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"Apellido" is a form of "apellido", a noun which is often translated as "last name". "La" is a definite article which is often translated as "the". Learn more about the difference between "la" and "apellido" below.
la(
lah
)
A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).
definite article
a. the
La pelota está en el tejado.The ball is on the roof.
La leche está en el refrigerador.The milk is in the refrigerator.
A pronoun is a word that stands in for a noun (e.g., she).
pronoun
a. her
Quiero conocer a tu esposa. Si puedes, tráela la próxima vez.I want to meet your wife. If you can, bring her next time.
b. it
La carne que probamos estaba deliciosa. ¿Podemos comerla en la cena?The meat we tried was delicious. Can we have it for dinner?
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. A
"Toca un la", le dijo el cantante al pianista."Give me an A," said the singer to the pianist.
b. la (solfège)
La canción va así: "la, si, la, do".The song goes like this: "la, ti, la, do."
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el apellido(
ah
-
peh
-
yee
-
doh
)
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
masculine noun
a. last name
¿Podría deletrearme su apellido, por favor?Could you spell your last name, please?
b. surname
La gente normalmente tiene dos apellidos en los países hispanos.People usually have two surnames in Hispanic countries.
c. family name
Tienes que escribir el apellido en esa casilla.You have to write your family name in that box.
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