libros están en la mochila. (Some books are in the backpack.)
37. Unos perros corren rápido. (Some dogs run fast.)
38. Unos chicos están bailando. (Some boys are dancing.)
39. Unos zapatos están en oferta. (Some shoes are on sale.)
40. Unos coches pasaron rápido. (Some cars passed quickly.)

✅ Feminine Nouns with Indefinite Articles (una / unas)

41. Una mujer habla por teléfono. (A woman is talking on the phone.)
42. Una flor está en el jarrón. (A flower is in the vase.)
43. Una casa tiene jardín. (A house has a garden.)
44. Una niña dibuja bien. (A girl draws well.)
45. Una ventana está rota. (A window is broken.)
46. Unas sillas están en el salón. (Some chairs are in the living room.)
47. Unas chicas cantan juntas. (Some girls sing together.)
48. Unas frutas están maduras. (Some fruits are ripe.)
49. Unas casas son muy antiguas. (Some houses are very old.)
50. Unas llaves están en la mesa. (Some keys are on the table.)

✅ Abstract and Irregular Nouns

51. El problema es difícil. (The problem is hard.)
52. La libertad es importante. (Freedom is important.)
53. El clima está cambiando. (The climate is changing.)
54. La información es útil. (The information is useful.)
55. El tema es interesante. (The topic is interesting.)
56. Una emoción fuerte. (A strong emotion.)
57. Un error común. (A common mistake.)
58. Una opinión clara. (A clear opinion.)
59. Un sistema eficaz. (An effective system.)
60. Una actitud positiva. (A positive attitude.)

✅ Plural and Mixed Gender Uses

61. Los estudiantes estudian mucho. (The students study a lot.)
62. Las maestras son amables. (The female teachers are kind.)
63. Unos estudiantes faltaron ayer. (Some students missed class yesterday.)
64. Unas profesoras están en la reunión. (Some female teachers are in the meeting.)
65. Las calles están limpias. (The streets are clean.)

✅ Everyday Nouns with Varying Genders

66. El día está nublado. (The day is cloudy.)
67. La tarde es tranquila. (The afternoon is quiet.)
68. La noche es oscura. (The night is dark.)
69. El mapa está aquí. (The map is here.)
70. La radio está encendida. (The radio is on.)

✅ Jobs and Professions (Gender Change by Ending)

71. El doctor trabaja en el hospital. (The male doctor works in the hospital.)
72. La doctora llega tarde. (The female doctor is late.)
73. El profesor enseña inglés. (The male teacher teaches English.)
74. La profesora es simpática. (The female teacher is nice.)
75. El actor ganó un premio. (The actor won an award.)
76. La actriz está famosa. (The actress is famous.)

✅ Things in the Home

77. La cocina está limpia. (The kitchen is clean.)
78. El baño está ocupado. (The bathroom is occupied.)
79. La cama es cómoda. (The bed is comfortable.)
80. El sofá es nuevo. (The sofa is new.)
81. La televisión es grande. (The television is big.)

✅ Food and Drinks

82. El arroz está caliente. (The rice is hot.)
83. La sopa está deliciosa. (The soup is delicious.)
84. Un pan está en la mesa. (A bread is on the table.)
85. Una manzana es roja. (An apple is red.)
86. Los huevos están cocidos. (The eggs are boiled.)

✅ School and Office Items

87. El cuaderno está abierto. (The notebook is open.)
88. La regla está rota. (The ruler is broken.)
89. Un lápiz está en el suelo. (A pencil is on the floor.)
90. Una pluma está sobre la mesa. (A pen is on the table.)
91. Las tijeras están afiladas. (The scissors are sharp.)

✅ Nature and Weather

92. El mar está tranquilo. (The sea is calm.)
93. La montaña es alta. (The mountain is high.)
94. Un árbol da sombra. (A tree gives shade.)
95. Una nube cubre el sol. (A cloud covers the sun.)
96. El viento sopla fuerte. (The wind blows strong.)

