Bienvenidos, Spanish learners! If your native language is English, the world of masculine and feminine in Spanish, and actually, in any Romance language, might be a total mystery to you. And, as a French person, I don’t blame you! After all, why would a table be feminine?
In this article, we’re exploring gender in Spanish in regards to nouns and adjectives. Understanding gender in Spanish, and any Latin language, is a fundamental and challenging step towards mastering the language. But don’t worry, we have you covered!
From the basics to modern inclusive language, you’ll know how and when to use the proper gender, so you don’t sound like Chad in Acapulco, and his legendary “Buenas nachos”!
¿Vamos?
Table of contents
- Basics of gender
- Identifying masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish
- Gender agreement between nouns and adjectives in Spanish
- Gender irregularities in Spanish
- 10 Practical tips for learning and using gender
- Common mistakes to avoid while using masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish
- Gender and inclusive language in Spanish
- Conclusion
Basics of gender in Spanish
In Spanish, as you probably know, every noun is either masculine or feminine. This little twist adds a splash of excitement — or annoyance? — to learning the language. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no other way around it I’m afraid.
But don’t worry, we’re here to make it “pan comido”. Let's explore how gender works and why it's a key part of Spanish grammar.
Identifying masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish
General rules for identifying masculine nouns
We have maravillosas news! In Spanish, there are few tips to help you nail the right gender… at least most of the time! So, there you go:
- Masculine nouns often end in “-o.” Easy peasy, right?
- Masculine nouns also typically end in "-OR," with a few exceptions.
- Words ending in "-AJE" and "-AN" are usually masculine too.
- Numbers and colors also follow this trend.
- Days of the week and months of the year are masculine.
- Cardinal points, and most geographical-related nouns, are masculine.
Here are some examples to get you started:
Ending in -O
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El vino | The wine | El vino es delicioso. (The wine is delicious.) |
El destino | The destiny | El destino es incierto. (The destiny is uncertain.) |
El libro | The book | El libro es interesante. (The book is interesting.) |
El queso | The cheese | El queso está fresco. (The cheese is fresh.) |
El perro | The dog | El perro corre rápido. (The dog runs fast.) |
Ending in -OR
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El amor | The love | El amor es eterno. (The love is eternal.) |
El dolor | The pain | El dolor es intenso. (The pain is intense.) |
El pastor | The shepherd | El pastor cuida las ovejas. (The shepherd takes care of the sheep.) |
El calor | The heat | El calor es sofocante. (The heat is stifling.) |
El error | The error | El error fue corregido. (The error was corrected.) |
Ending in -AJE
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El traje | The suit | El traje es elegante. (The suit is elegant.) |
El viaje | The trip | El viaje fue maravilloso. (The trip was wonderful.) |
El mensaje | The message | El mensaje fue recibido. (The message was received.) |
El garaje | The garage | El garaje es amplio. (The garage is spacious.) |
El peaje | The toll | El peaje es caro. (The toll is expensive.) |
Ending in -AN
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El pan | The bread | El pan está caliente. (The bread is warm.) |
El afán | The eagerness | El afán de aprender es admirable. (The eagerness to learn is admirable.) |
El volcán | The volcano | El volcán está activo. (The volcano is active.) |
El tucán | The toucan | El tucán tiene un pico grande. (The toucan has a large beak.) |
El flan | The flan | El flan es delicioso. (The flan is delicious.) |
Numbers and Colors
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El cinco | The five | El cinco es mi número favorito. (Five is my favorite number.) |
El diez | The ten | El diez es un número redondo. (Ten is a round number.) |
El rojo | The red | El rojo es mi color favorito. (Red is my favorite color.) |
El azul | The blue | El azul es relajante. (Blue is relaxing.) |
El verde | The green | El verde es el color de la naturaleza. (Green is the color of nature.) |
Days of the week
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El lunes | Monday | El lunes es el primer día de la semana. (Monday is the first day of the week.) |
El martes | Tuesday | El martes es el segundo día de la semana. (Tuesday is the second day of the week.) |
El miércoles | Wednesday | El miércoles es el tercer día. (Wednesday is the third day.) |
El jueves | Thursday | El jueves tenemos una reunión. (We have a meeting on Thursday.) |
El viernes | Friday | El viernes es el último día laboral. (Friday is the last workday.) |
Months of the year
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El enero | January | El enero es frío. (January is cold.) |
El abril | April | El abril es un mes lluvioso. (April is a rainy month.) |
El junio | June | El junio es cálido. (June is warm.) |
El octubre | October | El octubre es ventoso. (October is windy.) |
El noviembre | November | El noviembre es frío. (November is cold.) |
Cardinal points
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El norte | The north | El norte es frío. (The north is cold.) |
El sur | The south | El sur es cálido. (The south is warm.) |
El este | The east | El este recibe el sol primero. (The east receives the sun first.) |
El oeste | The west | El oeste es tranquilo. (The west is calm.) |
El noreste | The northeast | El noreste es montañoso. (The northeast is mountainous.) |
Geographical-related nouns
Masculine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
El río | The river | El río fluye rápido. (The river flows fast.) |
El mar | The sea | El mar es profundo. (The sea is deep.) |
El océano Atlántico | The Atlantic Ocean | El océano Atlántico es vasto. (The Atlantic Ocean is vast.) |
Los lagos | The lakes | Los lagos están congelados. (The lakes are frozen.) |
Los volcanes | The volcanoes | Los volcanes son impresionantes. (The volcanoes are impressive.) |
El desierto del Sáhara | The Sahara Desert | El desierto del Sáhara es enorme. (The Sahara Desert is enormous.) |
General rules for identifying feminine nouns
Of course, the feminine has its rules too! Yeah, equality!
