when to use "la" and "el"
why is "el sofá" correct and "la sofá" isn't?
3 Answers
Because some things just are in a language. Even though it ends in an -a it is determined to be a masculine noun.
Words that break the gender rule
el aroma — aroma
el Canadá — Canada
el clima — climate
el cólera — cholera (but la cólera, anger)
el cometa — comet (but la cometa, kite)
el cura — priest (but la cura, cure)
el día — day
el diagrama — diagram
el dilema — dilemma
el diploma — diploma
la disco — disco (short for la discoteca)
el drama — drama
el enigma — enigma
el esquema — outline, diagram
la foto — photo (short for la fotografía)
el guardia — policeman or male guard (but la guardia, vigilance)
el guía — male guide (but la guía, guidebook or female guide)
el idioma — language
el idiota — male idiot (but la idiota, female idiot)
el indígena — indigenous male (but la indígena,
indigenous female)
la mano — hand
el mapa — map
la modelo — female model (but el modelo, male model)
el morfema — morpheme
la moto — motorcycle (short for la motocicleta)
el panorama — panorama, outlook
el papa — the pope (but la papa, potato)
el poema — poem
el policía — policeman (but la policía, police force or policewoman)
el planeta — planet
el problema — problem
el programa — program
el quechua — Quechua language
la radio — radio (short for la radiodifusión; but el radio, radius or radium; usage of the feminine form depends on the region)
el reuma, el reúma — rheumatism
la reo — female criminal (but el reo, male criminal)
el síntoma — symptom, sign
el sistema — system
el sofá — sofa
la soprano — female soprano (but el soprano, male soprano)
el tanga — G-string
el teorema — theorem
el telegrama — telegram
el tema — theme, subject
la testigo — female witness (but el testigo, male witness)
el tranvía — streetcar
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