Nouns

Nouns in Spanish, or "Sustantivos", are words used to identify people, places, things, or ideas. Understanding nouns is fundamental for building basic sentences and communicating effectively. This lesson will cover the essentials of Spanish nouns, including gender, number, and usage.

Overview

In Spanish, every noun has a gender (either masculine or feminine) and a number (singular or plural). These characteristics affect how nouns interact with other words in sentences, such as adjectives.

How to Identify and Use Nouns

Gender

• Masculine: Most nouns ending in -o are masculine.

  Example: el libro (the book)

• Feminine: Most nouns ending in -a are feminine.

  Example: la mesa (the table)

There are exceptions and special endings that differ, but these are good rules for beginners.

Number

• Singular: Refers to one item.

  Example: el gato (the cat)

• Plural: Refers to more than one item. Generally, add -s or -es.

  Example: los gatos (the cats)

Common Nouns

• People: hombre (man), mujer (woman), niño (child)
• Places: ciudad (city), país (country), restaurante (restaurant)
• Things: silla (chair), ventana (window), coche (car)
• Ideas: libertad (freedom), felicidad (happiness), amor (love)

Using Nouns in Sentences

To build a simple sentence in Spanish, start with a noun and expand it with a verb and possibly an adjective.

El perro grande duerme. (The big dog sleeps.)

Summary

Nouns are the building blocks of language. By understanding and using nouns correctly, you can start forming sentences and expressing basic concepts in Spanish. Practice by naming objects around you in Spanish and constructing simple sentences.