- Nouns ending in "-A" are generally feminine.
- Nouns ending in "-CIÓN," "-SIÓN," and "-ZÓN" are usually feminine.
- Words ending in "-DAD" and "-TAD" are typically feminine.
- Nouns ending in "-EZ" and "-TRIZ" are generally feminine.
- Words ending in "-TUD" and "-UMBRE" are usually feminine.
- The letters of the alphabet are all feminine and should take a feminine article.
Ending in -A
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La silla | The chair | La silla es cómoda. (The chair is comfortable.) |
La manzana | The apple | La manzana es roja. (The apple is red.) |
La mesa | The table | La mesa es grande. (The table is big.) |
La ventana | The window | La ventana está abierta. (The window is open.) |
La fruta | The fruit | La fruta es deliciosa. (The fruit is delicious.) |
Ending in -CIÓN
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La canción | The song | La canción es popular. (The song is popular.) |
La decisión | The decision | La decisión fue difícil. (The decision was difficult.) |
La conversación | The conversation | La conversación fue interesante. (The conversation was interesting.) |
La televisión | The television | La televisión está encendida. (The television is on.) |
La construcción | The construction | La construcción es nueva. (The construction is new.) |
Ending in -DAD
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La felicidad | The happiness | La felicidad es importante. (Happiness is important.) |
La amistad | The friendship | La amistad es valiosa. (Friendship is valuable.) |
La verdad | The truth | La verdad es relativa. (The truth is relative.) |
La bondad | The kindness | La bondad es una virtud. (Kindness is a virtue.) |
La libertad | The freedom | La libertad es esencial. (Freedom is essential.) |
Ending in -TAD
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La comunidad | The community | La comunidad es unida. (The community is united.) |
La facultad | The faculty | La facultad es grande. (The faculty is large.) |
La lealtad | The loyalty | La lealtad es importante. (Loyalty is important.) |
La cantidad | The quantity | La cantidad es suficiente. (The quantity is sufficient.) |
La dificultad | The difficulty | La dificultad es grande. (The difficulty is great.) |
Ending in -EZ
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La vejez | The old age | La vejez puede ser sabia. (Old age can be wise.) |
La rapidez | The speed | La rapidez es necesaria. (Speed is necessary.) |
La niñez | The childhood | La niñez es divertida. (Childhood is fun.) |
La escasez | The scarcity | La escasez de agua es preocupante. (Water scarcity is worrying.) |
La sencillez | The simplicity | La sencillez es hermosa. (Simplicity is beautiful.) |
Ending in -TRIZ
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La actriz | The actress | La actriz es famosa. (The actress is famous.) |
La emperatriz | The empress | La emperatriz gobernó sabiamente. (The empress ruled wisely.) |
La directriz | The guideline | La directriz es clara. (The guideline is clear.) |
La editriz | The female editor | La editriz revisó el manuscrito. (The female editor reviewed the manuscript.) |
La institutriz | The governess | La institutriz enseñó a los niños. (The governess taught the children.) |
Ending in -TUD
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La actitud | The attitude | La actitud es positiva. (The attitude is positive.) |
La juventud | The youth | La juventud es la esperanza del futuro. (Youth is the hope of the future.) |
La gratitud | The gratitude | La gratitud es importante. (Gratitude is important.) |
La lentitud | The slowness | La lentitud del tráfico es frustrante. (The slowness of the traffic is frustrating.) |
La amplitud | The width | La amplitud del terreno es impresionante. (The width of the land is impressive.) |
Ending in -UMBRE
Feminine nouns in Spanish | English translation | Sample sentence |
La costumbre | The custom | La costumbre es antigua. (The custom is ancient.) |
La muchedumbre | The crowd | La muchedumbre se reunió en la plaza. (The crowd gathered in the square.) |
La certidumbre | The certainty | La certidumbre es tranquilizadora. (Certainty is reassuring.) |
La cumbre | The summit | La cumbre es alta. (The summit is high.) |
La pesadumbre | The sorrow | La pesadumbre es profunda. (The sorrow is deep.) |
Common exceptions to the rules
I know you’re super happy right now cause you totally figured out gender in Spanish… Well, I don’t mean to be a downer, but there are a few exceptions. What did you expect? It’s a Latin language, where would be the fun otherwise?
