Contributor: Tara Ondra. Lesson ID: 13253
Look at the objects in your study space. You've got pencils and pens, maybe a notebook, perhaps a desk or table. Let's learn how to name all those things in Spanish!
One of the best ways to learn a language is to start by naming the objects around you -- starting with your study area.
To learn the names of a few classroom objects, watch Classroom Objects Rap from Maestra Erin:
Phew! That was a lot of words!
Take it slowly. You learn a new language bit by bit through practice, and that's just what we're going to do.
Let's practice objects in the Sala de clase using flashcards.
Once you've practiced listening to each word, go through the flashcards a second time and repeat the name of each object.
This is a lot of new vocabulary, so go through the flash cards as many times as you need to.
Understanding Nouns and Gender
In English, nouns are proceeded by a definite article (the) or indefinite article (a/an). In the flashcards above, each English translation began with the.
In Spanish, however, the article takes on the gender of the noun.
Yes, every noun (person, place, thing) in Spanish is either masculine or feminine. This may seem strange to a native English speaker, but the Romance languages of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese all classify nouns as masculine or feminine.
It takes a lot of practice and repetition to get it right, but we have some rules to help.
When you are ready, move on to the Got It? section to practice your new vocabulary. ¡Vamos!