El geranio está en la ventana.

In Spanish, a singular countable noun usually needs some kind of determiner, such as el, un, este, mi, etc.

So:

• el geranio = the geranium
• un geranio = a geranium

Saying just geranio by itself would usually sound incomplete in a normal sentence like this.

Yes. In Spanish, every noun has a grammatical gender, usually masculine or feminine. That gender does not necessarily reflect biological sex.

• el geranio is masculine
• la ventana is feminine

This is why the articles are different:

• el for masculine singular nouns
• la for feminine singular nouns

So here, geranio is simply a masculine noun, and that is why it takes el.

Often, yes. Many Spanish nouns ending in -a are feminine, so ventana is feminine and takes la.

That said, this is only a common pattern, not an absolute rule. There are exceptions in Spanish, so it is best to learn the gender together with the noun:

• la ventana
• el geranio

Spanish has two common verbs meaning to be: ser and estar.

Here, estar is used because the sentence gives a location:

• El geranio está en la ventana. = The geranium is at/on/in the window.

A very common rule for learners is:

• ser for identity, origin, characteristics
• estar for location and temporary states

So for location, estar is the normal choice.

Está is the third person singular form of estar in the present tense.

The verb estar goes:

• yo estoy
• tú estás
• él / ella / usted está
• nosotros estamos
• vosotros estáis
• ellos / ellas / ustedes están

So está matches el geranio, which is singular:

• El geranio está...

The accent mark shows where the stress goes: es-TÁ.

It also helps distinguish it from esta, which can be a demonstrative word:

• esta ventana = this window

So:

• está = is
• esta = this

That written accent is important.

Spanish often leaves out subject pronouns when they are not needed, because the verb ending already shows the person and number.

In English, you need:

• It is in the window.

In Spanish, you normally just say:

• Está en la ventana.

If you want to include the noun, you can say:

• El geranio está en la ventana.

Spanish does have pronouns like él and ella, but using them all the time would sound much less natural than in English.

En is a very common preposition that can correspond to several English prepositions depending on context, including in, on, and at.

So en la ventana could be understood as:

• in the window
• on the window
• at the window

In natural English, this sentence is often translated more idiomatically as on the windowsill or in the window, depending on the situation.

This is normal: Spanish and English do not always divide space in exactly the same way.

Not necessarily. In Spanish, en la ventana can be used more broadly than the literal English in the window.

In context, it often means the geranium is positioned at the window area, very commonly what English speakers might describe as:

• in the window
• at the window
• on the windowsill

So the Spanish is natural even if the exact English wording changes slightly depending on the scene.

This is the most neutral, standard word order in Spanish:

subject + verb + prepositional phrase

So:

• El geranio = subject
• está = verb
• en la ventana = location

Spanish word order is somewhat flexible, and you could change it for emphasis:

• En la ventana está el geranio.

But the original version is the normal, straightforward one for a beginner to learn first.

In Spain, g before e is pronounced with a strong throaty sound, similar to the j in Spanish jamón.

So geranio is pronounced approximately:

• heh-RA-nyo with a Spanish r
• more exactly: /xeˈɾa.njo/

A few key points:

• ge sounds like a strong Spanish h
• the r in geranio is a single tapped r
• ni + o here sounds like nyo

Geranio is a normal and common word for geranium. It is especially familiar in Spain, where geraniums are very common on balconies and windows.

So this sentence sounds natural and everyday.

Yes, grammatically you could. It would mean A geranium is in/on the window.

The difference is:

• El geranio points to a specific geranium already known or identified
• Un geranio introduces one geranium without specifying which one

So both are possible, but they mean slightly different things.

Usually en la ventana is the more natural choice here.

Sobre often means on top of or over, and it can sound more physically precise. If you say:

• sobre la ventana

it may suggest the plant is literally on top of the window structure, not just at the window.

So for a plant placed in the window area, en la ventana is generally the better everyday expression.