Spanish for beginners

[gbb]

So...how do i know which words are masc. and which are fem.

ie

casa...la casa...las casas.
coche..el coche...los coches.

If you take any word, how do you know whether to use la or el, las or los.

Does that make sense ?

 

[rich p]

So...how do i know which words are masc. and which are fem.

ie

casa...la casa...las casas.
coche..el coche...los coches.

If you take any word, how do you know whether to use la or el, las or los.

Does that make sense ?

Che?

 

[rich p]

In my experince of Italian if it ends in 'a' it's feminine and 'o' it's masculine. Generally if t ends in anything else it's guesswork1 Don't know about Spanish but I suspect there is a similar rule of thumb

 

[punkypossum]

Yup, that's pretty much it. Words ending in -o, -l, -r and -y are usually masculine.

Nouns ending in -a, -ion, -dad/tad, -tud, -ed, -itis, -iz, -sis, -umbre are feminine.

And then there are a few exceptions...

 

[Dayvo]

Best just to go there and learn the hard easy way! Beats adult evening classes in the inner cities of England!

 

[gbb]

Best just to go there and learn the hard easy way! Beats adult evening classes in the inner cities of England!

No doubt that works...but a week in Spain and two weeks in Uruguay scarcely gives one (ooer...sound real posh dont i ) the chance to learn anything substantial.
Holidays in Spain and maybe a return to S America this year...i think it's time i stopped struggling and did something about it.

So anyway, thanks peeps...i'm no wiser than when i started

 

[Pete]

You just have to learn them by heart. There's no easy way, especially with nouns that end in a consonant. Get used to saying nouns with their definite or indefinite article. It's just as bad in French - and as for German with its unexpected neuters (das Kind .... das Mädchen....)

There are 'catches' in Spanish too. "Agua" (water) is feminine, but you don't say "La agua" because of the clash of 'a's, you say "el agua". ¡Buena suerte!

 

[stevenb]

I started to learn Itlian a few years back....but then gave it up....bit of a pointless language as only th Italians speak it........but I'd like to complete learning it....also Spanish and get fully up to spec in French.....French is my strongest of the three.

 

[Maz]

Like punkypossum said...there are a few exceptions to the rule, of the better known ones:
La mano (the hand)
El mapa (the map)
El problema (the problem)

Let me know if you've got more questions...I did my A-level Spanish recently and get to use it at work from time to time.

 

[Maz]

...i'm no wiser than when i started

you should be wiser...read punkypossum's post.

 

[stevenb]

I like that TV advert for Natwest (or at least I think its for Natwest)...where those three chaps are in Spain thinking of locations for an overseas call centre....
The chap says 'Where?'...'or as the say in Espanol......Donde'

 

[gbb]

you should be wiser...read punkypossum's post.

No...

I am realising my long long years since school are now working against me.
I cant remember which are nouns, verbs etc etc etc. Then you (i) start to struggle even more.

I get the gist of Punkys...but i'm realising there's no easy route.

Thank'yall....keep it coming if it's of interest

 

[Maz]

...
I cant remember which are nouns, verbs etc etc etc. Then you (i) start to struggle even more.

a noun [in general terms] is a 'thing'...car, bike, house, paper, water etc etc
a verb is an '-ing' word...one which identifies an action...pavent riding, red light jumping, etc etc [i chose those last 2 cos you're all too familiar with them, right? ]

 

[gbb]

a noun [in general terms] is a 'thing'...car, bike, house, paper, water etc etc
a verb is an '-ing' word...one which identifies an action...pavent riding, red light jumping, etc etc [i chose those last 2 cos you're all too familiar with them, right? ]

you've seen my riding then

 

[Pete]

El problema (the problem)

It now comes back to me: "---ma" usually means masculine and breaks the general rule that "----a" means feminine. I can think of several other examples: "el tema", "el sistema", "el programa". I think we're on words of Greek origin here, many of them technical.