arpa eólica

Spanish

Noun

arpa eólica f (plural arpas eólicas)

1. aeolian harp

Usage notes

• Feminine nouns beginning with stressed /ˈa/ like arpa eólica take the singular definite article el (otherwise reserved for masculine nouns) instead of the usual la: el arpa eólica. This includes the contracted forms al and del (instead of a la and de la, respectively): al arpa eólica, del arpa eólica.

These nouns also usually take the indefinite article un that is otherwise used with masculine nouns (although the standard feminine form una is also permitted): un arpa eólica or una arpa eólica. The same is true with determiners algún/alguna and ningún/ninguna, as well as for numerals ending with 1 (e.g., veintiún/veintiuna).

However, if another word intervenes between the article and the noun, the usual feminine singular articles and determiners (la, una etc.) must be used: la mejor arpa eólica, una buena arpa eólica.

• If an adjective follows the noun, it must agree with the noun's gender regardless of the article used: el arpa eólica única, un(a) arpa eólica buena.
• In the plural, the usual feminine singular articles and determiners (las, unas etc.) are always used.