Showing results for la
la
the
The feminine form of the word "the"
Encoding Strategies:
repetition
La is the feminine form of the and points at some definite thing0 that's known or understood in context.
la
the (specific thing)
Points at something specific that's already known or clear from context.
- La mesa está en la cocina = The table is in the kitchen
- Las flores ya están secas = The flowers are already dry
my, your, his, her, their, our (posession implied from context)
When who owns something is already clear from context, Spanish doesn't feel the need to label the owner. It just marks it as a definite, known thing with 'la.'
- Se rompió la pierna = She broke her leg (she broke the leg)
- Nos cepillamos los dientes = We brush our teeth (we brush the teeth)
(universal concepts)
Spanish treats universal concepts as specific known things (e.g. one universal concept of love), whereas English treats them as vague or general.
- La música me relaja = Music relaxes me (the music relaxes me)
- La libertad es importante = Freedom is important (the freedom is important)
la que
the one that, the one who
'La' points at a specific thing without naming it, then 'que' narrows down which one.
- La que llegó primero ganó = The one who arrived first won
- La que más me gusta es esa = The one I like most is that one (the one that I like)
la de
the one of, the one from, the one
'La' points at a specific thing without naming it, then 'de' narrows down which one.
- La de la esquina = The one on the corner (the one from the corner)
- La de rojo es mi hermana = The one in red is my sister (the one of red)