Below are a few of the most common exceptions to these rules.
Exceptions to the rules | English translation | Sample sentence |
El día | The day | El día es soleado. (The day is sunny.) |
La mano | The hand | La mano está fría. (The hand is cold.) |
El mapa | The map | El mapa es útil. (The map is useful.) |
La radio | The radio | La radio está encendida. (The radio is on.) |
El problema | The problem | El problema es difícil. (The problem is difficult.) |
La foto | The photo | La foto es antigua. (The photo is old.) |
El planeta | The planet | El planeta es enorme. (The planet is huge.) |
La moto | The motorcycle | La moto es rápida. (The motorcycle is fast.) |
El sofá | The sofa | El sofá es cómodo. (The sofa is comfortable.) |
La flor | The flower | La flor es roja. (The flower is red.) |
El idioma | The language | El idioma español es fascinante. (The Spanish language is fascinating.) |
La labor | The labor/work | La labor fue ardua. (The labor was arduous.) |
El agua | The water | El agua está fría. (The water is cold.) |
La cárcel | The jail | La cárcel está llena. (The jail is full.) |
El lápiz | The pencil | El lápiz es amarillo. (The pencil is yellow.) |
Gender agreement between nouns and adjectives in Spanish
In Spanish, and again, like in any Latin language, adjectives must agree in gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural) with the nouns they modify. For example, if a noun is masculine and singular, the adjective must also be masculine and singular. Similarly, if a noun is feminine and plural, the adjective must be feminine and plural.
Here are the general rules for gender agreement… with some exceptions, por supesto:
- Masculine Singular: Adjective usually ends in -o (e.g., "alto" for "tall").
- Feminine Singular: Adjective usually ends in -a (e.g., "alta" for "tall").
- Masculine Plural: Adjective usually ends in -os (e.g., "altos" for "tall").
- Feminine Plural: Adjective usually ends in -as (e.g., "altas" for "tall").
There are also adjectives that do not end in -o/-a and have the same form for both masculine and feminine nouns, but they still change for plural forms.
Examples of gender agreement in Spanish
Spanish sentence | English translation |
El perro negro corre rápido. | The black dog runs fast — Other colors in Spanish here. |
La casa blanca está en la colina. | The white house is on the hill — Or is it in Washington D.C.? |
Los libros interesantes son difíciles de encontrar. | Interesting books are hard to find. |
Las flores hermosas crecen en el jardín. | The beautiful flowers grow in the garden. |
El gato pequeño duerme en la cama. | The small cat sleeps on the bed. |
La mesa redonda está en el comedor. | The round table is in the dining room. |
Los hombres fuertes trabajan en la construcción. | The strong men work in construction. |
Las mujeres inteligentes lideran la empresa. | The smart women lead the company. |
El coche aparcado pertenece a mi abuelo. | The parked car belongs to my grandfather. |
La ventana abierta deja entrar la brisa. | The open window lets the breeze in. |
Gender irregularities in Spanish
Nouns that change meaning with gender
In Spanish, certain nouns change their meaning depending on whether they are used in the masculine or feminine form. These nouns are known as gender irregularities. Here are five pairs of examples along with sample sentences for each, so you understand what I’m talking about!
