ARTICLES
DEFINITE ARTICLES : el / la , los / las
The definite article refers to a specific noun or group of nouns. It generally carries the meaning "the".
el libro = the book ; la mujer = the woman.
The definite article must also be used in Spanish with all general or abstract nouns:
la salud= health
el mundo= the world
los seres humanos= human beings
Definite articles must also be used with titles when talking about someone. However, the article is omitted in direct speech:
El doctor Borges es dentista.
La señora Rodríguez es abogada.
"Buenos días, doctor Borges. Buenos días, señora Rodríguez."
The definite article is used with languages unless the name of the language immediately follows the verb hablar or the prepositions de and en.
Hablo español. El español es un idioma romance.
Tengo un libro de francés. Hablo muy bien el francés.
El libro está escrito en italiano. Aprendemos el italiano.
** in present-day speech it is common to omit the definite article with languages. You may now hear "aprendemos italiano."
The definite article is used with days of the week when the speaker wants to convey the sense "on".Otherwise, the article is omitted.
Lunes es el primer día de clases. Monday is the first day of classes.
Vamos de compras el martes. We’re going shopping on Tuesday.
Ellos siempre vienen los jueves. They always come on Thursdays.
No tenemos clases los sábados. We don’t have classes on Saturdays.
The definite article is used with seasons only when discussing seasons in a general sense.
El verano es una estación de calor.
El invierno es una estación de frío.
Hace frío en invierno / el invierno
Hace calor en verano / el verano.
INDEFINITE ARTICLES : un / una, unos / unas
The indefinite article refers to a noun or group of nouns in a more general sense. Whereas the definite article means "the", the indefinite article can mean "a, an, some, a few."
La manzana = the apple una manzana = an apple
El coche = the car un coche= a car, one car
Las niñas = the kidsq unas niñas= some kids, a few kids
The indefinite article is decidedly less specific than the definite article.
La noche en que nos conicimos. The night in which we met. (one time)
Una noche en que nos reunimos. A night in which we got
together. (one of many)