The gender of Spanish nouns: masculine and feminine
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsSign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Our offer
The general rule states that all Spanish nouns are masculine or feminine.
Words ending in -o are generally masculine, while ones ending in -a are generally feminine. The articles which accompany a masculine noun are el (definite) / uno (indefinite), while the feminine ones are la (definite) / una (indefinite).
Masculine nouns ending in -o | Feminine nouns ending in -a |
---|---|
|
|
Usually words with the following endings are masculine:
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
Besides, nouns that designate male beings generally end in -o.
Examples:
However, nouns that designate male beings may have other endings:
Examples:
Although nouns ending in -a are mostly feminine, some of them are masculine.
Note that nouns ending in -ía, -ma, -ama, -ema, -oma have similar spelling and meaning in both English and Spanish.
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-ía | El día (day) |
-ma | El clima (weather, climate) |
-ama | El programa (programme) |
-ema | El problema (problem) |
-oma | El idioma (language) |
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-ambre | El hambre (hunger) |
-aje | El lenguaje (language) |
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-or | El amor (love) |
-án | El refrán (proverb) |
Certain groups of nouns are masculine.
Noun groups | Examples | English translation |
---|---|---|
Days of weeks / months of the year | El lunes me voy a la universidad. Éste ha sido un octubre lleno de sorpresas. | On Monday I'm going to university. This has been an October full of surprises. |
Compound nouns | El paraguas El lavavajillas | Umbrella Dishwasher |
Colours | El azul El amarillo | Blue Yellow |
Infinitives as nouns | El hacer ejercicio es muy recomendable. | Working out is advisable. |
Rivers / seas / oceans | El río Támesis está en Londres. | The Thames River is in London. |
Trees Fruits are generally feminine | El naranjo
La naranja | Orange tree
Orange |
Usually words with the following endings are feminine:
Besides, nouns which designate female beings generally end in -a.
Examples:
However, nouns that designate female beings may have other endings:
Example:
La mujer (woman)
Although nouns ending in -o are mostly masculine, some of them are feminine. Except for mano, most of them are abbreviations of compound nouns.
Examples:
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-dad | La calidad (quality) |
-tad | La amistad (friendship) |
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-ción | La calefacción (heating) |
-sión | La decisión (decision) |
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-ie | La serie (serie) |
-eza | La naturaleza (nature) |
-sis | La crisis (crisis) |
-itis | La laringitis (laryngitis) |
Endings | Examples |
---|---|
-tud | La virtud (virtue) |
-umbre | La certidumbre (certainty) |
Endings | Use | Example |
---|---|---|
-e | using for both masculine and feminine nouns | El examen (exam) La clase (class)
|
-a -ante -e -ista | using for both masculine and feminine nouns designating individuals and professions
| El/La atleta (athlete) El/La cantante (singer) El/La intérprete (interpreter) El/la dentista (dentist) |
-és -ón -or < -a | using for professions, animals, people
| El inglés/La inglesa (Englishman/Englishwoman) El campeón/La campeona (champion) El profesor/La profesora (professor)
|
/ | invariable nouns: the article does not change | El ángel (angel) La victima (victim) |
/ | invariable nouns: the article identify the gender | El/La turista (tourist) El/La joven (young man/youngwoman) |
Feminine nouns which begin with a stressed -a or -ha take the masculine definite article in their singular form.
