Determiners are small words that go before a noun to specify which one, how many, or whose. In Spanish, almost every common noun needs some kind of determiner in front of it — you rarely say just libro on its own; you say el libro, un libro, mi libro, este libro, or algún libro.
The defining feature of Spanish determiners is agreement: they must match the noun in gender (masculine or feminine) and usually in number (singular or plural). A single determiner often has four forms.
The Five Main Categories
Spanish determiners fall into five overlapping groups. Each has its own article in this guide, but here is the big picture.
| Category | Examples | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | el, la, un, una | the, a/an |
| Possessives | mi, tu, su, nuestro | my, your, his/her, our |
| Demonstratives | este, ese, aquel | this, that, that over there |
| Indefinites | alguno, ninguno, otro, todo | some, no, another, all |
| Quantifiers | mucho, poco, bastante, tanto | much, few, enough, so many |
Articles
Articles are the most common determiners. Definite articles (el, la, los, las) point to a specific noun, while indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas) introduce a new one.
El gato duerme en la cama.
The cat sleeps on the bed.
Necesito un lápiz y una hoja.
I need a pencil and a sheet of paper.
See Definite Articles for the full picture.
Possessives
Possessives tell us whose. The short forms (mi, tu, su, nuestro) go before the noun; the long forms (mío, tuyo, suyo) go after the noun or stand alone.
Mi hermana vive en Lima.
My sister lives in Lima.
Un amigo mío es de Guadalajara.
A friend of mine is from Guadalajara.
More in Short-Form Possessives.
Demonstratives
Demonstratives mark distance. Spanish has three degrees where English has only two.
Este café, ese té y aquel jugo.
This coffee, that tea, and that juice (over there).
Details in Demonstrative Adjectives.
Indefinites and Quantifiers
Indefinites leave the identity of the noun vague (alguno, ninguno, otro), while quantifiers give a rough amount (mucho, poco, todo, bastante).
No veo ningún problema con esa idea.
I don't see any problem with that idea.
Agreement: The One Rule That Matters
Whatever category a determiner belongs to, it must agree with its noun. A feminine plural noun takes a feminine plural determiner.
Todas estas otras muchachas son mis amigas.
All these other girls are my friends.
Notice how todas, estas, otras, and mis all match muchachas (feminine plural).
Related Topics
- Definite Articles (El, La, Los, Las)A1 — The four forms of the definite article and how they agree with the noun's gender and number
- Short-Form Possessives (Mi, Tu, Su)A1 — The short-form possessive adjectives that go before a noun
- Demonstrative Adjectives (Este, Ese, Aquel)A1 — Three degrees of distance for 'this', 'that', and 'that one over there'