Spanish adjectives follow two main rules: agreement and position. Agreement means the adjective must match the noun’s gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). Position refers to where the adjective is placed in the sentence—either before or after the noun—and this can affect the meaning.
Gender Agreement
Adjectives change their endings to match the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine).
- Masculine nouns usually end in -o; feminine nouns usually end in -a.
- The adjective takes a masculine ending for masculine nouns and a feminine ending for feminine nouns.
- Example: amigo alto (tall male friend), amiga alta (tall female friend).
Number Agreement
Adjectives also change to match the number of the noun (singular or plural).
- Add -s to the adjective if the noun is plural.
- For nouns (and adjectives) ending in a vowel, simply add -s.
- For those ending in a consonant, add -es.
- Example: libro rojo (red book), libros rojos (red books).
Adjective Placement
Most adjectives come after the noun, but some are placed before the noun.
Adjectives After the Noun
- This is the default position for most descriptive adjectives.
- Example: casa blanca (white house), niños inteligentes (smart children).
- It emphasizes the literal meaning of the adjective.
Adjectives Before the Noun
- Common for certain adjectives like grande, bueno, malo, pequeño, viejo, nuevo, primer, último.
- Can indicate a more subjective or figurative meaning.
- Example: gran hombre (great man) vs. hombre grande (big man).
- Also used for quantitative adjectives (e.g., mucho, poco, varios).
Changes in Meaning
- Placement can change the meaning of some adjectives.
- Example: un viejo amigo (an old longtime friend) vs. un amigo viejo (an old-aged friend).
- Example: una gran ciudad (a great city) vs. una ciudad grande (a large city).
Summary
- Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun.
- Most adjectives are placed after the noun.
- Some adjectives, especially those indicating quantity or emphasizing a figurative meaning, come before the noun.
- Word order can subtly change the meaning of the adjective.
Examples
That’s the basics of agreement and position for Spanish adjectives. You’re ready to describe nouns with properly matched and well-placed adjectives!
| Spanish Example |
|---|
| Niña bonita |
| English Example |
| Key Point |
| Adjective after noun (default) |
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025