Definite Articles of Countries and Specific Places in Spanish
If your goal as a Spanish learner is to sound like a native, knowing the names of countries in Spanish is super important!
Read this article to learn the names of Spanish places and their definite articles.
The Importance of Definite Articles in Spanish
As you’ve probably learned, definite articles in Spanish are the English equivalent of “the.”
However, in Spanish, definite articles differ when you refer to feminine versus masculine subjects. It’s important to learn how to differentiate between them in order to use the correct definite article.
It’s also key that you understand whether you are using a singular or plural noun, so that you use the appropriate definite article. For example:
La ciudad es hermosa.
The city is beautiful.
The sentence above has a singular feminine noun (ciudad), so it uses a singular feminine definite article: la.
Los niños están jugando afuera.
The boys are playing outside.
The sentence above uses a plural masculine noun (niños), so it needs a plural masculine definite article: los.
Looking to dive deeper? Check out: Guide to Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish
Names of Countries and Places in Spanish
I’ve prepared this awesome list of countries, places, and geographical spots that need a definite article in Spanish to express yourself correctly. Are you ready?
America – América
| English | Spanish |
| Argentina | la Argentina, Argentina |
| Brazil | el Brasil, Brasil |
| Canada | el Canadá, Canada |
| Ecuador | el Ecuador, Ecuador |
| Florida | la Florida, Florida |
| Peru | el Perú |
| United States | los Estados Unidos |
The Caribbean – El Caribe
| English | Spanish |
| Cayman Islands | las Islas Caimán |
| Dominican Republic | la República Dominicana |
| Havana | la Habana |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | las Islas Turcas y Caicos |
| United States Virgin Islands | las Islas Vírgenes de los Estados Unidos |
Europe – Europa
- The Hague – La Haya
- the Netherlands – los Países Bajos
- the United Kingdom – el Reino Unido
Africa – África
- Cairo – el Cairo
- Cameroon – el Camerún
Asia – Asia
| English | Spanish |
| China | la China |
| India | la India |
| Irak | el Irak |
| Iran | el Irán |
| Japan | el Japón, Japón |
| Lebanon | el Líbano |
| Mecca | la Mecca |
| Nepal | el Nepal, Nepal |
| Saudi Arabia | la Arabia Saudita |
| The Philippines | las Filipinas |
| Tibet | el Tíbet |
Islands
| English | Spanish |
| Dalmatian Islands | las Islas Dálmatas |
| Galapagos Islands | las Islas Galápagos |
| Greater Antilles | las Antillas Menores |
| Lesser Antilles | las Antillas Menores |
| Maldives | Las Maldivas |
| Seychelles | Las Seychelles |
| The Bahamas | Las Bahamas |
| The Cook Islands | las Islas Cook |
PRO TIP: For islands whose names are plural, you always need to use the definite article las. In cases where Las is written with a capital letter, it means that this word belongs to the proper name of the island.
Describing Countries
When talking about a country or place, you usually add adjectives or other types of descriptions. In this case, you need to add a definite article to the name of the country, even if it doesn’t need one when referring to it in general terms.
Use this grammar formula to make it simpler:
Subject and Verb + a + definite article + country + adjective (or adjective + country)
Generally, you combine the preposition a with the definite article el to create the word al. For example:
Voy al México bello.
I am going to the beautiful Mexico.
The rule above doesn’t apply when using the definite article la.
Example Sentences in Spanish
¿Has ido al hermoso Palacio de Versalles?
Have you gone to the beautiful Palace of Versailles?
Quiero ir al famoso Cairo.
I want to go to world-famous Cairo.
Ella irá al impresionante Chichén Itzá.
She will go to the amazing Chichen Itzá.
Using Definite Articles with Proper Names
Many countries have definite articles as part of their proper name. In these cases, you must use the correct name of the country with a capital letter. Moreover, you do not combine the preposition a with el.
Example Sentences
Nunca he ido a El Salvador.
