Gender in Spanish is arbitrary. This means that while there are some particularities and patterns, there is no definite rule that determines whether a word is masculine or feminine. It is best to learn each word with its associated gender. Always remember “el libro” (the book), “la planta” (the plant), “el plato” (the plate), “la cama” (the bed), etc.

However, there are some guidelines that can help us. Let’s take a look at them

Before we delve into the exceptions, let’s explore some reliable rules.

Bear in mind that most of these are actually abbreviated versions of the longer words (“la foto” for “la fotografía”).

The best approach is to learn these words individually.

Remember, agreement is one of the most crucial aspects of Spanish grammar. When referring to or describing something, someone, or someplace, our articles, adjectives and other words must agree with the noun they modify. Let’ s look at some examples:

Exercises / Ejercicios

1. ¿Masculino o femenino? Place the words in the correct column.

mapa – centro – ciudad – clima – libreta – información – mano – bicicleta – día – carne – luz – sol – tren – lunes – nube – moto – tomate – mujer – leche – luna – problema – mes – foto – viaje – lápiz – televisión – comunidad – idioma – internet – torre – tema

2. Add “el” (masculine) or “la” (feminine) to the following words.

3. Choose the correct answer

In this lesson, we looked into the concept of gender in Spanish. We provided an overview of how nouns are gendered in Spanish, exploring some rules and important exceptions to keep in mind. Whether you are a beginner or looking to refine your language skills, understanding gender in Spanish is crucial for effective communication. If you are interested in further expanding your knowledge, we recommend exploring related topics such as “Adjectives in Spanish” and “Spanish Articles and Agreement”.