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"The" is a definite article which is often translated as "el", and "a" is an indefinite article which is often translated as "un". Learn more about the difference between "the" and "a" below.
the(
thuh
)A definite article is a word that identifies a noun as specific or known to the speaker (e.g., the girl).
1. (general)
c. los (plural, masculine)
I like all the dresses in the store.Me gustan todos los vestidos de la tienda.
a(
ey
)An indefinite article is a word that indicates that a noun is not specific (e.g., a girl).
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).
A noun is a word referring to a person, animal, place, thing, feeling, or idea (e.g., man, dog, house).
3. (letter)
4. (grade)
a. el sobresaliente (M)
(m) means that a noun is masculine. Spanish nouns have a gender, which is either feminine (like la mujer or la luna) or masculine (like el hombre or el sol).
I got an A on all my exams.Saqué sobresaliente en todos los exámenes.
5. (music)
An abbreviation is the shortened form of a word or group of words (e.g., "UFO" = "unidentified flying object"; "p." = "page").
a. A
How many N is 1 A?¿A cuántos N equivale 1 A?
The intensity of this electric current is 10 A.La intensidad de esta corriente eléctrica es de 10 A.