I have never been to El Salvador.
Me muero por ir a Las Bahamas.
I’m dying to go to The Bahamas.
Regions and Other Places in Spanish
Other important terms complement the names of countries in Spanish. Check out these rules on the use of definite articles and capitalization.
1. Cardinal Points (Los puntos cardinales)
In Spanish, we capitalize the cardinal points and add the definite article that precedes them.
Example Sentences in Spanish
Nuevo León está en el Norte de México
Nuevo León is in the north of Mexico
Amazonas está en el Sur de Colombia
Amazonas is in the south of Colombia
2. Poles and Hemispheres (Los polos y los hemisferios)
We capitalize the names of the poles and add the definite article.
Example Sentences in Spanish
Ahora, es invierno en el Hemisferio Norte.
Right now, it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
Argentina está cerca del Polo Sur.
Argentina is close to the South Pole.
PRO TIP: In the last sentence, we apply the rule of combining prepositions with definite articles. In this case, we combine de + el to turn it into del.
3. Mountains (Las montañas)
We use definite articles to refer to mountains or similar natural elevations. Always take note of those whose definite article belongs to the proper name.
- Mount Everest – el Everest
- Mount Kilimanjaro – el Monte Kilimanjaro
Example Sentences in Spanish
Me gustaría conocer Los Alpes.
I would like to see The Alps.
Los Andes son impresionantes.
The Andes are impressive.
4. Oceans and Seas (Los océanos y los mares)
We add definite articles to the names of oceans and seas and capitalize their proper names.
Example Sentences in Spanish
El océano Pacífico es el más grande y profundo de las divisiones del océano.
The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of the ocean’s divisions.
El mar Mediterráneo está casi completamente rodeado de tierra.
The Mediterranean Sea is almost completely surrounded by land.
5. Lakes and Rivers (Los lagos y los ríos)
We add definite articles to the names of lakes and rivers and capitalize their proper names.
- Nile River – el río Nilo
- Lake Victoria – el lago Victoria
¿Has visto el lago de Amatitlán?
Have you seen Lake Amatitlan?
El río Amazonas es el más grande del mundo.
The Amazon River is the largest in the world.
6. US States (Los estados)
We add the definite article to all US states when referring to them as “the state of _______.” When you refer to them only by their name, you don’t add a definite article.
Example Sentences in Spanish
Voy al estado de Nueva York.
I’m going to New York state.
Quisiera visitar el estado de Texas.
I would like to visit the state of Texas.
7. Cities (Las ciudades)
When talking about cities, you need to include the feminine article la.
- Vatican City – la Ciudad del Vaticano
- Kuwait City – la Ciudad de Kuwait
See also: Types of Spanish Words You Shouldn’t Capitalize
When to Exclude the Definite Article
Aside from many major cities, here are two other cases when you don’t have to use a definite article.
1. Continents (Los continentes)
In Spanish, we do not add the definite article to continents.
| English | Spanish |
| America | América |
| Africa | África |
| Asia | Asia |
| Europe | Europa |
| Oceania | Oceanía |
PRO TIP: When referring to the Caribbean in Spanish, do add the definite article: El Caribe.
2. Some Islands (Algunas islas)
Unlike the islands we covered above, we don’t add a definite article to those with singular names. Here are some of them:
- Bora Bora
- Santorini
- Bali
- Fiji
Definite Article Quiz
Are you ready to test your knowledge? Take this short quiz and find out if you’ve mastered the use of the definite article for names of countries in Spanish!
1. Choose the correct use of definite articles
2. Choose the incorrect use of definite articles
3. Choose the word you would add a definite article to:
4. Choose the word you would not add a definite article to:
5. Choose the correct sentence:
6. Choose the incorrect sentence:
7. Fill in the blank: El próximo año visitaré ________ África
8. Fill in the blank: Vamos de viaje _______ ciudad de Roma.
9. Choose the correct use of definite articles:
10. Choose the incorrect use of definite articles:
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