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El género Posted by on Dec 3, 2009 in Spanish Grammar, Spanish Vocabulary

Knowing the gender of a word in Spanish is not so easy sometimes, so here are two very good tips to help you choose between EL or LA.

The following are typically masculine endings:

-O – cariño, libro
-OR – horror, emperador, color, valor
-AJE – blindaje, linaje, homenaje, abordaje
-MA – poema, sistema, teorema, fonema, problema
-AN – pan, azafrán, mazapán, plan
-AMBRE – enjambre, alambre

Some exceptions:

la dinamo, la foto, la libido, la mano, la moto, la radio.

The following are typically feminine endings:

-A – casa, mesa, tiza
-DAD – bondad, amistad, caridad
– UMBRE – costumbre, lumbre, pesadumbre
-TUD – virtud, exactitud, solicitud
-ZA – pureza, realeza, esperanza, templanza
-IE – progenie, barbarie
-CIÓN – realización, admiración, vocación, canción
-SIÓN – erosión, visión, sesión
-ACIA – eficacia
-NCIA – tolerancia

Some exceptions:

el idioma, el planeta, el tema

Nos vemos prontito

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About the Author: Adir

English / Spanish teacher and translator for over 20 years. I have been blogging since 2007 and I am also a professional singer in my spare time.