Singular masculine nouns take the definite article el or the indefinite article un.
Nouns that end in –o are usually masculine:
el amigo | the (male) friend |
el banco | the bank |
un baño | a bathroom |
un clavo | a nail |
la mano | the hand |
la moto(cicleta) | the motorbike |
una foto(grafía) | a photograph |
Nouns that end in –l are usually masculine:
el tonel | the tunnel |
un hotel | a hotel |
la miel | the honey |
la sal | the salt |
Nouns that end in –r are usually masculine:
el tractor | the tractor |
un altar | an altar |
la coliflor | the cauliflower |
una labor | a task |
Nouns that end in –y are usually masculine:
el rey | the king |
un buey | an ox |
la ley | the law |