Masculine noun | Feminine noun | Masculine sample sentence | Feminine sample sentence |
El cometa (the comet) | La cometa (the kite) | Un cometa brillante apareció en el cielo nocturno. (A bright comet appeared in the night sky.) | Los niños volaban una cometa en el parque. (The children were flying a kite in the park.) |
El cura (the priest) | La cura (the cure) | El cura de la iglesia local es muy amable. (The priest of the local church is very kind.) | Los científicos buscan la cura para muchas enfermedades. (Scientists are searching for the cure for many diseases.) |
El capital (the capital, as in money) | La capital (the capital city) | Necesitamos aumentar el capital para invertir en la empresa. (We need to increase the capital to invest in the company.) | Madrid es la capital de España. (Madrid is the capital of Spain.) |
El frente (the front, as in weather front or military front) | La frente (the forehead) | Un frente frío llegará mañana por la noche. (A cold front will arrive tomorrow night.) | Me duele la frente por el golpe. (My forehead hurts from the bump.) |
El margen (the margin, edge) | La margen (the riverbank) | Debes escribir dentro del margen del papel. (You should write within the margin of the paper.) | Paseamos por la margen del río. (We walked along the riverbank.) |
El orden (the order, arrangement) | La orden (the command) | El orden de los elementos es importante. (The order of the elements is important.) | El capitán dio una orden estricta. (The captain gave a strict order.) |
El papa (the Pope) | La papa (the potato - Latin Spanish) | El papa visitará varios países este año. (The Pope will visit several countries this year.) | La papa es un alimento básico en muchas culturas. (The potato is a staple food in many cultures.) |
El policía (the policeman) | La policía (the police force) | El policía ayudó a los niños a cruzar la calle. (The policeman helped the children cross the street.) | La policía está investigando el caso. (The police are investigating the case.) |
El pendiente (the earring) | La pendiente (the slope) | Perdí un pendiente durante la fiesta. (I lost an earring during the party.) | La pendiente de la montaña es muy empinada. (The slope of the mountain is very steep.) |
El corte (the cut) | La corte (the court) | El corte en mi dedo necesita una venda. (The cut on my finger needs a bandage.) | La corte real tiene muchas tradiciones antiguas. (The royal court has many ancient traditions.) |
El guía (the guide) | La guía (the female guide or the guidebook) | El guía nos enseñó la Sagrada Familia. (The male guide showed us the Sagrada Familia.) | La guía de viaje aconseja este bar de tapas. (The travel guidebook recommends this tapas bar.) |
Invariable nouns
OK, that’s a lot to remember! But don’t worry if you’re still not a fan of masculine and feminine in Spanish, the nouns below don’t change their form regardless of the gender of the person they refer to. These cool words are known as invariable nouns. They maintain the same form for both masculine and feminine references, with only the article changing to indicate the gender. Phew!
Invariable noun | Sample sentence (masculine) | Sample sentence (feminine) |
El estudiante / La estudiante | El estudiante estudia en la biblioteca. (The male student studies in the library.) | La estudiante estudia en la biblioteca. (The female student studies in the library.) |
El artista / La artista | El artista pintó un hermoso cuadro. (The male artist painted a beautiful picture.) | La artista pintó un hermoso cuadro. (The female artist painted a beautiful picture.) |
El cantante / La cantante | El cantante tiene una voz increíble. (The male singer has an incredible voice.) | La cantante tiene una voz increíble. (The female singer has an incredible voice.) |
El atleta / La atleta | El atleta ganó la carrera. (The male athlete won the race.) | La atleta ganó la carrera. (The female athlete won the race.) |
El periodista / La periodista | El periodista entrevistó al presidente. (The male journalist interviewed the president.) | La periodista entrevistó al presidente. (The female journalist interviewed the president.) |
El joven / La joven | El joven es muy talentoso. (The young man is very talented.) | La joven es muy talentosa. (The young woman is very talented.) |
El testigo / La testigo | El testigo declaró en el juicio. (The male witness testified in the trial.) | La testigo declaró en el juicio. (The female witness testified in the trial.) |
What about the sea
Yes, what about it? Well, the nouns "el mar" and "la mar" both refer to the sea in Spanish, but their usage and connotations can differ slightly.
- El mar: This is the more commonly used form to refer to the sea in a general, everyday context. It is considered the standard usage.
Example: El mar estaba muy tranquilo ayer. (The sea was very still yesterday.)
- La mar: This form is also correct and is often used in poetic or literary contexts. It can evoke a more emotional or nostalgic feeling. It is sometimes used by sailors and people who have a close relationship with the sea.