Examples:
The following goup of nouns include some common words:
Masculine form | Femnine form |
---|---|
El actor (actor) | La actriz (actress) |
El padre (father) | La madre (mother) |
El marido / esposo (husband) | La esposa (wife) |
El padre (father) | La madre (mother) |
El príncipe (prince) | La princesa (princess) |
El héroe (hero) | La heroína (heroine) |
El rey (king) | La reína (queen) |
Masculine form | Feminine form |
---|---|
El capital - capital (money) | La capital - city |
El corte - cut | La corte - court |
El cura - priest | La cura - cure |
El editorial - newspaper editorial | La editorial - publishing house |
El frente - front | La frente - forehead |
El guía - guide | La guía - female guide, telephone guide, guidebook |
El policía - police officer | La policía - the police force |
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Kumusta! Hello! I am Nyssa from the Philippines. I am a teacher by profession. I have been teaching for more than 13 years now both in the classroom and as an ESL teacher. If you are interested to learn Filipino also known as Tagalog feel free to book my classes now. I offer: Conversation Practice, Grammar and Literature. I can create learning materials or lesson plans that match your interest. See you in class!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Nyssa started teaching right after her graduation and therefore already has a lot of experience in this field. She works full time as a public school teacher and also does many side jobs in the field of teaching. You can see her passion for teaching and she loves to get to know students from all over the world and adapt to their wishes and needs. Her lessons are therefore very interactive and she pays a lot of attention to good communication and a comfortable learning atmosphere.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Manuela has experience in teaching both to beginners and advanced students, young and older. She adapts the class to each student and tries always to carry it out in Spanish. The learning materials are good.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Manuela P.Thanks Sara, it has been a pleasure talking to you.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hey! My name is Przemek and I'm an English linguistics graduate with a specialty in teaching and a holder of Delta, which is the highest and the most recognized diploma in the field of teaching English as a foreign language. I've been teaching for over 7 years, not only in Poland but also around the world. Teaching English gives me great satisfaction and motivates me to keep growing professionally. I'm also the founder and teacher at UP2 Academy - a modern online language school. I help people learning English by offering:
• individual classes – personalized lessons; help with current school or university material; topics tailored to the needs, e.g. business or legal English
• conversations – classes with an emphasis on speaking: improving pronunciation, learning fluency techniques; eliminating the most common lexical and grammatical errors; gaining self-confidence
• preparation for language exams – classes focused on exams, such as: Cambridge A2-C2, IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, BEC
• preparation for job interviews and self-presentations
Apart from that, my lessons are characterised by:
• Communicative approach: you learn through conversations, roleplays, discussions, without learning all the rules by heart.
• Immersion: all the classes and interaction are in English
• Practicality: the classes and the activities are set in a real-life context
• Customised approach: the way the classes are delivered is adjusted to the student’s level and interests
• All language skills development: apart from speaking, you will also practice listening, reading and writing, which are crucial elements of any language
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact me.
Thanks!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Przemek is a very qualified and experienced teacher, I can really recommend his services. He is also a very friendly and calm person who you will definitely enjoy speaking with.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
¿Do you want to learn , practice or improve Spanish?Hi I'm teacher Lau, I greet you from Medellin and I invite you to learn my native language: Spanish. If you answer is "yes", I want to let you know that I’m a fully qualified Spanish tutor so I have in my hands the contents and learning tools necessary to teach you according to your level, no matter which one you’re going to start with. I’m here to encourage you to getting conversational skills,expand vocabulary, strengthen grammar, oral -written expression and... to achieve your learning goals. In summ, I just need to know your process or experiences with Spanish to personalize the lesson plan according to your learning needs and preferences, and I will do my best to find the most appropriate way to teach you Spanish suited to your needs.
I would love the opportunity to get to know you, and I hope that you feel inspired to begin your language learning journey and schedule a trial class with me. This is how you could learn to speak, understand and write in Spanish fluently and suited to the real life situations. Any questions or doubts that you have in mind, feel free to write me!
About me
I've traveled to México, Ecuador, Perú, Argentina y Uruguay, also to Canada and I lived for a year in the US. So, I know very well what it means to learn a new language or getting to know a culture different from your own. Anyway, my name is Laura Ordoñez, I’m a sociologist , I have a lot of experiences to tell you and in my free time I teach Spanish online. I want you to give me the opportunity to meet you, and I hope this encourages you to schedule a class with me: the teacher Lau.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Laura is a great Spanish teacher ! She is patient and adaptes any of her lessons according your demand and level. I could have improved my pronunciation, my vocabulary and my grammar in Spanish thanks to her. I also felt free to ask anything about Latinoamerica as learning more about colloquial expressions from there. She made structured, personalized, attractive and completed Spanish courses ! I strongly recommend her !
