Beginner grammar guide
Spanish adjectives: agreement before placement
Make the adjective fit its noun, then decide where the emphasis belongs.
Spanish adjectives usually agree with the noun in gender and number. Their position is often after the noun, but placement can change what the speaker emphasises—and sometimes the meaning itself.
Building everyday vocabulary too? Explore the free vocabulary guides.
The idea
Understand the choice, not just the label.
Many adjectives have masculine and feminine forms ending in -o/-a, and plural forms add -s or -es: un piso pequeño, una casa pequeña, unos pisos pequeños. Adjectives ending in -e or many consonants often have one form for masculine and feminine: un café excelente, una vista excelente.
A descriptive adjective often follows its noun: una calle estrecha (a narrow street). Some common adjectives can come before the noun to give a more subjective or familiar reading, while following it can classify or distinguish: un viejo amigo (a long-time friend) versus un amigo viejo (an elderly friend). The contrast depends on the adjective and context.
A few forms shorten before a masculine singular noun: bueno → buen (un buen día), primero → primer (el primer tren), and grande commonly becomes gran before a singular noun when meaning “great/important” (una gran ciudad). These changes are patterned, not arbitrary.
| Form / pattern | Use it when… | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Gender and number | match adjective to noun | dos mesas nuevas — two new tables |
| Common description | adjective often follows the noun | un barrio tranquilo — a quiet neighbourhood |
| Position shifts reading | some adjectives change nuance before the noun | un pobre hombre — an unfortunate man; un hombre pobre — a poor man |
| Shortened form | some forms shorten before masculine singular nouns | un buen restaurante — a good restaurant |
Hear it in a sentence
Examples in everyday Spanish
Buscamos una habitación luminosa y tranquila.
We’re looking for a bright, quiet room.
Both adjectives agree with feminine singular habitación.
Es un antiguo compañero de la universidad.
He’s a former university classmate.
Antiguo before the noun means former here.
Han abierto dos tiendas nuevas en el barrio.
They’ve opened two new shops in the neighbourhood.
Look out for
Common mistakes, made clearer
Avoid
un casa pequeño
Use / understand
una casa pequeña
Both article and adjective agree with the feminine singular noun.
Avoid
las calles estrecho
Use / understand
las calles estrechas
The adjective must agree with feminine plural calles.
Avoid
un bueno sitio
Use / understand
un buen sitio
Bueno shortens to buen before a masculine singular noun.
Out in the world
Everyday use
¿Tienes una bolsa grande para la compra?
Do you have a big bag for the shopping?
Hemos encontrado un restaurante pequeño con una terraza preciosa.
We’ve found a small restaurant with a lovely terrace.
Five quick checks
Try it before you peek.
- 01
Complete: una camisa ___ (blanco)
Reveal answer and explanation
blanca
The adjective agrees with feminine singular camisa.
- 02
Complete: tres vecinos ___ (amable)
Reveal answer and explanation
amables
Amable has one gender form and adds -s in the plural.
- 03
Choose for “a good book”: un bueno libro / un buen libro
Reveal answer and explanation
un buen libro
Bueno shortens to buen before a masculine singular noun.
- 04
What does “un viejo amigo” usually mean?
Reveal answer and explanation
A long-time friend.
Before the noun, viejo often describes an old/long-standing relationship; un amigo viejo can mean an elderly friend.
- 05
Correct: “las plazas bonito”
Reveal answer and explanation
las plazas bonitas
Plazas is feminine plural, so bonito becomes bonitas.
Still wondering
Questions about spanish adjectives: agreement before placement
Do Spanish adjectives always follow the noun?
No. Following the noun is common for descriptive adjectives, but some precede it for emphasis, familiar evaluation, or a shifted meaning.
Do adjectives agree with people’s gender?
They agree with the grammatical noun they describe. Forms also reflect how a person is referred to, but agreement is not determined by the speaker’s own identity.