Learn the nouns that challenge -o and -a shortcuts, and why el agua is still feminine.
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Masculine Spanish nouns ending in -a
Many Greek-derived nouns ending in -ma are masculine: el problema, el sistema. This is a pattern, not a rule for every -ma word: la cama is feminine.
Other masculine -a nouns include día, mapa and planeta. Learn the article with each noun.
el problemaproblem · el proh-BLEH-mah
el sistemasystem · el sees-TEH-mah
el tematopic · el TEH-mah
el idiomalanguage · el ee-DYOH-mah
el climaclimate · el KLEE-mah
el programaprogram · el proh-GRAH-mah
el poemapoem · el poh-EH-mah
el dramadrama · el DRAH-mah
el diplomadiploma · el dee-PLOH-mah
el esquemaoutline (scheme) · el ehs-KEH-mah
el díaday · el DEE-ah
el mapamap · el MAH-pah
el planetaplanet · el plah-NEH-tah
el cometacomet · el koh-MEH-tah
el sofásofa · el soh-FAH
Feminine Spanish nouns ending in -o
La mano is feminine despite ending in -o. Foto and moto keep the gender of the longer words fotografía and motocicleta.
Radio for broadcasting or a receiver is commonly feminine; masculine usage for a receiver exists in some countries.
la manohand · lah MAH-noh
la fotophoto · lah FOH-toh
la motomotorcycle · lah MOH-toh
la radioradio (broadcasting) · lah RRAH-dyoh
la libidolibido · lah lee-BEE-doh
Feminine nouns with stressed initial a
Agua, águila, alma, arma and hambre are feminine. They use el immediately before the singular noun because the first pronounced sound is stressed a.
Gender does not change: el agua fría, las aguas frías. With an adjective between article and noun, use la: la misma agua.
el aguawater · el AH-gwah
el águilaeagle · el AH-gee-lah
el almasoul · el AHL-mah
el armaweapon · el AHR-mah
el hambrehunger · el AHM-breh
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Spanish Noun Gender Exceptions: full list
Review the meanings, pronunciation and usage notes, then use the printable worksheet to recall the Spanish.
Quick answer:problem is el problema, system is el sistema, topic is el tema, language is el idioma, climate is el clima, program is el programa, poem is el poema, drama is el drama, diploma is el diploma, outline (scheme) is el esquema, day is el día, map is el mapa, planet is el planeta, comet is el cometa, and sofa is el sofá.
