El ama de casa?
The learning materials that we use for the first three semesters of Spanish at the university include a website with various resources and exercises. You need a passcode that comes with the textbook to use the site. The site includes some good flashcards. One of these cards gives the English term "homemaker" (it also gives housekeeper but I believe homemaker is a better term) and when you flip the card, the response is "el ama de casa" and they indicate that "ama" can be masculine or feminine. I believe "ama" would be "mistress" (no, not in the sense that first came to mind). is "ama de casa" really masculine and the use of "el" correct?
2 Answers
Kirk,
The noun "ama" is feminine; however, it begins with a stressed "a" and as such it takes the masculine singular article. There is a set of such words, some of which I list below:
"el ama" but "las amas" / "el agua" but "las aguas" / "el arma" but "las armas"
The same rule applies to words beginning with a stressed "ha"
"el hacha" but "las hachas" There are more than 20 such words.
Adjectives are always feminine. For example:
"Un alba hermosa" but if the adjective interposes between the article and the noun, the normal feminine article is used:
"Una hermosa alba"
You can get the low-down on this topic in any decent grammar book.
For every time that I have heard it used, yes, "ama" can be both masculine and feminine.
