El and La usage question

Question

Here is a question about el or la usage in a word. When saying 'the radio', you should say 'El radio' because it is a masculine word and ends with 'o'. So why is the answer 'la radio'?

Bienvenido al foro. - annierats, Jan 20, 2016

Answer 1

El radio- always for the element radium, and the bone of the arm, the radius, and the math term the radius.

Originally la radio for the programming, el radio for the device, now used somewhat interchangeably with regional variation for what we listen to.

(Keep in mind in Spanish la televisión should refer to the programming, el televisor for the set, even though we don't always follow that.)

Like la moto (la motocicleta), la foto (la fotografía)- it is a shortening of an originally feminine word, which DRAE lists as radiodifusión- but note the word reference link suggests other options.

To understand fully read both links. If you are not advanced enough to do so, probably what I have written is sufficient for now.

And don't think all words that end in o are masculine- like la mano which is not shortened it is just feminine.

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/la-radio-el-radio-article.1329131/

much discussion in the above link, you should read it directly so I will not bring it over. The below link I will bring over- it is from DRAE, the ultimate authority:

http://buscon.rae.es/dpd/?key=radio&origen=REDPD

________________________________________ radio. 1. Este sustantivo es masculino cuando significa ‘línea que va del centro de un círculo a cualquier punto de la circunferencia’, ‘hueso del brazo’ y ‘elemento químico radiactivo’. Como acortamiento de radiotelegrama, es también masculino; pero como acortamiento de radiotelegrafista, es común en cuanto al género (? GÉNERO2, 1a y 3a): el/la radio.

1. Es femenino cuando, por acortamiento de radiodifusión, significa ‘transmisión mediante ondas hertzianas de programas destinados al público’ o se emplea para designar alguna de las emisoras que se dedican a ello: «La radio se impuso como el medio de comunicación de masas por excelencia»(Puyo Bogotá [Col. 1992]). Cuando, por acortamiento de radiorreceptor,significa ‘aparato con el que se escuchan los sonidos transmitidos mediante ondas hertzianas’, se usa en ambos géneros, dependiendo de las zonas; así, en España es siempre femenino, género preferido también en los países del Cono Sur: «Aragón no pudo soportarlo y apagó la radio» (Clarín [Arg.] 12.2.97); pero en gran parte de América (México, Centroamérica, las Antillas, el Ecuador, Colombia y Venezuela) se usa normalmente en masculino:«Encendieron el radio y oyeron la noticia una vez más» (Gamboa Páginas[Col. 1998]). Cuando forma parte del nombre de una emisora concreta, se escribe con mayúscula inicial: «La emisora Radio España Independiente se dirigió a los españoles como si nada hubiera ocurrido» (Gironella Hombres[Esp. 1986]).

2. Para designar el elemento químico debe preferirse la forma hispanizadaradio a la latinizante rádium: «Hahn y Strassmann ensayan el único elemento semejante al radio: el bario» (GtzJodrá Química [Esp. 1981]).

Bosque, you leave nothing to be said.. - annierats, Jan 20, 2016

Clearly I prefer complete answers to short simple answers. I have been criticized for overwhelming people before. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 20, 2016

But this is answer that even more advanced learners can benefit from reading. ;) - bosquederoble, Jan 20, 2016

It would be nice if I could sound like I knew how to speak English...But this is an answer that.... - bosquederoble, Jan 20, 2016

Haha, join the club. - HackerKing, Jan 21, 2016

Answer 2

It is probably regional, but in Mexico the complete term is la radio difusora, so the shortened version is la radio.

The RAE notes: radiodifusión (? empresa dedicada a la emisión radiotelefónica).

The license that used to be required to work as a radio announcer was called "radio telephone operator permit" in the USA.

Yes, I think it is just like ' la foto'... - annierats, Jan 20, 2016

Y al aparato (la radio hombre) como le dicen. :D - chileno, Jan 20, 2016

Answer 3

El radio porque es un aparato

La radio porque es la difusora.

But in practice people refer to it (the device) as la radio or el radio without distinctions, meaning that it is regional.

Answer 4

Hi Matjam!

I think it is kind of exception. As it is for the word "water".

Like water , the singular form of water is "el agua" but the plural form of water is "las aguas". Actually water is a femenine word in Spanish.
Exceptions like that ;

• el alma - las almas
• el hacha - las hachas
• el arma - las armas

I am not a native speaker so I might be wrong.

Edit : Yeah I was wrong, that was not what you've asked for but nevertheless it's good to learn more.

And also I've found this. If you want to take a look.

Here is the link

En apariencia el sustantivo radio parece tener también dos géneros, pero en realidad se refiere a dos cosas diferentes. Si se alude al radiorreceptor, que es la caja electrónica que reproduce los sonidos, entonces es el radio. Si nos referimos a la radiodifusión, que es el medio de transmisión, entonces es la radio. Es decir, prendemos el radio para escuchar la radio. De igual modo, tenemos un televisor para ver la televisión.

No this is not like the feminine words that start with stressed a. It is like the shortened words moto and foto. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 20, 2016

Yeah you are welcome ahah it took a while to understand the question. Sorry But I searched a bit and found something worth to read :D - AndréYuhai, Jan 20, 2016

It is still a good subject to remind people of, as many people don't understand why it is el agua but las aguas. :) - bosquederoble, Jan 20, 2016

Thanks for the support bosquederoble! :) - AndréYuhai, Jan 20, 2016

Answer 5

There are many exceptions and ' la radio' happens to be one of them. Here is a link to enable you to listen to many radio broadcasts and programs.

radio channels in Spanish