La Argentina or Argentina

Question

When writing in Spanish, and referring to Argentina...is it necessary gramatically to put the article "la" in front of Argentina. I see that in many places they refer to "la Argentina" rather than just writing "Argentina " If so, why? this seems weird....Like saying "the Canada" or "la China"...however we do say "the United States"

Thank you for your help! Mucho Gracias!

"La Argentina" is not a grammatical question but a "political" one. What does the country call itself? - geofc, MAY 31, 2010

Answer 1

this seems weird....Like saying "the Canada"

Actually, Spanish does say the Canada. (el Canadá).

Read this article on definite article with country names

According to this site, it is La Argentina.

Unfortunately, there is no pattern to the usage.

In Spanish: los Estados Unidos - waltico, MAY 31, 2010

Pretty good list on that website, gfreed, except for one thing: for El Salvador, the "El" is an integral part of the country's name. - waltico, MAY 31, 2010

Good point. - 0074b507, MAY 31, 2010

extremely helpful everyone...thanks! - dreamweaver, MAY 31, 2010

Answer 2

One of my antique passports stamps me out as an "Antiguo Residente de La Argentina". While this only tells you what the official name was in 1967, I believe that this is still correct. The official name of the country is "La Republica Argentina", or at least it was, and this is shortened to "La Argentina". Please bring me up to date one of you Argentinos who posts on this site.

Thank you.

I couldn´t say it better. - mediterrunio, ENE 14, 2011

Answer 3

As far as I know there is no rhyme or reason to when to use or not use the article. The official name for Bolivia used to be la República de Bolivia, and these days it is: el Estado Plurinacional de Bolivia. But we have always said Bolivia, not el Bolivia, nor la Bolivia.

On a related topic, who decided which countries are male and which ones are female?

For example, why la India, but el Canadá?

That's what I'd like to know, who made these decisions :~) - Jack-OBrien, MAY 31, 2010

Could it be the "Real Academia Española"? Heidita??? It's in your town! :) - waltico, MAY 31, 2010

Answer 4

from one of my text books, and something I've never understood:

Voy a Italia.
Voy a la India.