el
the (masculine singular)
Beginner Adjective Masculine
🔊
Pronunciation
/el/
💡
Cultural Note
Spanish has four definite articles: el (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), los (masculine plural), las (feminine plural). Feminine nouns starting with a stressed 'a-' or 'ha-' take 'el' in the singular for phonetic reasons: 'el agua' (the water), 'el águila' (the eagle), but 'las aguas' in the plural. The prepositions 'a' and 'de' contract with 'el': al, del.
📝 Example Sentences
El libro está en la mesa.
The book is on the table.
El agua está fría.
The water is cold.
📊 Adjective Forms
| Gender | Form |
|---|---|
| feminine | la |
| masculine | el |
| feminine_plural | las |
| masculine_plural | los |