Nouns (Leaving Cert Spanish): Revision Notes
Spanish nouns
Spanish nouns are words that name people, places, or things. Understanding how they work is essential for building accurate sentences in Spanish.
Gender in Spanish nouns
Every Spanish noun has a gender - it's either masculine (masculino) or feminine (femenino). This isn't something to worry about memorising rules for, but rather something to learn naturally as you encounter new vocabulary.
The gender of Spanish nouns affects which articles and adjectives you use with each noun. This agreement system is fundamental to Spanish grammar, so learning nouns with their correct articles from the beginning will save you time and help you sound more natural.
Basic gender patterns
Most Spanish nouns follow these helpful patterns:
Masculine nouns typically end in -o Feminine nouns typically end in -a
When nouns refer to people, the gender usually matches the person's biological gender.
Basic Gender Pattern Examples:
- el chico = the boy
- la chica = the girl
- el hijo = the son
- la hija = the daughter
Notice how the article changes (el for masculine, la for feminine) and how the noun endings follow the -o/-a pattern.
Key vocabulary - Gender and articles
| Spanish | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| el chico | the boy | masculine |
| la chica | the girl | feminine |
| el hijo | the son | masculine |
| la hija | the daughter | feminine |
| el coche | the car | masculine |
| el sol | the sun | masculine |
| la canción | the song | feminine |
Example sentences:
- El chico estudia español. = The boy studies Spanish.
- La chica tiene un hermano. = The girl has a brother.
- El coche es nuevo. = The car is new.
- La canción es bonita. = The song is beautiful.
Notice how the definite article (el/la) changes depending on the gender of the noun. This agreement is crucial in Spanish and forms the foundation for more complex grammar patterns you'll learn later.
Important exceptions to gender rules
While the -o/-a patterns are helpful guidelines, Spanish has many exceptions that don't follow these typical patterns.
Critical Exceptions to Learn:
Some common words don't follow the typical -o/-a pattern. These exceptions need to be learned individually as there's no reliable rule to predict them.
Words ending in -a but masculine:
- el problema = the problem
- el clima = the climate
- el programa = the programme
- el planeta = the planet
- el sofá = the sofa
Words ending in -o but feminine:
- la mano = the hand
- la foto = the photo
- la radio = the radio
- la moto = the motorbike
Feminine noun endings
Certain endings are almost always feminine, regardless of the final vowel. Learning these patterns will help you predict gender more accurately.
The most reliable feminine endings are: -ción, -sión, -ía, -dad, -tad, -ez, -eza
Feminine Ending Examples:
- la educación = the education
- la pasión = the passion
- la compañía = the company
- la verdad = the truth
- la libertad = freedom
- la niñez = the childhood
- la pobreza = the poverty
These endings are so reliable that you can confidently use la with any noun ending in these patterns.
Forming plurals
Most Spanish nouns form their plural by adding -s, similar to English. However, there are specific rules depending on how the singular noun ends.
Plural formation rules
The key is to look at how the singular noun ends and then apply the appropriate rule:
1. Nouns ending in a vowel: Add -s
- un gato → dos gatos (cats)
- una chica → dos chicas (girls)
- un adolescente → dos adolescentes (teenagers)
2. Nouns ending in a consonant (except -s): Add -es
- una flor → dos flores (flowers)
- un árbol → dos árboles (trees)
3. Nouns ending in -z: Change -z to -c and add -es
- un lápiz → dos lápices (pencils)
- un pez → dos peces (fish)
4. Nouns ending in stressed vowel + s/n: Remove accent and add -es
- un autobús → dos autobuses (buses)
- un inglés → dos ingleses (English people)
- un camión → dos camiones (lorries)
5. Nouns ending in unstressed vowel + s: No change to the noun, only the article changes
- el lunes → los lunes (Mondays)
- el virus → los virus (viruses)
Key vocabulary - Plurals
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| el gato | los gatos | the cats |
| la flor | las flores | the flowers |
| el lápiz | los lápices | the pencils |
| el autobús | los autobuses | the buses |
| el lunes | los lunes | the Mondays |
Plural Agreement in Sentences:
- Los gatos duermen mucho. = Cats sleep a lot.
- Las flores están bonitas. = The flowers are beautiful.
- Necesito dos lápices. = I need two pencils.
- Los lunes no me gustan. = I don't like Mondays.
Notice how the articles (los/las) and any adjectives must also agree in number (singular/plural) with the noun.
Translation exercises
Spanish to English:
- El problema es difícil.
- Las canciones son populares.
English to Spanish: 3. The hands are clean. 4. The programmes are interesting.
Phrase bank for exams
- ¿Es masculino o femenino? = Is it masculine or feminine?
- En plural se dice... = In plural you say...
- La palabra termina en... = The word ends in...
- Es una excepción = It's an exception
Common errors and fixes
Avoid These Common Mistakes:
-
Error: Using wrong article with exceptions (la problema) Fix: Learn exceptions with their correct articles (el problema) Reason: These words don't follow typical gender patterns
-
Error: Forgetting to change -z to -c in plurals (lápizs)
Fix: Always change -z to -c before adding -es (lápices) Reason: Spanish spelling rules require this change -
Error: Adding -s to words ending in consonants (árbol → árbols) Fix: Add -es to consonants except -s (árbol → árboles) Reason: Spanish pronunciation requires the extra vowel
-
Error: Changing invariable plurals (lunes → luneses) Fix: Some words don't change in plural (el lunes → los lunes)
Reason: Words ending in unstressed -s remain unchanged
Exercise answers
- The problem is difficult.
- The songs are popular.
- Las manos están limpias.
- Los programas son interesantes.
Key Points to Remember:
- Every Spanish noun has a gender (masculine or feminine) - learn new words with their articles
- Most masculine nouns end in -o, most feminine end in -a, but there are important exceptions
- Endings like -ción, -sión, -dad are almost always feminine
- Most plurals are formed by adding -s to vowels and -es to consonants
- Always change -z to -c before adding -es in plurals
- Articles and adjectives must agree with the noun in both gender and number