Indefinite articles in Spanish correspond to the English articles "a," "an," and "some." They are used to talk about things or people in a general way, rather than something specific.
Words
There are four indefinite articles in Spanish to match gender (masculine, feminine) and number (singular, plural):
| Spanish Word |
|---|
| un |
| English Word |
Usage
- Use un and una for singular nouns.
- Use unos and unas for plural nouns.
- They must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Examples
| Spanish Example |
|---|
| Quiero comprar un libro. |
| English Example |
| Usage Notes |
| un = a (masculine singular) |
Important Points
- Indefinite articles are used when mentioning something for the first time or when it is not important to specify exactly which one.
- They can also be used to express approximate quantities (e.g., unos diez minutos = about ten minutes).
- In Spanish, unlike English, indefinite articles are usually kept even when talking about professions, religions, or nationalities (e.g., Es un doctor = He is a doctor).
Summary
Indefinite articles in Spanish are un, una, unos, and unas. They mean "a," "an," or "some" and are used to introduce non-specific nouns. Always match the article to the noun’s gender and number.
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Last updated: Thu Jul 17, 2025