Spanish Adjective Agreement: A Complete Guide

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. 

In Spanish, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify. How?

Let’s learn!

Adjective Agreement

In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with what they describe.

If the object you want to describe is plural and masculine, for example, the adjective you use must be plural and masculine, too.

• el perro negro
• la perra negra

• los gatos blancos
• las gatas blancas

To describe two singular nouns joined by the word “and”, use a plural adjective.

• el perro y el gato negros

• la perra y la gata negras

To describe masculine and feminine nouns at the same time, use a masculine adjective.

• Esa camisa y ese pantalón son muy caros.

The word camisa is feminine, and the word pantalón is masculine. That’s why the masculine adjective caros is used to describe them.

How are masculine and feminine adjectives formed? Let’s learn!

For a list of common Spanish adjectives visit the post called Spanish Adjectives for Physical Appearance and Personality. 

Adjective Gender

Adjectives are words that help us describe objects, people, places, etc.

In Spanish, there are masculine and feminine adjectives. However, you will most likely see only the masculine form of adjectives in dictionaries.

If a masculine adjective ends in -o, change that -o for an -a to make it feminine.

Let’s see some examples!

• guapo ➝ guapa

• italiano ➝ italiana

• largo ➝ larga

If an adjective ends in -or or a stressed vowel (the vowel where you put the strength of your voice) + -n, add an -a to make it feminine.

• hablador ➝ habladora

• catalán ➝ catalana

• llorón ➝ llorona

A few adjectives can be used to describe both, masculine and feminine nouns. These are some.

• lila (purple)

• azul (blue)

• verde (green)

• naranja (orange)

• marrón (brown)

• gris (gray)

• hipócrita (hypocritical)

• amable (kind)

• fuerte (strong)

• pobre (poor)

• pacifista (pacifist)

• socialista (socialist)

• joven (young)

• feliz (happy)

Now you know how to form masculine and feminine adjectives. 

But how about making them singular or plural? Let’s see!

Adjective Number

Form plural adjectives the same way you form plural nouns in Spanish.

If a singular adjective ends in vowel, simply add -s to make it plural.

• guapo ➝ guapos

• italiana ➝ italianas

• verde ➝ verdes

If a singular adjective ends in consonant, simply add -es.

• marrón ➝ marrones

• azul ➝ azules

• joven ➝ jóvenes

Be careful with the consonant -z! If a singular adjective ends in -z, eliminate it and add -ces instead. 

• feliz ➝ felices

• feroz ➝ feroces

• sagaz ➝ sagaces

Adjectives After Nouns

In Spanish, adjectives can be placed before or after the noun they describe.

Place Spanish adjectives after the object they describe to distinguish it from other objects.

• ¿Prefieres el apartamento grande or la casa pequeña? 

• Do you prefer the big apartment or the small house?

Some adjectives can only be placed after nouns. Those are the ones that express color, shape and origin.

• Color: azul, amarillo, negro, blanco, lila, etc.

• Shape: redondo, cuadrado, alargado, recto, ovalado, rectangular, etc.

• Origin: italiano, americano, internacional, etc.

Adjectives Before Nouns

Place adjectives before nouns to highlight the qualities of an object. Some adjectives that can be used before nouns are the following.

• largo (long)

• corto (short)

• frío (cold)

• caliente (hot)

• pequeño (small)

• gran (big)

• buen (good)

• mal (bad)

• rápido (fast)

• lento (slow)

• claro (light)

• oscuro (dark)

• viejo (old)

• joven (young)

Adjectives that indicate order are usually placed before nouns.

• Él fue su primer esposo. 
• He was her first husband.

• Dame una segunda oportunidad.
• Give me a second chance.

Gran vs Grande

The adjectives grande (big), bueno (good), malo (bad), primero (first) and tercero (third) change when they are placed before singular nouns. Look!

• una gran casa 

• un buen libro 

• un mal día 

• el primer capítulo 

• el tercer piso

Bueno, malo, primero, and tercero only change when they are used with singular nouns that are masculine.