Adjectives: Gender & Number Agreement
In Spanish, adjectives behave like mirrors—they must change their form to perfectly match the noun they describe in both gender and quantity.
Gender Match
Notice how the exact same color changes its ending depending on whether the noun is feminine (red) or masculine (blue).
La mesa blanca
The white table (Feminine)
El libro blanco
The white book (Masculine)
La mesa roja
The red table (Feminine)
El coche rojo
The red car (Masculine)
Number Match
When a noun becomes plural, you must also make the adjective plural by adding -s (or -es).
Las mesas blancas
The white tables (Fem. Plural)
Los libros blancos
The white books (Masc. Plural)
Las mesas rojas
The red tables (Fem. Plural)
Los coches rojos
The red cars (Masc. Plural)
Word Order & Stacking
Unlike English, adjectives generally follow the noun. When you stack multiple adjectives, they all line up after the noun and all must match it.
Las mesas blancas sucias rotas
The broken dirty white tables
The Golden Rule Example
The easiest way to remember the noun-adjective order in Spanish is to think of a famous global landmark that you already know.
La Casa Blanca
Literally: The House White
Meaning
The White House
Deep Dive
Must Know 100 Spanish Adjectives
The essential descriptive words you need for everyday conversation.
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Comparative Adjectives
Comparing people and things.
- • más alto que
- • menos interesante que
- • tan rápido como
Superlatives
Expressing the highest degree.
- • el más inteligente
- • la más bonita
- • muy importante