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By Lingobi, Published on 11/01/2025
When you start learning Spanish, one of the first grammar rules you encounter is that every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. Usually, words ending in -o are masculine, and those ending in -a are feminine. Simple, right? Well… not always.
There are several words in Spanish that break this pattern. For example, la mano (the hand) is feminine, even though it ends in “-o,” while el agua (the water) uses the masculine article “el” — but not because it’s masculine in meaning. Let’s explore why these exceptions exist and how to remember them.
Words that start with a stressed “a” sound (like *agua*, *águila*, or *alma*) use the article el instead of la to make pronunciation easier. However, these nouns are still feminine.
Examples:
Here’s a list of common Spanish nouns that don’t follow the standard gender rules. Some are feminine even though they end in “-o,” and others are masculine despite ending in “-a.”
| Spanish Word | Gender | Meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| la mano | Feminine | Hand | Exception to the “-o” rule. |
| el día | Masculine | Day | Ends in “-a” but comes from Greek origin. |
| el mapa | Masculine | Map | Greek origin; masculine exception. |
| la foto | Feminine | Photo | Short for “la fotografía.” |
| la radio | Feminine | Radio | Refers to “la radiodifusión.” |
| el planeta | Masculine | Planet | Greek origin ending in “-a.” |
| el sofá | Masculine | Sofa | Foreign origin, masculine exception. |
| el problema | Masculine | Problem | Greek origin (words ending in “-ma”). |
| el idioma | Masculine | Language | Also from Greek; “-ma” pattern. |
| la moto | Feminine | Motorcycle | Short for “la motocicleta.” |
| el clima | Masculine | Climate | Greek origin; “-ma” ending rule. |
| el tema | Masculine | Topic | Greek origin; masculine despite “-a.” |
| el sistema | Masculine | System | Another Greek-based masculine “-ma” word. |
| el fantasma | Masculine | Ghost | Greek origin; “-ma” pattern. |
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These exceptions can feel confusing at first, but they actually follow consistent patterns once you spot them. With time and exposure, your ear will start recognizing what sounds “right” in Spanish.
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