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"The" is a definite article which is often translated as "el", and "an" is an indefinite article which is often translated as "un". Learn more about the difference between "the" and "an" 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.
an(
ahn
)An indefinite article is a word that indicates that a noun is not specific (e.g., a girl).
1. (general)
A preposition is a word that indicates the relationship between a noun and another word (e.g., He ran through the door.).