when referring to a specific noun, should you use indefinite articles?

Question

when referring to a specific noun, should you use indefinite articles?

Answer 1

I would say that, generally, specific nouns—as they do in English—would require a definite article. (Although, that really depends on what you mean by "specific noun.")

Also, Spanish regards things like body parts and the clothes one is wearing as "specific nouns." So, where English would generally use possessive pronouns ("your head," for example), Spanish would tend to use definite articles ("la cabeza", for example).

One other thing, when making references to highly generalized nouns, they often leave off the article altogether. So, the English "she's a woman" will frequently be said in Spanish as "es mujer." But if the general noun is made more specific with an adjective or qualifying phrase, the indefinite article will usually be included (She's a friendly woman = es una mujer amable).

Answer 2

Indefinite articles are used most of the time like in English, although sometimes they are not required.