Infinitive as a Noun | Spanish (Latin America) Grammar

In English, we nounify verbs by adding -ing: smoking, reading, dancing. In Spanish, that job belongs to the infinitive. The -ar / -er / -ir form of any verb can be used directly as a noun, sometimes with the article el in front, and the result is always masculine singular.

The basic idea

The infinitive-as-noun translates almost exactly to the English gerund in meaning. It names an activity or a concept, not a specific event.

El fumar es malo para la salud.

Smoking is bad for your health.

Comer mucho es malo.

Eating a lot is bad.

Notice how the English gerund smoking or eating corresponds directly to the Spanish infinitive fumar or comer. This is the single most important thing to remember: Spanish never uses the gerund (-ando / -iendo) as a noun.

With or without el

You can use the article el before an infinitive-noun, or drop it. Both are correct, and the choice is largely stylistic.

With el: more formal, more abstract, often used in headings, titles, and written prose.
Without el: more common in everyday speech.

El hablar en público es difícil.

Speaking in public is difficult.

Hablar en público es difícil.

Speaking in public is difficult.

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In conversation, dropping the el is perfectly natural. Keep the el when you want to feel more formal or when the infinitive is the main subject of a sentence you're writing.

Always masculine singular

No matter what the infinitive describes, when it's used as a noun it's treated as masculine singular. Adjectives and verbs agreeing with it must be singular and masculine.

El correr es muy saludable.

Running is very healthy.

Leer libros me hace feliz.

Reading books makes me happy.

As the subject

The infinitive-noun is especially common as the subject of a sentence — the thing we're saying something about.

Spanish	English
Estudiar es importante.	Studying is important.
Viajar abre la mente.	Traveling opens the mind.
(El) fumar puede matar.	Smoking can kill.
No hacer nada también es una opción.	Doing nothing is also an option.

After gustar and similar verbs

Verbs in the gustar family — gustar, encantar, interesar, molestar, aburrir — take the infinitive as their grammatical subject when the thing liked is an activity. Remember to keep the main verb singular, because the infinitive counts as a single (masculine) noun.

Me gusta cocinar los domingos.

I like cooking on Sundays.

Nos encanta viajar.

We love traveling.

Impersonal instructions and signs

A common use of the bare infinitive is in impersonal instructions: signs, recipes, forms, and public notices. The infinitive acts like a direct, no-nonsense noun-imperative.

Spanish	English
No fumar.	No smoking.
No pisar el césped.	Do not walk on the grass.
Empujar.	Push.
Mezclar los ingredientes.	Mix the ingredients.

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On signs and in recipes, Spanish uses the infinitive where English might use either the imperative ("Push") or the gerund ("No smoking"). If you're writing a sign or a recipe, the infinitive is your safest, most neutral option.

Common mistake: don't use the gerund here

The biggest error English speakers make is reaching for the gerund in these noun-like slots. Remember:

Wrong: Fumando es malo.
Right: Fumar es malo. / El fumar es malo.

Nadar todos los días es bueno para el corazón.

Swimming every day is good for the heart.

For more about when Spanish uses the infinitive and when it uses other forms, see the overview and the page on infinitives after prepositions.