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"El" is a form of "el", a definite article which is often translated as "the". "Rico" is an adjective which is often translated as "rich". Learn more about the difference between "el" and "rico" below.
el(
ehl
)A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).
rico(
rree
-
koh
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
1. (wealthy)
a. rich
Su sueño era hacerse rico y viajar por el mundo.Her dream was to become rich and travel the world.
2. (culinary)
b. tasty
Se me antoja algo rico, pero no sé qué quiero.I'm craving something tasty, but I don't know what I want.
c. yummy (colloquial)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
¡El pastel que hiciste te quedó bien rico!The cake you made turned out really yummy!
3. (abundant)
5. (seductive) (Central America) (Mexico)
Regionalism used in Central America: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama
Regionalism used in Mexico
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).
a. rich man (masculine)
Gloria siempre soñó con casarse con un rico.Gloria always dreamed of marrying a rich man.
b. rich woman (feminine)
Alberto quiere encontrarse a una rica para no tener que trabajar.Alberto wants to find himself a rich woman so he doesn't have to work.
los ricos
A plural noun indicates that there is more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
