Welcome to our grammar lesson about short-form adjectives in Spanish.
There are several adjectives in Spanish that have a shortened form, which we must use in some circumstances.
This shortened forms are called “apócopes”.
In this lesson we will learn all about Spanish short-form adjectives, and read example sentences.
At the end you’ll find a Quiz and an Exercise for practice.
Adjectives that have a short form
The following table show the most important Spanish adjectives that have a shortened form:
| Adjective | Short Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| grande | gran | big, great |
| bueno | buen | good |
| malo | mal | bad |
| uno | un | one, a |
| alguno | algún | some, any |
| ninguno | ningún | non, any |
| cualquiera | cualquier | any one, any |
| primero | primer | first |
| decimoprimero | decimoprimer | eleventh |
| tercero | tercer | third |
| decimotercero | decimotercer | thirteenth |
When do we use the shortened forms?
Not all adjectives with a shortened form behave in the same way:
- Some adjectives are shortened only before masculine singular nouns.
- Other adjectives are shortened before all singular nouns, regardless of gender.
To illustrate this point, let’s take the adjective “bueno”. “Bueno” is only shortened when placed before a masculine singular noun:
Este es un buen coche.
This is a good car.
The shortening doesn’t happen before a feminine singular noun:
Es una buena chica.
She’s a good girl.
And of course, it doesn’t happen before a plural noun:
Son buenos chicos.
They are good kids.
Adjectives we shorten before masculine singular nouns
bueno → buen
Es un buen coche.
It is a good car.
malo → mal
Es un mal libro.
It is a bad book.
uno → un
Tenemos un gato.
We have a cat.
primero → primer
Vivo en el primer piso.
I live on the 1st floor.
decimoprimero → decimoprimer
Vivo en el decimoprimer piso.
I live on the 11th floor.
tercero → tercer
Vivo en el tercer piso.
I live on the 3rd floor.
decimotercero → decimotercer
Vivo en el decimotercer piso.
I live on the 13th floor.
alguno → algún
¿Tienes algún consejo?
Do you have any advice?
ninguno → ningún
No conozco ningún parque en esta ciudad.
I don’t know any park in this town.
Adjectives we shorten before all singular nouns, regardless of gender
grande → gran
Mi primo tiene un gran barco.
My cousin has a big ship. (before a masculine singular noun)Es una gran casa.
It is a big house. (before a feminine singular noun)
cualquiera → cualquier
Leería cualquier libro.
I would read any book. (before a masculine singular noun)Dame cualquier revista.
Give me any magazine. (before a feminine singular noun)
Practice
Quiz
Take this short Quiz to test your knowledge about short-form adjectives:
Exercise
Fill the gaps with adjectives to complete the sentences. Consider whether you need a short form or not for each case:
1) Este ordenador es __.
This computer is good.
2) Es un __ ordenador.
It’s a good computer.
3) Tu primo es un __ tipo.
Your cousin is a great guy.
4) El barco es muy __.
The ship is very big.5) Son __ barcos.
They are big/great ships.
6) Esta es la __ vez que te cuento la historia.
This is the third time I tell you the story.
7) El __ día de nuestro viaje, visitamos Madrid.
On the third day of our trip, we visit Madrid.
8) El __ hombre en la Luna fue Neil Armstrong.
The first man on the Moon was Neil Armstrong.
9) La __ mujer en el espacio fue Valentina Tereshkova.
The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova.
Solutions:
1) bueno
2) buen
3) gran
4) grande
5) grandes
6) tercera
7) tercer
8) primer
9) primera