Is crocodile masculine or feminine in Spanish?

The word for 'crocodile' in Spanish, cocodrilo, is masculine.

In Spanish, all nouns possess a grammatical gender, classifying them as either masculine or feminine. This inherent gender dictates the form of articles, adjectives, and pronouns used in conjunction with the noun. Understanding noun gender is a cornerstone of accurate Spanish grammar.

Understanding Noun Gender in Spanish

Spanish noun gender is a grammatical attribute that doesn't always align with the biological sex of an object or creature. Instead, it's a linguistic classification that influences how other words in a sentence relate to the noun.

• Masculine Nouns: These often conclude with the letter -o (e.g., el perro - the dog, el libro - the book). However, many masculine nouns end in consonants, -e, or specific suffixes like -ma (e.g., el problema - the problem, el coche - the car). They are typically preceded by the masculine definite article el (the) or the indefinite article un (a/an).
• Feminine Nouns: Commonly end with the letter -a (e.g., la casa - the house, la mesa - the table). Other typical endings include -ción, -sión, -dad, -tad, -tud, -umbre, and -z (e.g., la canción - the song, la ciudad - the city). They are generally accompanied by the feminine definite article la (the) or the indefinite article una (a/an).

Cocodrilo: A Masculine Animal Noun

The Spanish term for crocodile is el cocodrilo. The distinct use of the masculine definite article "el" directly signals its masculine gender. This pattern aligns with how many names for wild animals are categorized in Spanish, often falling under the masculine gender.

For practical usage, observe the following examples:

• El cocodrilo se desliza por el agua. (The crocodile glides through the water.)
• Vimos un cocodrilo enorme en el zoológico. (We saw an enormous crocodile at the zoo.)

Examples of Animal Genders in Spanish

Here is a quick reference table showcasing the gender of various animal names in Spanish:

Mastering noun gender is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences and ensuring proper agreement with other parts of speech in Spanish. For more comprehensive information on Spanish noun gender rules, helpful resources like SpanishDict's guide on noun gender can provide further insights.