Words that begin with sound of A

Question

Words that start with the a sound use the direct article of 'el' for example:

el agua
el área
el hacha

but are those words still femine when you apply adjectives to them or are the masculine

el área es larga
o
el área es largo

Gracias de antemano

Answer 1

Cuando el artículo "el" se encuentra ante palabras femeninas que empiezan con a- ha- tónicas: el agua, el hada, pero en plural se dice: las aguas, las hadas. El artículo "el" no es masculino, sino una variante de "la", ya que ambas formas proceden del pronombre demostrativo latino illa (illa > ella/ela > el/la), mientras que "el" como artículo masculino viene de ille (ille > ell > el/él).

Answer 2

You obviously didn't read a past post between Heidita and the now missing Cherry. It was about a definition from the RAE and another Bona Fide well known (in Spain that is) Spanish dictionary, just wish I could remember the one. It was very lenghty and got quite heated. Both stood by their dictionary's interpretation. Also, not too sure it is relevant to your argument, but it was funny.

Answer 3

Here is the definitive word:

The RAE says feminine. So the other dictionaries are wrong, and my original post stands.

[url=http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta'TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=area]http://buscon.rae.es/draeI/SrvltConsulta'TIPO_BUS=3&LEMA=area[/url]

Answer 4

All I can add is according to "Collins" dictionary, área is feminine.

Answer 5

The question is whether área is masculine or feminine. Some dictionaries list it as masculine, including the one attached to this site, but googling seems to indicate otherwise.

Answer 6

Surely in the plural the definite article reverts to "default" ie

el agua - las aguas

Answer 7

So it is.

Answer 8

You guys cover everything so well, not much anyone could add to it (them').

Answer 9

Could it be a simple error in the dictionary? I just checked other online diciconaries and they list the words as femine.

Answer 10

No, lo que es cierto es que "palabra masculina" es correcta.

Answer 11

Hi Nate
Take note of what James has said, however, bear in mind that if an adjective is used in front of a verb where cacophony (forced sound) occured, you revert back to the female definite article, example
El agua - The water (cacophony)
La misma agua - The same water (no cacophony)

Answer 12

Por ejemplo dice que la palabra area es masculina

Hmmm, I see what you mean. (And, Eddy, "masculina" is a perfectly good word.) But "las áreas" gets nearly a million googits, while "los áreas" gets only about 3000.

What do the natives say'

Answer 13

oops si es cierto

Answer 14

Hi nate
No existe la palabra "masculina"

Answer 15

Gracias por ayudarme. Así lo aprendí yo también pero el diccionario dice que algunas de estas palabras son masculinas y entonces me confundí. Por ejemplo dice que la palabra area es masculina.