Spanish · B2 · Everyday language
People words with an extra ending in Spanish
When talking about people in Spanish, we often add a little 'extra' word called the 'personal a' when they are the direct object of a sentence. This guide also covers common nouns for people that maintain specific endings regardless of gender, which is helpful for B2 learners mastering professional vocabulary.
What you'll learn
- Correctly apply the 'personal a' when referring to specific people
- Identify and use nouns for professions that end in -ista and -ante
- Express possession and direction when referring to people in various sentence roles
Spanish phrases for people words with an extra ending
¿Le has preguntado al vecino sobre el ruido inusual?
Have you asked the neighbour about the unusual noise?
Note the use of 'al' (a + el), essential when the neighbor is the recipient of the question.
Reconocí al fotógrafo del periódico.
I recognised the photographer from the newspaper.
We use 'al' here because the photographer is a specific person being recognized (the 'personal a').
Démosle las gracias al estudiante por explicar eso tan claramente.
Let's thank the student for explaining that so clearly.
In Spanish, we 'give thanks to' (dar gracias a) someone.
La sugerencia del niño merece un debate adecuado.
The boy's suggestion deserves a proper discussion.
Possession is shown with 'del' (de + el) rather than an apostrophe.
No juzgaría a una persona por un comentario descuidado.
I wouldn't judge a person by one careless remark.
Even with 'una persona', the 'personal a' is required as the direct object.
¿Puedes explicarle la ruta a ese caballero?
Can you explain the route to that gentleman?
We use the pronoun 'le' and the preposition 'a' to indicate the gentleman is the receiver.
La pregunta del periodista fue sorprendentemente difícil de responder.
The journalist's question was surprisingly difficult to answer.
'Periodista' is a common noun ending in -ista, used for both men and women.
Deberíamos escuchar al experto antes de tomar una decisión.
We should listen to the expert before making a decision.
The verb 'escuchar' takes the personal a ('al experto') when listening to a specific person.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Vecino
Neighbour
Ends in -o (masculine) or -a (feminine).
Periodista
Journalist
A common noun ending in -ista; the gender is shown by the article (el/la).
Estudiante
Student
Ends in -ante; remains the same for both genders.
Caballero
Gentleman
A formal way to refer to a man, similar to 'sir'.
The Personal 'a'
In Spanish, when the direct object of a verb is a specific person or pet, we must place the preposition 'a' before them. If the person is masculine singular (el), 'a' and 'el' contract to 'al'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Object (Specific) | Verbo + a + Persona | Veo a la profesora (I see the teacher). |
| Contraction | a + el = al | Llamo al médico (I call the doctor). |
Nouns for People with Fixed Endings
Many professions or roles in Spanish end in -ista or -ante. These 'extra' endings don't change based on the person's gender; only the article (el/la) changes.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Professional (-ista) | el/la + [Noun]ista | El dentista / La dentista |
| Agent (-ante) | el/la + [Noun]ante | El cantante / La cantante |
More examples
Acompañé al niño a la escuela.
I walked the boy to school.
Uses the personal 'a' (al) because the boy is the direct object.
El taxista nos dio buenos consejos.
The taxi driver gave us good advice.
Demonstrates the -ista ending for a person word.
Busco a un fotógrafo profesional.
I am looking for a professional photographer.
Uses 'a' even with an indefinite person when they are the object of the search.