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Fem.nouns beginning with a

Fem.nouns beginning with a

0
votes

Okay, I just read that "agua" is feminine and it takes the article "el" because it begins with the letter "a"; similarly astronauta, alma, and some others. To be sure, "la agua" is not exactly easily pronounced ... Correcto??

Could someone elaborate on this "rule"?

1784 views
updated May 4, 2011
edited by Lector_Constante
posted by Lector_Constante
because it begins with a stressed "a"; not because it begins with "a". - 0074b507, May 4, 2011

3 Answers

1
vote

Yeah, it's only if the first a sound is stressed. For example, it's el ave, but la amiga.

updated May 4, 2011
posted by someone09
thank you, just the example I was looking for! - Lector_Constante, May 4, 2011
1
vote
updated May 4, 2011
posted by Gocika
muchas gracias! - Lector_Constante, May 4, 2011
1
vote

Read qfreed's answer: it is because it is an initial tonic /a/ sound. The word arpa can also be spelled like harpa (less frequently in Spanish), and although both are feminine words, you have to use "el" with both of them.

updated May 4, 2011
posted by lazarus1907