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Manuela is a very nice and professional teacher with decades of experience who has been teaching to all kinds of students. She provides you with all the learning materials you may need and she will guide you through the process of language learning.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi, my name is Alessia, I teach Italian to foreigners.
I got a degree in "DAMS" (Disciplines of Arts, Music, and Entertainment), a degree in "Italian Literature, language, and Culture - Cultural Promotion Curriculum", the CEDILS certification from the Ca' Foscari University of Venice for the teaching of 'Italian to foreigners and I am a CELI examiner of the CEDIS Lazio network. I have collaborated on various educational projects, language learning apps, and educational and recreational videos for children.
I am available to help you with your projects if you need help writing for example a theme, a letter, or your curriculum vitae.
An example of one of my lessons to learn the language in a more fun way? Through the analysis of a scene taken from an Italian film, we will analyze the syntax, grammar, idioms, and puns, we will hear the accents so that you too can speak like an Italian.
I can help you learn Italian in many ways, personalizing the lessons as much as possible according to your needs.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Alessia is a very nice and positive teacher. She has prepared learning materials to teach mainly beginners in levels A1,A2. Alessia has already a teaching experience and is ready to teach other students.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello, I am Daniela, a qualified teacher of Bulgarian as a foreign language. I am originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. I have a passion for languages; I speak fluent English and Spanish, Czech and Slovenian. I have a very practical approach to languages. My method is very communicative and gives lots of initiative to the student - I teach through real-life situations and role plays, so my students start speaking from the first lesson. I am always interested to understand your motivation why learn Bulgarian and adapt fully to the needs and likes of each student. I make my lessons fun and enjoyable for every student, as I believe it is very important for the student to enjoy learning, and to be looking forward to the next class. Many times we discuss culture, traditions, history and all kinds of topics that the student is interested in, and in this way, progress comes much faster.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Daniela has a great experience teaching abroad. She is a native Bulgarian and can teach Bulgarian grammar and conjugation with severals materials.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I offer personalized English classes which are really suitable to the student's level and motivations.
I work equally the four main skills of the language throughout authentic materials such as songs, videos, movies or short films and even magazines and newspapers articles. I also combine my classes with course books whose levels are challenging enough to help the students to make an accurate and confident learning progress.
I offer grammar and vocabulary exercises and activities to help the students to enrich the language's development.
My classes are online within reduced groups of students to maintain classes well balanced and entertaining enough. I also offer individual lessons.
The duration of the classes are ideally 60 minutes long.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Marisol is a very open and friendly person and I really enjoyed talking to her. She has great experience in tutoring children but is also well prepared to teaching adults.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hello! My name is Ainhoa, I am Spanish and I live in Bilbao, a city in the north of Spain. I love languages and learning about new cultures, that is why I decided to teach Spanish. I find it very gratifying to see the students improve.
I am patient and cheerful, and I strive to create a comfortable environment where students are not afraid to make mistakes. I am positive and I firmly believe that anyone with effort, perseverance and correct accompaniment can improve.
I am an online Spanish teacher certified by ELE International and I have been teaching Spanish since 2019. In 2020 I formalized my business and became freelance.
In these years, I have studied Spanish grammar thoroughly and I have tried many teaching methods that were taught to me in my training, which has led me to create my own method with what I have seen has given better results. I use spaced repetition, create projects, do real-life rollplays, and have the student come to the correct conclusion on their own using questions. For all this, we will use manuals that will guide your learning, the campus diffusion books.
I have helped students of all levels to improve Spanish until they can speak correctly. Each student learns differently and has their own challenges, so I have learned which resources work best for each person.
In my classes you will find a smily face and a relaxed atmosphere, in which you will feel free to ask questions as much as necessary and to express yourself without fear of mistakes.
See you soon!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I can highly recommend her. She is very accurate, on time, well prepared. She is a structured person and I like it to learn with her. She is a patient and positive person. I’ve learned a lot already.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Are you tired of trying to improve your English or Spanish without any results?
I am an English teacher graduated in English Studies with more than 7 years experience.
My method is based on conversation and interactive activities with the purpose of having fun while you get the level that you need.
All level classes.