It’s also used in the expression “La mar de” (very).
Examples:
La mar siempre será fuente de inspiración para los pintores y poetas. (The sea will always be a source of inspiration for many painters and poets.)
Estoy la mar de contenta. (I’m very happy).
That being said, I live al lado del mar in Spain and I heard both in day to day conversations.
Compound nouns
Compound nouns in Spanish are typically masculine, regardless of the gender of their individual components. Great, but what’s a compound noun? Well, as its name suggests, it’s formed by combining two words to create a new noun with a specific meaning, like in the examples below:
Compound noun | Sample sentence |
El paraguas (the umbrella) | No olvides llevar el paraguas, está lloviendo. (Don't forget to take the umbrella, it's raining.) — More weather vocab in Spanish here. |
El sacapuntas (the pencil sharpener) | Necesito usar el sacapuntas para mi lápiz. (I need to use the pencil sharpener for my pencil.) |
El abrelatas (the can opener) | ¿Dónde está el abrelatas? Necesito abrir esta lata. (Where is the can opener? I need to open this can.) |
El cumpleaños (the birthday) | Hoy es el cumpleaños de mi hermano. (Today is my brother's birthday.) — More family vocab in Spanish here. |
El rascacielos (the skyscraper) | El rascacielos más alto de la ciudad está en construcción. (The tallest skyscraper in the city is under construction.) |
El parabrisas (the windshield) | El parabrisas del coche está sucio. (The car's windshield is dirty.) |
El portafolio (the briefcase) | Dejó el portafolio en la oficina. (He left the briefcase at the office.) |
El rompecabezas (the puzzle) | Este rompecabezas es muy difícil de resolver. (This puzzle is very difficult to solve.) |
Pluralization and gender
Somes nouns change gender when they become plural. Interesting, isn’t it? Here are examples of such weirdos!
Nouns that change gender | Sample sentence |
El arte (the art) - singular | El arte moderno es fascinante. (Modern art is fascinating.) |
Las artes (the arts) - plural | Las artes incluyen la pintura, la música y la danza. (The arts include painting, music, and dance.) |
El agua (the water) - singular | El agua está fría. (The water is cold.) |
Las aguas (the waters) - plural | Las aguas de este río son muy claras. (The waters of this river are very clear.) |
El ala (the wing) - singular | El ala del pájaro está rota. (The bird's wing is broken.) |
Las alas (the wings) - plural | Las alas del avión son enormes. (The airplane's wings are enormous.) |
El alma (the soul) - singular | El alma del poeta es sensible. (The poet's soul is sensitive.) |
Las almas (the souls) - plural | Las almas de los difuntos son recordadas. (The souls of the departed are remembered.) |
El águila (the eagle) - singular | El águila voló alto en el cielo. (The eagle flew high in the sky.) |
Las águilas (the eagles) - plural | Las águilas cazan en grupo. (The eagles hunt in groups.) |
El hacha (the axe) - singular | El hacha está afilada. (The axe is sharp.) |
Las hachas (the axes) - plural | Las hachas están listas para cortar leña. (The axes are ready to chop wood.) |
El hambre (the hunger) - singular | El hambre es un problema mundial. (Hunger is a global problem.) |
Las hambres (the hungers) - plural | Las hambres de diferentes regiones fueron discutidas. (The hungers of different regions were discussed.) |
Practical tips for learning and using gender
Learning and using the gender of nouns in Spanish can be challenging due to the rules and exceptions. But remember, it could be worse: there are 3 genders in German! And actually, Latin language has 3 genders as well!
Here are some practical tips to help you memorize and use noun genders in Spanish effectively:
1. Learn common endings
- Masculine endings: Nouns ending in -o, -ma, -pa, -ta, and most consonants are usually masculine (e.g., el libro, el problema, el mapa).
- Feminine endings: Nouns ending in -a, -ción, -sión, -dad, -tad, and -umbre are usually feminine (e.g., la casa, la canción, la ciudad). Refer to the tables above for more!
2. Use definite articles
Always learn nouns with their definite articles (el, la) to reinforce their gender (e.g., el árbol, la mesa).
3. Memorize exceptions
Be aware of common exceptions such as el día (day), la mano (hand), el sofá (couch), el planeta (planet), el mapa (map), el idioma (language), la moto (motorcycle), la foto (photography), la radio (raido), el agua (water)... Make a list of exceptions and review them often.
