Definite Articles When To Use the Spanish Words for ‘The’

 ¿Hablas espaà ±ol? El espaà ±ol es la lengua de la Argentina. (Do you speak Spanish? Spanish is the language of Argentina.) You may have noticed something about the words el and la — words usually translated as the — in the above sentences. In the first sentence, espaà ±ol is used to translate Spanish, but in the second sentence its el espaà ±ol. And Argentina, a country name that stands alone in English, is preceded by la in the Spanish sentence. These differences typify just a couple of the differences in how the definite article (the in English and el, la, los, or las in Spanish, or lo under certain circumstances) is used in the two languages. The Easy Rule for Using Definite Articles Fortunately, although the rules of using the definite article can be complex, you have a head start if you speak English. Thats because nearly any time you use the in English you can use the definite article in Spanish. Of course, there are exceptions. Here are the cases where Spanish doesnt use the definite article while English does: Before ordinal numbers for names of rulers and similar people. Luis octavo (Luis the Eighth), Carlos quinto (Carlos the Fifth).Some proverbs (or statements made in a proverbial fashion) omit the article. Camarà ³n que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente. (The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the current.) Perro que ladra no muerde. (The dog that barks doesnt bite.)When used in nonrestrictive apposition, the article is often omitted. This usage can best be explained by example. Vivo en Las Vegas, ciudad que no duerme. (I live in Las Vegas, the city that doesnt sleep.) In this case, ciudad que no duerme is in apposition to Las Vegas. The clause is said to be nonrestrictive because it doesnt define which Las Vegas; it only provides additional information. The article isnt used. But Vivo en Washington, el estado. Here, el estado is in apposition to Washington, and it defines which Washington (it restricts Washington), so the article is used. Conozco a Julio Iglesias, cantan te famoso. (I know Julio Iglesias, the famous singer.) In this sentence, presumably both the person speaking and any listeners know who Iglesias is, so the phrase in apposition (cantante famoso) doesnt tell who he is (it doesnt restrict), it merely provides additional information. The definite article isnt needed. But Escogà ­ a Bob Smith, el mà ©dico. (I chose Bob Smith, the doctor.) The listener doesnt know who Bob Smith is, and el mà ©dico serves to define him (restrict him). The definite article would be used.In certain set phrases that dont follow any particular pattern. Examples: A largo plazo (in the long run). En alta mar (on the high seas). Where the Spanish Needs the Article and English Doesnt Far more common are cases where you dont use the article in English but you need it in Spanish. Following are the most common such uses. Days of the Week Days of the week typically are preceded by either el or los, depending on whether the day is singular or plural (the names of the weekdays dont change in the plural form). Voy a la tienda el jueves. (Im going to the store on Thursday.) Voy a la tienda los jueves. (I go to the store on Thursdays.) The article isnt used following a form of the verb ser to indicate which day of the week it is. Hoy es lunes. (Today is Monday.) Note that months of the year are treated in Spanish much like they are in English. Seasons of the Year Seasons normally need the definite article, although it is optional after de, en, or a form of ser. Prefiero los inviernos. (I prefer winters.) No quiero asistir a la escuela de verano. (I dont want to go to the summer school.) With More than One Noun In English, we can often omit the the when using two or more nouns joined by and or or, as the article is understood to apply to both. Thats not so in Spanish. El hermano y la hermana està ¡n tristes. (The brother and sister are sad.) Vendemos la casa y la silla. (Were selling the house and chair.) With Generic Nouns Generic nouns refer to a concept or to a substance in general or a member of a class in general, rather than a specific one (where the article would be required in both languages). No preferirà ­a el despotismo. (I wouldnt prefer despotism.) El trigo es nutritivo. (Wheat is nutritious.) Los americanos son ricos. (Americans are rich.) Los derechistas no deben votar. (Right-wingers ought not to vote.) Escogà ­ la cristianidad. (I chose Christianity.) Exception: The article is often omitted after the preposition de, especially when the noun following de serves to describe the first noun and doesnt refer to a specific person or thing. Los zapatos de hombres (mens shoes), but los zapatos de los hombres (the shoes of the men). Dolor de muela (toothache in general), but dolor de la muela (a toothache in a particular tooth). With Names of Languages Names of languages require the article except when they immediately follow en or a verb that is often used of languages (particularly saber, aprender, and hablar, and sometimes entender, escribir, or estudiar). Hablo espaà ±ol. (I speak Spanish.) Hablo bien el espaà ±ol. (I speak Spanish well.) Prefiero el inglà ©s. (I prefer English.) Aprendemos inglà ©s. (We are learning English.) With Body Parts and Personal Items It is very common to use the definite article in Spanish in cases where a possessive adjective (such as your) would be used in English in referring personal items including clothing and body parts. Examples:  ¡Abre los ojos! (Open your eyes!) Perdià ³ los zapatos. (He lost his shoes.) With Infinitives as Subjects It is common to precede infinitives with the definite article when they are subjects of a sentence. El entender es difà ­cil. (Understanding is difficult.) El fumar està ¡ prohibido. (Smoking is prohibited.) With Some Location Names The names of some countries, and a few cities, are preceded by the definite article. In some cases its mandatory or nearly so (el Reino Unido, la India), while in other cases its optional but common (el Canadà ¡, la China). Even if a country isnt on the list, the article is used if the country is modified by an adjective. Voy a Mà ©xico. (Im going to Mexico.) But, voy al Mà ©xico bello. (Im going to beautiful Mexico.) The article is also commonly used before the names of mountains: el Everest, el Fuji. Streets, avenues, plazas, and similar places are usually preceded by the article. La Casa Blanca està ¡ en la avenida Pennsylvania. (The White House is on Pennsylvania Avenue.) With Personal Titles The article is used before most personal titles when talking about people, but not when talking to them. El seà ±or Smith està ¡ en casa. (Mr. Smith is at home.) But, hola, seà ±or Smith (hello, Mr. Smith). La doctora Jones asistià ³ a la escuela. (Dr. Jones attended the school.) But, doctora Jones,  ¿como està ¡? (Dr. Jones, how are you?) La is also often used when speaking about a famous woman using her last name only. La Spacek durmià ³ aquà ­. (Spacek slept here.) In Certain Set Phrases Many common phrases, especially those involving places, use the article. En el espacio (in space). En la televisià ³n (on television). Key Takeaways Although English has one definite article (the), Spanish has five: el, la, los, las, and (under certain circumstances) lo.Most of the time, when English uses the, the corresponding sentence in Spanish uses the definite article.The opposite isnt true; Spanish uses definite articles in many situations where English doesnt, such as referring to some locations, days of the week, and with personal titles.