Also Official Exams training.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Georgina is a great professional and she makes you feel really comfortable during the lessons. She´s kind and nice. I totally recommend her. Thanks, Georgina!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Hi, I'm Francesca
I have been teaching Italian to adults since 2010, individual and group lessons. I have a degree in English and French, and I have a diploma of interpreter in German. In the summer I teach Italian in full immersion courses in Tuscany, where I live.
I really enjoy helping people to learn more not only about Italian as a language but also the rich Italian culture.
Usually I divide my lessons into three parts: a bit of grammar (which is unfortunately very useful...but I can teach you some tricks to learn without much effort!), a listening/reading comprehension part usually with videos, songs, docs about Italy and then ... we talk about Italy!
I will provide all material, and I'll send them by email.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Francesca is a passionate Italian teacher who has been teaching this wonderful language for over 8 years already. With her practical and lively lessons, she wants to help you improve your Italian skills and use them in your everyday life. Therefore, she puts great emphasis on interaction and vocabulary that you really need. In addition, Francesca will help you learn about the history of Italian culture and this beautiful country. So don't wait any longer and book your first Italian lesson with Francesca today.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I'm an English language teacher for more than 15 years with CELTA ( Cambridge English Level 5 Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages); for sure, my lessons are active and updated. I can work with different levels mostly with adults.
I've been teaching lessons on line since October 2019 using Zoom.
Students' participation is maximised in my language lessons, for sure they are student-centred; in other words, I ensure plenty of student talking time through the use of communicative activities and consistent pair checks, clarifying the target language to an appropriate depth and in a student-centred way.
Come and join my classes, you´ll never feel like regreting your decision!!!
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Ildefonso is an experienced English teacher with a perfect British pronunciation. If you're talking to him, you can really feel his passion for teaching the English language. He helps students of all levels and tailors his lessons according to their needs and requirements. In his classes, all 4 language skills: Listening, Reading, Writing and Speaking are perfectly covered, and you will learn very easy and quick. That's why you shouldn't wait any longer and book your first English lesson with Ildefonso now!
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Ildefonso Enrique A.Sure!!! My students will experience the most exciting lessons they've ever had!!! To Hanna and the recruiting team: " I appreciate your feed back, I will never let you down!!!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I met Claudia and she is very nice and motivated to learn Spanish with me. Everything went smoothly and Claudia has very good English. Thank you!
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
I’m a Finnish language trainer in Helsinki, and I offer one-to-one lessons for people learning either language. I have four years’ experience teaching adults from all around the world with various backgrounds and vastly different levels, skills and individual difficulties.
My approach is both academic and practical. Having studied both languages independently as well as at university level, I am intensely aware of the difficulties learners have. I clarify things in simple terms that the student can understand. I explain how things work and why to ensure the learner understands exactly what’s going on and can use it confidently. I give ample opportunity to practice it actively and passively in tailored lessons with games, music, videos, writing exercises, grammar drills and conversation.
I have an MA in Scandinavian Languages from the University of Helsinki, a BA in Finnish and European Studies with Swedish from University College London, received the highest grade in the Finnish National Certificate of Language Proficiency (YKI) in 2019, and began an MA in Translation Studies at the University of Helsinki in September 2020.
I provide most learning material electronically from my expansive library, but also purchase physical copies of textbooks for students when possible and necessary.
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Michael is a skilled teacher with experience both with children and adults. He gained a lot of experience teaching to different kind of students, being very flexible and tailoring the classes to their needs and requests. The quality of Michael's learning materials is really good, he adapts them according to what is needed.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Do you want to take your English learning skills to the next level. I am here to help you with your English skills and all that requires you to learn English.
I have a degree and have experience in teaching.
I love cooking, travelling and meeting new people.
I will be glad to meet you in class
Thank you
Reviews
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials
Edel is an experienced teacher and a very nice and sweet person. She considers it important to understand what the student wants and, then, to plan the best way to achieve hir/her objectives. She organizes her time to be able to do everything that has been planned. Edel also knows the importance of practice and conversation, this is why her classes are normally quite interactive.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Review
Teaching methodology
Communication
Punctuality
Internet connection
Learning materials