✅ Bonus Mixed Sentences

97. El agua está fría. (The water is cold.)
98. La gente es amable. (The people are kind.)
99. Un águila vuela alto. (An eagle flies high.)
100. Una señal indica peligro. (A sign indicates danger.)

📚 Vocabulary List from the 100 Example Sentences

Below is a categorized vocabulary list taken directly from the example sentences above. This will help you review nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in context. The list is sorted into sub-sections so you can focus on one category at a time.

Each word is presented with its Spanish form, English translation, and gender (for nouns) to reinforce your understanding of gender and article usage in Spanish.

🟡 Nouns (Sustantivos)

🔵 Adjectives (Adjetivos)

🟢 Verbs (Verbos)

🟣 Adverbs (Adverbios)

✍️ Nouns, Articles, and Gender in Spanish: Fill-in-the-Blank Exercise

Let’s test your understanding with these 20 fill-in-the-blank questions. Each sentence is missing a definite or indefinite article, or the correct form of a noun based on gender and number.

👉 Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. Make sure the article agrees with the noun in both gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural).

📝 Fill in the blanks:

1. ___ casa es muy bonita. (The house is very pretty.)
2. Quiero leer ___ libro nuevo. (I want to read a new book.)
3. ___ niñas están en el parque. (The girls are in the park.)
4. Hay ___ gato en el sofá. (There is a cat on the sofa.)
5. Compré ___ manzanas para el desayuno. (I bought some apples for breakfast.)
6. ___ maestro llega temprano todos los días. (The teacher arrives early every day.)
7. ¿Tienes ___ lápiz? (Do you have a pencil?)
8. ___ ventana está rota. (The window is broken.)
9. Me gustan ___ zapatos rojos. (I like red shoes.)
10. Ella es ___ doctora muy amable. (She is a very kind doctor.)
11. ___ televisión está encendida. (The TV is on.)
12. Escuchamos ___ canción en la radio. (We heard a song on the radio.)
13. ___ estudiantes no vinieron ayer. (The students didn’t come yesterday.)
14. Busco ___ pluma para escribir. (I’m looking for a pen to write.)
15. ___ profesor de historia es excelente. (The history teacher is excellent.)
16. Necesitamos ___ sillas para la reunión. (We need some chairs for the meeting.)
17. ___ árbol da mucha sombra. (The tree gives a lot of shade.)
18. ___ flores huelen muy bien. (The flowers smell very good.)
19. Ella tiene ___ actitud positiva. (She has a positive attitude.)
20. ___ reloj está sobre la mesa. (The watch is on the table.)

✅ Check Your Answers for the Nouns, Articles, and Gender Exercise

Let’s review your answers! Below are the correctly completed sentences from the fill-in-the-blank exercise. The answer is bolded in each sentence so you can compare it with what you wrote.

🗂 Answer Key:

1. La casa es muy bonita. (The house is very pretty.)
2. Quiero leer un libro nuevo. (I want to read a new book.)
3. Las niñas están en el parque. (The girls are in the park.)
4. Hay un gato en el sofá. (There is a cat on the sofa.)
5. Compré unas manzanas para el desayuno. (I bought some apples for breakfast.)
6. El maestro llega temprano todos los días. (The teacher arrives early every day.)
7. ¿Tienes un lápiz? (Do you have a pencil?)
8. La ventana está rota. (The window is broken.)
9. Me gustan los zapatos rojos. (I like red shoes.)
10. Ella es una doctora muy amable. (She is a very kind doctor.)
11. La televisión está encendida. (The TV is on.)
12. Escuchamos una canción en la radio. (We heard a song on the radio.)
13. Los estudiantes no vinieron ayer. (The students didn’t come yesterday.)
14. Busco una pluma para escribir. (I’m looking for a pen to write.)
15. El profesor de historia es excelente. (The history teacher is excellent.)
16. Necesitamos unas sillas para la reunión. (We need some chairs for the meeting.)
17. El árbol da mucha sombra. (The tree gives a lot of shade.)
18. Las flores huelen muy bien. (The flowers smell very good.)
19. Ella tiene una actitud positiva. (She has a positive attitude.)
20. El reloj está sobre la mesa. (The watch is on the table.)

