Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about El delfín nada en el mar.
Why is there a definite article (El) before delfín?
In Spanish, El is the masculine singular definite article (equivalent to the in English). Spanish uses articles more consistently than English. Here El delfín means the dolphin. If you wanted to say a dolphin, you would use the indefinite article Un delfín nada en el mar.
Why does delfín have an accent on the í?
Spanish accent rules dictate where the stress falls. Words ending in a vowel, n, or s are normally stressed on the penultimate syllable. delfín ends in n but the stress is on the last syllable, so we add an accent mark: del-FÍN. Without it, Spanish speakers would pronounce it as DEL-fin.
What form of the verb is nada here?
Here, nada is the third person singular present indicative of nadar (to swim). It means he/she/it swims. So El delfín nada = The dolphin swims.
But nada also means nothing. How do I know which meaning to choose?
Context is key. When nada follows a noun doing an action (delfín nada), it has to be the verb “swim.” The adverb nada meaning “nothing” usually appears with a negation context (e.g. no dice nada = “he doesn’t say anything”).
Why is en used instead of a before el mar?
En indicates location (“in” or “on”), so en el mar means in the sea. A indicates movement toward something (“to”), as in va al mar (“he goes to the sea”). Since the dolphin is swimming inside the sea, we use en.
Could I say en el océano instead of en el mar? What’s the difference?
Yes, you could: El delfín nada en el océano. Mar (sea) often refers to smaller or coastal bodies of saltwater, while océano (ocean) refers to a vast expanse like the Atlantic or Pacific. Both are correct—it just depends on what you mean.
How would I say The dolphins swim in the sea in Spanish?
You’d pluralize the noun, article, and verb: Los delfines nadan en el mar.
Can I use a progressive form like is swimming in Spanish?
Yes. Spanish uses estar + gerundio for continuous actions: El delfín está nadando en el mar. But note that the simple present (nada) often conveys the same idea in Spanish, both for habitual actions and for actions happening now.