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"El" is a form of "el", a definite article which is often translated as "the". "Ala" is a noun which is often translated as "wing". Learn more about the difference between "el" and "ala" below.
el(
ehl
)A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).
el ala(
ah
-
lah
)A feminine noun is almost always used with feminine articles and adjectives (e.g., la mujer bonita, la luna llena).
1. (anatomy)
a. wing (of a bird, bat or insect)
Me encontré un pájaro con un ala rota.I found a bird with a broken wing.
2. (aviation)
a. wing
La ventanilla de mi asiento daba a las alas del avión.The window beside my seat looked out over the wings of the airplane.
a. wing
El incendio empezó en el ala norte del edificio.The fire started in the north wing of the building.
4. (sports)
5. (military)
6. (faction)
a. wing
El ala izquierda del partido quería convocar elecciones.The left wing of the party wanted to hold elections.
a. eaves
El ave construyó un nido bajo el ala del tejado.The bird built a nest under the eaves of the roof.
a. leaf
Compré una mesa extensible con dos alas laterales.I bought an extending table with two side leaves.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