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Nouns, Articles, and Gender in Spanish

1. Why does Spanish have gendered nouns?

In Spanish, like many Romance languages, every noun has a grammatical gender: either masculine or feminine. This doesn’t always relate to biological sex. It’s just part of how the language developed from Latin.
For example:

• El libro (the book) – masculine
• La mesa (the table) – feminine

You must learn the gender with each noun because articles, adjectives, and other words must agree with the noun’s gender.

2. How can I tell if a noun is masculine or feminine in Spanish?

There are general patterns that help:

✅ Masculine Nouns often end in:

• -o → el gato (the cat)
• -r, -l, -s, -ma, -aje → el profesor, el papel, el país, el problema, el viaje

✅ Feminine Nouns often end in:

• -a → la casa (the house)
• -ción, -sión, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre → la canción, la universidad, la costumbre

⚠️ Exceptions exist, so it’s best to memorize each noun with its article.

3. What are definite and indefinite articles in Spanish?

Articles are small words used before nouns.

• Definite articles (specific): el, la, los, las → “the”
• Indefinite articles (non-specific): un, una, unos, unas → “a”, “an”, “some”

Examples:

• El perro (The dog)
• Una flor (A flower)
• Los libros (The books)
• Unos amigos (Some friends)

4. Do articles change with the number (singular/plural)?

Yes! Articles must match both gender and number.

Examples:

• El gato (The cat) → Los gatos (The cats)
• Una mesa (A table) → Unas mesas (Some tables)

5. Can the same noun have both masculine and feminine forms?

Yes, especially with people or animals, nouns change endings to match gender.

Examples:

• El doctor / La doctora (The male doctor / The female doctor)
• El amigo / La amiga (The male friend / The female friend)

Some nouns stay the same but rely on the article:

• El estudiante / La estudiante (The student – male / female)

6. Are there any gender-neutral nouns in Spanish?

Not really. Spanish grammar is gendered by design. However, modern Spanish includes some inclusive forms like:

• [email-like ending] -e → elle, amigue (non-binary usage)
  But these forms are not officially recognized by the Real Academia Española (RAE) and are still debated.

7. Why is “el agua” used even though “agua” is feminine?

Great question!
“Agua” is feminine, but it starts with a stressed “a” sound. To make pronunciation smoother, the masculine article “el” is used in singular, but all related words remain feminine.

• El agua está fría. (The water is cold.)
• Esta agua es pura. (This water is pure.)

8. What’s the gender of compound nouns like “el lavaplatos” or “el sacapuntas”?

Most compound nouns (two words joined to make one noun) are masculine, regardless of what they end with.

Examples:

• El lavaplatos (the dishwasher)
• El sacapuntas (the pencil sharpener)
• El paraguas (the umbrella)

9. Do adjectives change with gender and number too?

Yes. Adjectives must agree with the noun they describe.

Examples:

• Un coche rojo / Una casa roja (A red car / A red house)
• Los libros interesantes / Las historias interesantes (Interesting books / stories)

10. Is there a shortcut to remembering gender?

Yes! Here are some tips:

• Memorize new words with their article: el gato, la silla
• Use flashcards with colors (blue for masculine, pink for feminine)
• Practice in phrases, not isolated words

11. Are all nouns ending in -o masculine and -a feminine?

Usually yes, but not always. Here are some exceptions:

Masculine but ends in -a:

• el día (the day)
• el mapa (the map)
• el planeta (the planet)

Feminine but ends in -o:

• la mano (the hand)
• la radio (the radio)

Always check a dictionary or trusted source when in doubt.

12. What’s the gender of animals in Spanish?

Animal nouns often have two forms:

• El gato / La gata (male/female cat)
• El perro / La perra (male/female dog)

Some use only one form:

• La serpiente (the snake — feminine for all)
• El pez (the fish — masculine for all)

13. Why do some nouns use “el” in singular and “las” in plural?

This usually applies to feminine nouns starting with a stressed “a” sound. In singular, they use “el” for phonetic reasons, but plural returns to normal.

