More about Nouns

Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.

el profesor=professor
la profesora=professor

el doctor=doctor
la doctora=doctor

el señor=sir,mr.
la señora=madadam,mrs.

Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine. These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).

el estudiante=student
la estudiante=student

el pianista=pianist
la pianista=pianist

el artista=artist
la artista=artist

Nouns that end in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.

la televisión=television
la decisión=decision
la conversación=conversation
la habitación=room
la ciudad=city
la universidad=university
la dificultad=dificulty
la libertad=liberty
la actitud=actitude
la gratitud=gratitud
la certidumbre=certitude
la muchedumbre=crowd

Some nouns that end in -a are masculine.

el problema=problem
el telegrama=telegram
el programa=program
el mapa=map
el sistema=system
el poema=poem
el día=day
el tema=theme
el clima=climate
el idioma=language
el sofá=sofa
el planeta=planet

Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine. Notice that eight of the twelve nouns listed above end in -ma.

el telegrama=telegram
el programa=program
el problema=problem
el sistema=system
el poema=poem
el idioma=language
el clima=climate
el tema=theme

Note the exception: A few nouns that end in -ma are feminine, such as

la cama=bed

la pluma=pen

Four of the nouns that end in -a are masculine and must be memorized:

el día=day
el mapa=map
el planeta=planet
el sofá=sofa

EXCEPTION:A few nouns that end in -o are feminine.

la mano
la radio

Review of the rules learned so far:

1. Many nouns that denote living things have both a masculine and a feminine form.
2. Most nouns that end in -o are masculine.
3. A few nouns that end in -o are feminine- the exception to the rule
   
4. Most nouns that end in -a are feminine.
5. Many nouns that end in -ma are masculine.
6. Masculine nouns that end in a consonant often have a corresponding feminine form that ends in -a.
7. Some nouns that refer to people use the same form for both masculine and feminine. These nouns indicate gender by the article (el or la).
8. Nouns that end in -sión, -ción, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre are feminine.
   

Remember, whenever you learn a new noun, learn it complete with its definite article (el, la).