4. Practice with adjectives
Use adjectives in sentences to practice gender agreement (e.g., el coche rojo, la silla roja).
5. Learn by categories
Group nouns into categories to help remember their gender. For example, most fruits are feminine (e.g., la manzana, la pera), while many trees are masculine (e.g., el manzano, el peral). Go figure!
6. Listen, listen, listen
Listen to native speakers and pay attention to how they use genders. Repeat sentences to internalize the correct gender usage. The more you listen to native speakers, the easier it will get to remember genders naturally.
And if you don’t have Spanish speakers around you, watch TV! That’s a great way to learn without even realizing it, and you won’t get bored! My favorite show of the moment is Acapulco, a great mix of English and Spanish so you don’t get frustrated!
7. Use postits
I know, I know, it’s not very environmentally friendly. But you can stick a few sticky notes around the house to remember the gender of common things! La nevera, el horno, la puerta, el armario… you got me.
8. Create flashcards
If you’re more of a traditional learner, create good old flashcards with nouns and their genders. Test yourself regularly to reinforce your memory.
9. Read and write
Read books, articles, and other materials in Spanish. Write sentences or short paragraphs using new nouns and their correct genders.
10. Mnemonic devices
Use mnemonic devices to help remember genders. For example, associate the noun with an image, a character or a story that highlights its gender. Do you think glitter is very feminine? Awesome, because “purpurina” is feminine in gender! Speaking of which, did you know about the glitter-ban in the EU? ¡Esta nueva ley (feminine) es muy sorprendente!
Common mistakes to avoid while using masculine and feminine nouns in Spanish
The most common mistake to make when learning a new language is to think in your native language, or try to find an equivalent. It might work, but most of the time, it just doesn’t!
And gender is a great example, since English doesn’t have a gender for objects. Therefore, try to always learn the noun with its article (el/la). Think of it as giving the noun a proper name tag right from the start.
Another frequent error is mixing up similar nouns with different genders, like calling it "la mapa" instead of "el mapa." Spanish nouns can be sneaky like that. And then there’s the classic blunder of ignoring exceptions, leading to phrases like "la problema" instead of "el problema." Shall I mention the “no problemo” I hear everytime I go to the US? Yep, Spanish likes to keep you on your toes!
Let’s not forget the fun of matching adjectives to nouns. You don’t want to end up with "el coche roja" when it should be "el coche rojo." And those plural forms that change gender? Oh, joy!
If you do make mistakes though — and you should; it’s part of any learning process! —, it’s really not a big deal. As a French speaker, I find it super endearing when English speakers use the wrong gender! Really, it’s a good way to make amigos and amigas.
Gender and inclusive language in Spanish
And speaking of amigos AND amigas, in recent years, there has been a growing movement towards using inclusive language in Spanish to avoid gender bias and promote equality. The use of non-sexist language aims to create an environment that respects and acknowledges all genders, breaking away from traditional norms that often default to masculine forms. This shift not only fosters inclusivity but also reflects the diverse reality of our society. Below are a few guidelines, and you’ll find them all in this manual.
Use of gender-neutral terms
Whenever possible, use gender-neutral terms instead of gendered ones. For example, instead of "los alumnos" (the students), you can use "el alumnado" (the student body) or "las personas estudiantes" (the student people).
Double forms
Use both masculine and feminine forms to include all genders. This is often seen in written forms, such as "los/las estudiantes" or "amigos y amigas."
Gender-neutral pronouns and endings
Incorporate gender-neutral pronouns and endings. Some people seem very concerned about his! The use of "x" and "@" has become popular to avoid specifying gender. For instance, "amigx" or "amig@." Personnaly, I love it, but similar initiatives were not well received in France…
Avoid gendered expressions
Rephrase sentences to avoid gendered expressions entirely. For example, instead of "el hombre promedio" (the average man), use "la persona promedio" (the average person).
You delved into the colorful, occasionally frustrating world of Spanish gender, and now it's time to shine! As for any learning process, consistent practice is key. Soon, those tricky genders will become second nature — with a few funny slip-ups along the way!
Conquering gender in Spanish sets you apart from the crowd. Where many English speakers struggle, you'll breeze through conversations, effortlessly using "el" and "la" like a pro.
So, keep at it, stay motivated, and most importantly, enjoy the journey! Each time you get "el" or "la" right, it's a small victory (pequeña/pequeño victoria?) Did you get this right? ¡Bien hecho!