Example:

• El águila está volando. (The eagle is flying.)
• Las águilas son fuertes. (The eagles are strong.)

14. Are there plural forms of indefinite articles in Spanish?

Yes! Unlike English, Spanish has plural forms:

• unos (some — masculine)
• unas (some — feminine)

Examples:

• Unos niños están jugando. (Some boys are playing.)
• Unas chicas cantan. (Some girls are singing.)

15. Can a noun’s gender change its meaning?

Yes! Some words have different meanings based on gender.

Examples:

• El capital = money
• La capital = capital city
• El cura = priest
• La cura = cure
• El orden = order/arrangement
• La orden = command/order

16. Do abstract nouns follow gender rules?

Yes. Abstract nouns usually have fixed gender based on their suffix:

• -dad, -tad, -ción, -sión = Feminine
  la felicidad (happiness), la información (information)
• -ma (of Greek origin) = Often masculine
  el problema (problem), el tema (topic)

17. Are all country names masculine in Spanish?

No. Most country names are masculine, but not all.

Examples:

• El Perú, El Brasil, El Ecuador
• La India (India is feminine)
• No article: España, Francia, México (used without “el/la” in common speech)

18. Can I use “el” or “la” before proper names?

Generally, no article is needed with names. But in some regions or styles, people may say:

• La María, El Juan (informal, colloquial)

This usage is more common in Spain and parts of Latin America to express familiarity.

19. Is there a trick for pluralizing nouns with articles?

Yes! Remember these basic rules:

• For vowels: add -s → libro → libros
• For consonants: add -es → flor → flores
• Change article accordingly: el → los, la → las

Examples:

• El niño → Los niños
• La flor → Las flores

20. Why is it important to master gender and articles early?

Because Spanish sentence structure depends heavily on agreement. If your articles and adjectives don’t match the noun in gender/number, your sentence will sound incorrect or confusing.

Mastering this early helps you:

• Speak naturally
• Write correctly
• Understand spoken Spanish better
• Build more complex sentences later

✅ Conclusion: Master Spanish Nouns, Articles, and Gender—One Step at a Time

Learning Spanish isn’t just about memorizing vocabulary—it’s about understanding how words connect and flow. And at the core of this connection lie nouns, articles, and gender.

When you understand that:

• Every noun has a gender (masculine or feminine),
• Articles must match both gender and number,
• And that these small details change the entire structure of your sentence…

You unlock the real power of Spanish grammar.

Whether you’re saying el libro, una casa, los amigos, or unas flores, your confidence grows when you get these small—but important—details right.

🚀 Keep Going—You’ve Got This!

Here’s what you can do next:

• 📘 Review the grammar lessons for Noun, Gender, Definite and Indefinite articles and Plural forms of Nouns in Spanish to strengthen your natural sense of grammar.
• ✍️ Practice using nouns with correct articles when speaking or writing.
• 💡 Explore more advanced topics, like adjective agreement, gender exceptions, and verb-noun harmony.

Spanish becomes easier the more you expose yourself to it. So surround yourself with it—read, listen, speak, and write.

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vikas kumar

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Vikas Kumar is a dedicated language educator, content creator, and digital entrepreneur, best known as the co-founder of My Language Classes and The Curious Mind. With a strong focus on helping learners achieve fluency in English, Spanish, and Japanese, he has guided audiences worldwide through a diverse range of resources, including in-depth blog articles, engaging YouTube tutorials, and comprehensive Books.

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As the founder of The Curious Mind, he also explores broader areas of knowledge, including self-help, motivation, modern learning strategies, and thought-provoking insights on life and personal growth. His work blends practical teaching methods with a deep understanding of learner psychology, making complex concepts accessible and engaging.

Driven by a mission to make high-quality education accessible to all, Vikas continues to expand his reach across multiple platforms, including YouTube, blogs, eBooks, and social media communities, inspiring thousands to learn, grow, and embrace lifelong learning.

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