Is the definition of El correct?

Question

In the definition for El (el is used instead of la before feminine nouns which are stressed on the first syllable and begin with a or ha (e.g. el agua, el hacha) shouldn't it read "instead of la before MASCULINE nouns" instead of "femine nouns"? I thought El is used before masculine nouns and La is used before femine nouns.

Answer 1

No, the definition is correct. El is used before masculine nouns, la is used before feminine nouns. The exception is that if it is a feminine noun and it begins with A or HA (the a sound) and the first syllable is stressed, then you use el in front of that noun. The most common example is el agua. Agua is feminine, but la agua is awkward to say.

I understand now. The definition applied to the exception rather than the rule. Thanks! - tlmex, Jun 13, 2010

Answer 2

Agua and hacha are both feminine nouns.

• Las aguas
• Las hachas

"El" is used before singular feminine nouns that follow the rule you mention.

Right, only before the singulars, because las aguas isn't that awkward to say. - KevinB, Jun 13, 2010